Troubles are still not over for the newly elected government led by Vijay Rupani in Gujarat with another minister expressing discontent over portfolio allocation.
Two days after the party managed to pacify Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel by giving him back the finance portfolio, senior party leader Purshottam Solanki conveyed his displeasure over portfolio alloted to him.
Solanki, a five-time MLA representing Bhavnagar (Rural), met Rupani in Gandhinagar on Tuesday. He dropped the bombshell on the day Rupani assumed office as the chief minister.
Representing the powerful Koli community, Solanki said that despite being elected for five terms, he was not given cabinet rank. He further said that every time he was being given fisheries department.
Solanki said that he wanted to serve people in a better manner but was not able to do so because of the portfolio.
The Koli community can be a decisive factor on 45 seats in the 182-member assembly.
The minister of state for fisheries said that he was getting phone calls from the community. He said that the community feels “unhappy” over the portfolio alloted to him.
In a panic mode, the BJP sent education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama to speak to Solanki. After meeting the disgruntled minister, Chudasama claimed that Solanki was not “unhappy” and that the minister had only conveyed the sentiments of the community to the chief minister.
Chudasama claimed that the chief minister had assured Solanki of taking a decision within a week's time.
The education minister had also intervened when the deputy chief minister was unhappy over not getting finance portfolio. After party president Amit Shah's assurance, Patel was given back the finance portfolio. The portfolio was given to Saurabh Patel, distant relative of the Ambanis. Saurabh now has energy portfolio with him.
The manner in which the second minister has shown displeasure in open against the allotment of portfolios and the party having to intervene, shows the party's vulnerability after securing only 99 out of the 182 seats in the state assembly.
Yogesh Patel, BJP MLA from Manjalpur in Vadodara, has also expressed his displeasure over not getting recognition despite winning the seat for several terms.
