It’s too early to say ‘All’s well, that ends well’ in BJP-ruled Gujarat. On Thursday last, a 24-member Cabinet was administered the oath at Raj Bhavan, though none from the previous Vijay Rupani-led ministry made it! The sudden change in leadership of Rupani to first time MLA Bhupendra Patel, with just over a year to go for Assembly polls, the post of deputy CM done away with and Cabinet formation deferred by a day after supporters of a BJP MLA created a ruckus outside Raj Bhavan on Wednesday last, doesn’t bode well for the party which has ruled the State for 16 years.

Clearly, Patel, who belongs to the Kadva sub-group of the influential Patidar community and being the first from this section, is being seen as the dark horse, who should help the party sail through in the 182-member Assembly. The move clearly is to pacify the Patidar community, its core vote bank, which is getting disillusioned.

Recall, AAP in February secured sizeable support from Leuva Patidars and won 27 seats in civic body polls in Surat, gaining an edge in three of 12 Assembly seats there; also under Rupani, the BJP had won only 99 seats in the Assembly, its lowest tally since 1995, and was being questioned by the party over mishandling of the pandemic.

The big question is whether the new top man can neutralise the damage done. Having the support of the Modi-Shah team may not be enough.

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