Ahmedabad: Speculations are rife that one of the state general secretaries Gordhan Jhadaphia, a Patidar, may be given the responsibility, though there is no official indication.
Another name being discussed is of Praful Patel, the Administrator of Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Daman and Diu. He is believed to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Deputy chief minister Nitin Patel and Mansukh Mandaviya, a Rajya Sabha member from Bhavnagar who was promoted as the Union health minister in a Cabinet reshuffle, are also possible candidates. A formal meeting of the party MLAs has been called in Gandhinagar on Tuesday. Patel is a Kadva Patidar, while Mandaviya is a Leva Patel (Leuva Patidar), a sub-caste of the Patidars.
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