Nitin Patel likely to be Guj CM; says will reach out to Patidars

Nitin Patel is most likely to be the next chief minister of Gujarat, sources said on Friday hours before a meeting of state MLAs with the party central leadership.

The Patel strongman from North Gujarat who was Cabinet minister for Health in the former Anandiben Patel government was the senior-most in the Anandiben Patel-government. He was first elected to the Gujarat assembly in 1990 and has been MLA for the fourth time.

Nitin Patel also heaped praises on outgoing chief minister Anandiben Patel saying she worked really hard for the state in the last 26 months.

Patel began his political career from Kadi in Gandhinagar district, where he held several positions in the co-operative sector. He is also associated with several trusts and hospitals of the region.