Who is Bhupendra Patel? - Chief Minister of Gujarat
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel |
| Born | July 15, 1962 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India |
| Education | Diploma in Civil Engineering from Government Polytechnic, Ahmedabad (1982) |
| Occupation | Politician, Civil Engineer, Builder |
| Political Party | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| Notable Positions | 17th Chief Minister of Gujarat (2021-present), MLA for Ghatlodia constituency (2017-present) |
| Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel was born on July 15, 1962 into a Gujarati family in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. He received his Diploma in Civil Engineering from the Government Polytechnic in Ahmedabad in April 1982. The Government Polytechnic Ahmedabad is a well-known technical institute in Gujarat that has produced many successful engineers and builders. |
Early Career and Association with RSS
After completing his education, Bhupendra Patel started his career as a builder. Since his college days, he has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist volunteer organization. His involvement with the RSS likely shaped his political ideology and laid the foundation for his future political career.
Municipal Politics in Ahmedabad
Bhupendra Patel began his political journey at the municipal level in Ahmedabad. He served as a member of the Memnagar Nagarpalika (municipality) for multiple terms between 1995 and 2006, including a stint as its President in 1999-2000.
He then became a councillor from Thaltej Ward in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) from 2010 to 2015. During this period, he also served as the Vice Chairman of the AMC school board from 2008 to 2010 and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of AMC.
From 2015 to 2017, Bhupendra Patel was the Chairman of the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA). These roles in the municipal bodies of Ahmedabad provided him with valuable administrative experience and helped establish his reputation as an effective leader.
Election to Gujarat Legislative Assembly
In the 2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections, Bhupendra Patel contested from the Ghatlodia constituency as a BJP candidate. He won the seat by defeating Congress candidate Shashikant Patel with a record margin of 1,17,000 votes.
Ghatlodia is part of the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Patel's impressive victory in this key constituency demonstrated his popularity and the trust placed in him by the voters.
Appointment as Chief Minister of Gujarat
On September 11, 2021, the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani, resigned from his post. The next day, Bhupendra Patel was unanimously elected as the BJP legislative party leader and Chief Minister-elect in a meeting attended by BJP MLAs.
He was sworn in as the 17th Chief Minister of Gujarat on September 13, 2021. His elevation to the top post came as a surprise to many, as he was a first-time MLA and had never held a ministerial position before. However, his clean image, administrative experience, and close ties with the BJP leadership likely worked in his favor.
Initiatives as Chief Minister
During his tenure as Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel has launched several initiatives aimed at the development of Gujarat. In February 2022, he launched a new Gujarat IT/ITeS policy for 2022-2027 to promote the growth of the information technology sector in the state.
His government also became the first in India to set up a committee to study the modalities and implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, with the aim of applying it to the citizens of Gujarat. This move generated significant national attention and debate.
2022 Gujarat Legislative Assembly Elections
In the 2022 Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections, the BJP, under Bhupendra Patel's leadership, won a historic mandate, securing 156 out of the 182 seats. This was the party's seventh consecutive victory in Gujarat and its best-ever performance in the state.
Bhupendra Patel himself won from the Ghatlodia constituency for a second time, defeating his Congress rival by a staggering margin of 1,91,000 votes. He broke his own 2017 record for the highest victory margin in the constituency.
On December 12, 2022, Bhupendra Patel took oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second consecutive term in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other dignitaries. His reappointment as the Chief Minister was a testament to his popularity, leadership skills, and the trust placed in him by the BJP high command.
Personal Life and Interests
Bhupendra Patel is married to Hetal Patel, and the couple has a son named Anuj Patel and a daughter-in-law named Devanshi Patel. He is a trustee of Sardardham Vishwa Patidar Kendra, an organization dedicated to the socio-economic development of the Patidar community, and a follower of the Akram Vignan Movement founded by Dada Bhagwan.
In his free time, Bhupendra Patel enjoys playing cricket and badminton. He is known for his low-key working style and his unique way of connecting with people, which has earned him the reputation of being the BJP's silent troubleshooter in Gujarat.