Ahmedabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday named Vijay Rupani, a senior Gujarat minister, as the 16th chief minister of the state. Both Rupani and Nitin Patel were front runners to replace Anandiben Patel, who resigned as chief minister this week. Acknowledging the influence of the Patel community, the BJP named Nitin Patel as deputy chief minister. The choice of the new chief minister is crucial because assembly elections in Gujarat are due in December 2017. The decision was taken at a meeting of legislative party members attended by BJP president Amit Shah and Anandiben Patel.

Source: Mint August 05, 2016 12:49 UTC