GANDHINAGAR: In a surprise decision, BJP state unit chief Vijay Rupani+ , a Amit Shah loyalist, was on Friday chosen as the new chief minister of Gujarat+ to succeed Anandiben Patel+ , pipping Nitin Patel who was considered a sure pick for the top job in the poll-bound state.



Nitin Patel, seen as the front-runner for the top slot after Anandiben offered to resign, was made deputy chief minister. It is for the first time that Gujarat will have a deputy chief minister.



The announcement was made by Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who was assigned as the party's observer, after the BJP legislature party meeting which elected 61-year-old Rupani as its leader+ . The names of Rupani and Nitin Patel were proposed by Anandiben Patel and seconded by several MLAs.



The decision to make Rupani as chief minister and Nitin Patel, the incumbent health minister, as his deputy was taken at hectic parleys involving BJP president Amit Shah+ and Gadkari.



The BJP legislature party meeting, which was to start at 4pm began two hours late, apparently due to parleys involving top leaders.



Earlier in the day, Nitin Patel's office had claimed that his name has been finalised by the BJP to fill the position that fell vacant by Anandiben's resignation.