Nearly two months after Jagdish Vishwakarma took over as Gujarat BJP president, the party unveiled a new set of office-bearers two days ago. The list of 35 people includes several old-timers, while many well-known names have been excluded. Eight women feature among the office-bearers.
In a much-delayed appointment, Vishwakarma succeeded Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil as state party president in the first week of October.
The BJP said the appointments were made with the approval of national party president J. P. Nadda and working president Nitin Nabin.
Party insiders say the appointments bear the clear imprint of Vishwakarma, who is considered close to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Far more accessible than his predecessor, the new president is known to think carefully before speaking. A party leader said, “He is not at all arrogant.”
The appointments, however, have raised many eyebrows within the party, as there are hardly any leaders close to Paatil or former Gujarat Chief Minister and current Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel.
Among the notable inclusions is former state BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya, whose name figures among the 10 newly appointed vice presidents, two of whom are women. Halol MLA Jaydrathsinh Parmar is also among the new vice presidents, as is veteran leader Rameshbhai Dhaduk.
The BJP generally adheres to the principle of “one person, one post”. However, this principle does not apply to the new appointments. Vadodara MP Dr Hemang Joshi is one such example, having been appointed president of the youth wing. Interestingly, the norm was also not followed during Paatil’s tenure as state party president. Despite being appointed Jal Shakti Minister, Paatil, a non-Gujarati, continued to hold the post of Gujarat BJP president until Vishwakarma’s appointment in early October.
Former MLA Ganpat Vasava from Surat district has been appointed president of the party’s Scheduled Tribe wing. There have been rumours that he was previously involved in the publication of anti-Paatil pamphlets.
Parindu Bhagat is the new treasurer.
Among the notable leaders who have not found a place are former Ahmedabad Urban Development Corporation (AUDA) chairman Surendra Patel, alias Surendrakaka, and former minister of state for home Gordhan Zadafia.
The party has also appointed Dr Anil Patel as its new spokesperson.
When asked about the inclusion of old-timers in the new structure, a party source said the party continues to experiment.
It has emerged that the appointments have been made with an eye on the upcoming civic elections. Elections to municipal corporations and district and taluka panchayats are due in the first half of 2026.
While the list draws representation from across the state, Vadodara has been left out, with the sole exception of Dr Joshi.
Balkrishna Shukla from Vadodara is the party’s whip in the state Assembly.
Vibes of India has learnt that Vadodara has borne the brunt of internal bickering within the party. The city, known for its urban planning since the time of Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III, has lagged behind Ahmedabad and Surat in terms of development. On one occasion at a function in Vadodara, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also remarked on why the city lags behind Ahmedabad and Surat on the development front.
Also Read: Jagdish Vishwakarma Is New Gujarat BJP President https://www.vibesofindia.com/jagdish-vishwakarma-is-new-gujarat-bjp-president/
