Following the resignation of Anandiben Patel as the chief minister of Gujarat in August 2016, although Nitin Patel was speculated to succeed her, Vijay Rupani was named the CM. 

However, with Vijay Rupani’s resignation on Saturday, it was widely believed that Nitin Patel would be named her successor. Other than Nitin Patel, the other names that were in contention for the CM post were CR Paatil and Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

Ahead of BJP’s final decision, Nitin Patel had said that Gujarat needed a leader who was popular, strong, experienced, and the one who was known and acceptable to all.

Also Read | BJP leaders welcome Bhupendra Patel’s as new Gujarat Chief Minister

“I believe that all the processes will be completed today and the national leadership will decide on the name of the new chief minister, as per the opinions gathered from the MLAs and senior Gujarat BJP leaders,” Nitin Patel said.

While people had already begun floating posters and pamphlets in his support, the party announced Bhupendra Patel as Gujarat’s new chief minister.

Senior BJP leader Bhupendra Patel is also known to be a protege of former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. He was a part of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority. 

Also Read | Gujarat CM resignation: What lies next for BJP

With Nitin Patel being snubbed, again, the internet had a field day after the announcement, with some finding humour in the situation.

Expressing disappointment, one of the users wrote, “MoSha bow down to the Patel lobby pressure but they can’t afford Nitin Patel as Gujarat CM so the unknown first time MLA close aid of Anandiben Patel becomes the new CM.”

Another tweeted, “Once again Delhi media and the big BJP experts raised Nitin Patel’s hopes only to get them dashed. Always the front runner, never the Chief Minister.”

Here, take a look at some of the other reactions: 

Vijay Rupani resigned as the chief minister of Gujarat on September 11, 2021. “During my tenure, I got the opportunity to work for the development of the state under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership,” he said.