While Gujarat's embattled Chief Minister, Anandiben Patel offered to resign from her post on Monday, ahead of the 2017 state polls, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have poured in with their reactions to her decision.
Congress said her resignation was “overdue” and accused the BJP leadership of trying to protect her in spite of “growing unrest” among Dalits and the Patidar community over her handling of issues related to them.
Patel's resignation has come amidst allegations of failure to check attacks on Dalits in the state, though she cited her age as the reason for her decision. She said she wanted to step down before she turned 75 in November.
This is not a voluntary decision taken by Patel. Diktat from the party high-command in Delhi is behind it. If she claims that she is resigning as she will turn 75 years in November, then she could have offered to quit just one month before November. Why has she offered it so early?Senior Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela
Meanwhile, Congress leader in Gujarat Ahmed Patel called her resignation an indication of the BJP's defeat in the state.
The Gujarat Chief Minister's resignation is an indication of BJP's sure defeat in 2017 elections
The Aam Aadmi Party also joined the wagon, with party chief Arvind Kejriwal claiming credit for her resignation.
The Delhi Chief Minister who has set his eyes on the western state, said it was the “triumph” of AAP's fight against corruption in Gujarat.
आनंदी जी का इस्तीफ़ा गुजरात में "आप" की भ्रष्टाचार के ख़िलाफ़ लड़ाई की जीत है। https://t.co/4z6aXyZIib
The rising popularity of AAP in Modi's home ground has BJP running scared.
Anandiben's resignation is proof that #BJPscaredOfAAPinGujAAP spokesperson Ashutosh said Patel's offer to resign was mere drama and that she was actually being “sacked”. In a series of tweets, he called her resignation the BJP's knee-jerk reaction to AAP's growing presence in the state.
AAP's soaring popularity in Gujrat forced BJP to change Anandi Ben Patel, Looking for new leader.
MODI is scared.He knows He is losing in his home turf/AAP is gaining massively in Gujarat.Anandi Ben is not resigning,she is to be Sacked.
In a post on Facebook earlier on Monday, Patel said that she has been handling several responsibilities for the BJP for 30 years, and also served as the first female Chief Minister of the state.
Patel also cited the unwritten convention in the party, set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to which those attaining the age of 75 have to quit the post, as one of the reasons for her wish to resign.
Saying that she was going to be 75 years of age in November, it was time for the “next generation” to take care of the upcoming state Assembly polls in 2017 and the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.
Here's Patel's full Facebook post.
#WATCH Guj CM Anandiben Patel says she will soon be 75 years of age, offers to resign from CM post citing the same.https://t.co/c00za19tW3
Media reports suggested that BJP President of Gujarat Vijay Rupani had accepted her resignation. However, BJP Chief Amit Shah later said,
She has requested the party to relieve her of the post. I will place the letter she has written to me before the Parliamentary Board and it will take a decision. She has said that if a new person has to be brought in, then he should get time.#WATCH Amit Shah speaks on Anandiben Patel's offer to resign from Guj CM post, says BJP Parl Board to decide on it.https://t.co/KQqmvnf6IC
‘Baa RetireThaaye Chhe'? Other Reactions on Twitter
CM of Gujarat resigns on Facebook. Resignation accepted on Facebook ( with a LIKE, I presume). Bizarre marketing of #DigitalIndia. :-)
#AnandibenPatel resigns. Too little, too late?
Brinda Karat: BJP-RSS cannot escape responsibility for anti Dalit policies with #Anandibenpatel resignation. People want an end to BJP rule!
Anandiben to star in 'Baa retire thaaye chhe..." goes the buzz. True?
#AnandibenPatel being made to resign for the Patidar & Dalit crisis in Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/k7zLh4N6v6
आप तो निकल हीं लीं शुरुआत में,
कुछ दिन तो गुज़ारो गुजरात में.😊🙏 #AnandibenPatelSmt Anandiben Patel offered to step down as she turns 75. Sheila Dikshit is #Congress's CM nominee at 80! Standards one sets in public life!
Also Read:
Is Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel On Her Way Out?
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