Anandiben Patel was on Thursday sworn in as Gujarat’s new Chief Minister, a day after Narendra Modi resigned to become India’s Prime Minister.
Anandiben Patel, who succeeds Narendra Modi as the new Gujarat chief minister, is seen as a disciplinarian and hard taskmaster. She is the longest serving BJP minister who joined the party in late 80s and rose steadily through the ranks. Anandiben Patel shot into fame when as a school teacher she jumped into Sardar Sarovar reservoir in 1987 to save two girls from drowning.
Senior BJP leaders including party president Rajnath Singh, LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Arun Jaitley were present at the ceremony held at Mahatma Mandir convention centre here.
Anandiben Patel, 73, was unanimously elected leader of the BJP legislature party, paving the way for her to succeed her mentor and become the state’s first woman Chief Minister.
Mr. Narendra Modi quit as Chief Minister after leading the Bharatiya Janata Party to a stunning victory in general elections. He is now as India’s next Prime Minister.
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