Governor accepts CM Anandiben's resignation

Requested to hold post till a new CM is appointed

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary board accepting her decision to quit on Wednesday in a morning meeting in Delhi, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel gave her resignation to Gujarat governor O P Kohli in the evening.

Accepting her resignation, Kohli asked Patel to continue to hold the post till her successor was appointed.

While the party is likely to decide on a new chief minister by Friday, the latter, along with the new cabinet, may take oath on Saturday, said sources. BJP national president Amit Shah would be visiting the state to meet party leaders and MLAs (members of legislative assembly) on Thursday, while Union minister Nitin Gadkari and BJP general secretary Saroj Pandey may finalise the election as central observers on Friday.

State CMs Nitin Patel and Vijay Rupani, also the state BJP chief, are seen as front runners, among others. Patel had offered to step down from the post on Monday through posts on Facebook and Twitter.