Gujarat 2022: What Next For 'Man Of The Match' C R Patil?

The person credited with the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) historic win in Gujarat is its state president, C R Patil.

At a parliamentary meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly praised Patil for his efforts in strengthening the state organisation and ensuring party's decisive win, even after 27 years of anti-incumbency.

According to sources within the party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised BJP's Gujarat unit as a model of how electoral success can be achieved through a strong party organisation.

The Prime Minister's strong endorsement of Patil, a trusted ally, highlights his increasing importance within the party following its victory in 156 out of 182 seats in the state assembly elections.

Patil is known for his thorough management of constituencies at the booth and households level. It is the micro-planning that contributed to his own record-breaking margin of nearly seven lakh votes from the Navsari Lok Sabha seat in 2019.

He is credited with applying this model to a large extent across the state, leading to an increase in the party's vote share and ultimately resulting in an unprecedented electoral success.

The 66-year-old Patil is also credited with the development of Surat, which has become a major center for textiles and diamonds. Prior to the 2022 elections, Surat was seen as a danger zone due to the entry of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the city's municipality.

In addition, the region was the center of the Patidar agitation in 2016, leading to concerns about lingering resentment from the Patidar community towards the ruling BJP.

Patil's efforts in managing these challenges and contributing to the party's electoral success have further enhanced his reputation and position within the party.

Prime Minister Modi's public praise of Patil has sparked speculation about the larger role he may play before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His strong management skills and electoral success have garnered attention. His elevation within the party could also be in the offing.

If Patil were to be given a larger role in national politics, he would join Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as prominent figures from Gujarat to have a significant presence on the national stage in the contemporary times.

(with inputs from PTI)