Gujarat CM out on touring spree, his lieutenants call the shots in state

Modi entrusts ministers Anandiben Patel and Nitin Patel to take charge of affairs

Recently, a local newspaper here brought out a column titled Modi on two-day visit to Gujarat state, mocking the hectic travel plans of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. In the past fortnight, Modi has been on a touring spree, meeting party workers and addressing various gatherings across the country.

With Modi taking charge as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s 2014 election campaign committee chief, questions are being raised on how the Gujarat administration would function in the chief minister's absence and who would take important decisions now.

To ensure the administration works like a well-oiled machine, Modi has entrusted two of his trusted Cabinet colleagues - Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel and Finance Minister Nitin Patel - to call the shots in his absence. The functioning and decision-making of these two ministers is similar to Modi's.

BJP leaders close to Modi, however, said the chief minister was in the driving seat and monitoring the administration of the state while traveling across the country.

For the announcement of four low-cost housing schemes (for 2.2 million houses) for the urban poor, which secured Cabinet nod on Wednesday, Anandiben and Nitinbhai were at the helm of affairs. The scheme was part of BJP's election manifesto during the state elections last year. While Anandiben briefed the media, Nitinbhai, along with spokesperson Saurabh Patel, issued a press statement detailing the schemes.

Since the past couple of months, Anandiben has been active on the social media and has been updating her Twitter account regularly. Party sources say she has hired a consultant for social media networking. Though not seen as a mass leader, Anandiben's popularity within the party, as well as her clout among bureaucrats, is much talked about. The former school principal also has the backing of the powerful Patel community in the state.

Nitinbhai enjoys community leadership and has vast experience in politics and administration. He was health and family welfare minister in the first BJP government in Gujarat in 1995, as well as in the Keshubhai Patel regime. Excluding the 2002-07 term, when he lost the elections, he has been member of the state assembly since 1990.

"The two ministers have been calling the shots in the absence of the chief minister. But everything is under the watch of Modiji," said a BJP insider. No decision was taken without the Modi's knowledge, he added.

Since being appointed the BJP's poll campaign chief Modi has travelled to Delhi twice, addressed a public hearing of BJP workers in Pune (where he also addressed students at Fergusson College) and held meetings with party workers during a day-long visit to Odisha. Next month, he is scheduled to visit Hyderabad to hold discussions with party workers on the party's poll strategy.