The rise of Bhupendra Patel from first time MLA to Chief Minister of Gujarat came as a surprise. He was not a minister. It is similar to rise of Pushkar Singh Dhami as CM of Uttarakhand. He too was an MLA and not a minister. In Dhami’s case there was revolt of ministers of outgoing cabinet and they had to be sworn-in along with Dhami. In Bhupendra Patel’s case BJP leaders managed to have him sworn-in alone.
This year four BJP CMs had to leave. Trivendra Singh Rawat had to leave as CM of Uttarakhand. His successor Tirath Singh Rawat had to leave as he was not an MLA and there was doubt about election to get him elected. B. S. Yediyurappa had to leave as CM of Karnataka. Vijay Rupani had to leave as CM of Gujarat. There was talk of a Patel replacing him. Names of Nitin Patel, Praful Patel and some others did rounds. BJP leaders chose Bhupendra Patel and MLAs had to fall in line.
High command system is not good for any party. Party leaders may catapult any one to top position but that person will not command respect. Party will lose in elections. That happened to Congress. That will happen to BJP.
What effect Bhupendra Patel will have on Patels or Patidars who are said to be unhappy with BJP will be seen in coming days. Patidars were once against reservations. They did not succeed in abolishing reservations. So they demanded reservations for themselves. BJP is afraid of losing Patidar votes. Elections are about 15 months away unless Legislative Assembly is dissolved before that which seems unlikely as BJP leaders chose an MLA.
SC/ST/OBC/EBC/EWS/Women’s reservations in educational institutions, government jobs, legislatures and local bodies should be abolished. Communities want to be declared backward and demand reservations. There is no feeling of common citizenship. If things continue as they are now India can end up like Afghanistan.