Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that her Gujarat's counterpart Anandiben Patel stepped down because of the growing popularity of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the state.
In a series of tweets, Kejriwal claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was terrified of the AAP.
"The resignation of Anandiben Patel is the result of the growing popularity of AAP in Gujarat. BJP is scared of the AAP in Gujarat," he said.
Kejriwal also said that Patel's resignation was a victory for the Aam Aadmi Party in the fight against corruption.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Ahmad Patel said Patel's resignation is an indication of the BJP's defeat in the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls.
"The Gujarat Chief Minister's resignation is an indication of BJP's sure defeat in 2017 elections," he tweeted.
The Gujarat Chief Minister earlier in the day submitted her resignation to the BJP top brass asserting that the saffron party needs a fresh face in the state.
Patel, who took over as Gujarat's first woman chief minister after Narendra Modi took charge as the Prime Minister, citing age issues had in her Facebook post earlier urged the BJP to relieve her from the coveted post.
In a post on the site, she wrote, "I have been working actively with the BJP for last 30 years and I have got the opportunity to manage several responsibilities the party entrusted on me. I am fortunate to have been offered prime positions and major responsibilities by the party."
"I consider it a privilege to manage the women's wing of the party to eventually becoming the chief minister. The party has helped in my development. I have tried my best for result oriented governance and constantly contributed to innovations while working in various departments of the state."
Patel said that she had two months earlier sought to resign from the party to give "enough time to the new incumbent to prepare for important events like the upcoming 'Vibrant Gujarat Summit'.
Her government was criticised for its handling of the outrage created by the public flogging of four Dalit men by self-styled cow protection groups.
