Anandiben Patel was on Thursday sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Gujarat at a grand event here attended by BJP brass. She is the first woman CM of the State.
Governor Kamla Beniwal administered the oath of office at the Mahatma Mandir convention centre.
The elevation of Ms. Patel, 72, who was Revenue Minister, has galvanised the BJP women’s wing. The audience raised the slogan Nari shakti zindabad (Hail women power). Ms. Patel, who has carved out a place for her as a strong woman leader in the Modi government, has said her rise will be an inspiration to party’s women workers.
Mr. Modi, who was Chief Minister for four terms spanning 12 years, demitted office on Wednesday, after he was declared Prime Minister-designate.
A Cabinet of six Ministers — Nitin Patel, Ramanlal Vora, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Saurabh Patel, Ganpat Vasava and Babubhai Bokhiria — and 20 Ministers of State was sworn in along with Ms. Patel, who is representing Ghatlodiya. She won the seat by a margin of 1.10 lakh votes in the 2012 elections.
Three Ministers of State in the Modi Cabinet — Purshottam Solanki, who is facing corruption charges; Parbat Patel and Vasan Ahir — have not found a place in the new government.
Mr. Modi, BJP president Rajnath Singh and senior leaders L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, M. Venkaiah Naidu and Subramanian Swamy were present at the swearing-in. In a gesture of respect to the former Chief Minister, Keshubhai Patel, Mr. Modi got off the stage and led him by hand towards the dais.
Correction
>> “Anandiben Patel takes oath as Gujarat Chief Minister” (May 23, 2014) gave the age of the Gujarat Chief Minister as 73. The Editorial, “Anandiben at the helm” (May 23, 2014), gave her age correctly as 72.