NEW DELHI, May 17 (IExpress) : With the end of elections in five states, all eyes are now on the impending reshuffle in the Union Cabinet and likely changes in the BJP’s national team. As the Modi government completes two years in office, speculation is rife on the political changes in the Prime Minister’s home State Gujarat.

BJP circles are abuzz with news that Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel may be shifted to a gubernatorial post. In case of Patel vacating the post, her Cabinet colleague Nitinbhai Patel may take over as the chief minister. The change is being considered as the BJP is facing a slide due to the quota agitation led by activist Hardik Patel.

Anandiben has struggled with the massive Patidar or Patel agitation for reservation in the State, which began in August last year and brought to the brink, the BJP’s links with one of its strongest and most loyal vote banks. Twenty-three-year-old Hardik Patel has been in jail for more than 200 days on charges of sedition.
As the State is going to polls next year, any reverses for the party would directly reflect on Modi’s popularity, party sources said. Earlier, before the Bihar elections in 2015, speculation was rife that BJP chief Amit Shah would take over the reigns of Gujarat from Anandiben. However, Shah continued with his position despite reverses in the Bihar elections. There are suggestions that Anandiben, who became CM in 2014 after Modi became PM, may become the Punjab governor.

However, there were many who suggested that Modi may go for continuity, and not opt for immediate changes in the State hinting that he did not make drastic changes in the team.

Impact of Patel stir?

The move to replace Anandiben Patel could have sprung from the way the Gujarat government handled the Patel quota stir, sources said. Hardik Patel, the 23-year-old who led the agitation, has been in jail for more than 200 days on sedition charges.