The dates for the Gujarat Assembly election are set to be announced by the Election Commission on Thursday at noon. This announcement comes amid the recent bridge tragedy in Morbi that left 135 people dead.
Last week, ahead of the Gujarat Assembly polls, Bharatiya Janata Party’s state Unit unanimously named Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel as the candidate for the Ghatlodiya constituency of Ahmedabad.
Patel is presently a sitting legislator of the same seat.
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Who is Bhupendra Patel?
Bhupendra Patel took oath on September 12, 2021, as the 17th Chief Minister of Gujarat, succeeding Vijay Rupani. He belongs to the Kadva sub-caste of the influential Patidar community – a prominent caste with some influence over the economy, especially in the education, cooperative sector, real estate and construction.
The 60-year-old first-time MLA from Ahmedabad spent most of his political career in urban local bodies as the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Standing Committee chairman as well as the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) head.
Patel has received Diploma in Civil Engineering from the Government Polytechnic, Ahmedabad in April 1982. He is a builder by profession. He is a trustee of Sardardham Vishwa Patidar Kendra and a chairman of the standing committee of Vishwa Umiya Foundation.
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He was the member of Memnagar Nagarpalika in 1995–1996, 1999-2000 and 2004–2006. For a year in 1999, he was the President of Memnagar Nagarpalika. He was a councillor from Thaltej Ward from 2010 to 2015.
Patel became a member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly for the Ghatlodia constituency after winning the 2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections, by defeating Shashikant Patel of the Indian National Congress by 117,000 votes.
He also founded a real-estate business named Vihan Associates. His son and son-in-law are engaged in the construction business in Shilaj.
