Guj BJP in-charge to meet state leaders tomorrow over next CM

Gujarat BJP in-charge Dinesh Sharma and national joint general secretary (organisation) V Satish, are scheduled to arrive here tomorrow to hold talks with local leaders and take stock of the ground situation in the wake of Anandiben Patel announcing her decision to step down as Chief Minister.
"Dinesh Sharma and V Satish will arrive here at 8 am tomorrow and hold discussions with local leaders," Gujarat BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said.
It is believed that both the leaders are being rushed here by BJP top brass to take stock of the ground situation and make a detailed report after taking into account views of local leaders before finalising the name.

BJP's parliamentary board will also meet in Delhi tomorrow to take a final call over the issue.
The parliamentary board will first take a final decision on Anadiben's resignation letter sent to party chief Amit Shah. Thereafter the board will decide on her replacement.
"Later, observers will be sent from Delhi and a meeting of the state BJP Legislative party will be called here, in which the name of the new CM will be announced," a party source said explaining the selection procedure.

Anandiben offered to resign as the CM yesterday, requesting the BJP leadership to relieve her from the post as she is soon going to be 75. Under the leadership of Patel, who has been a minister in the BJP government since 1998 and CM from 2014, the BJP for the first time in the post-Narendra Modi era in Gujarat is facing a tough challenge from its opponents.

Patel, who will turn 75 on November 21, also said the BJP needed a fresh face in the state before the elections due next year. The unwritten convention in the party, set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in recent times has been that those attaining the age of 75 have to quit the post.
Elections in the state are due in the later part of 2017.