How Bhupendra Patel rose the ranks - From councillor to 2nd-time Chief Minister of Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR: Bhupendra Patel, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second consecutive term on Monday after the BJP's victory in the state elections. Patel was born in Ahmedabad and holds a diploma in civil engineering. He is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and is active in the Pandit Deendayal Library, which is managed by the RSS. Patel began his political career as a member of the Memnagar municipality and was elected as an MLA from the Ghatlodia constituency in Ahmedabad in the 2017 Gujarat assembly elections.

Record-breaking victory in 2022 Gujarat Assembly Election

He was sworn in as the 17th Chief Minister of Gujarat on September 13, 2021. He was first elected as BJP legislative party leader on September 12, 2021. Breaking his own record, Patel once again won from Ghatlodia constituency by a staggering margin of 1,91,000 votes in the 2022 election.

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Began as councillor in 1995

Patel has vast experience in administration, having served as the Chairman of the Standing Committee of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and as a Corporator for Thaltej ward from 2010 to 2015. He began his political career in 1995 when he was appointed as the Chairman of the Standing Committee of Memnagar municipality. He served the municipality for over a decade, becoming Chairman of the local body during 1999-2000 and 2004-2006.

He also served as the Vice Chairman of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation School Board between 2008 and 2010. Later on, he served as a Corporator from Thaltej ward from 2010 to 2015. During this tenure, he served as the Chairman of the Standing Committee of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).In 2015, he was appointed as the chairman of the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA).

In 2017, he became an MLA in Gujarat 

In 2017, Patel became a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the first time, by winning the election from Ghatlodia constituency with a wide margin of 1,17,000 votes. BJP swept the Gujarat Assembly election winning a whopping 156 seats, which is the highest number of seats any party has won after the formation of the state in the year 1960.

The BJP`s seventh consecutive Assembly poll win in Gujarat is its biggest since the founding of this state in 1960. The BJP bagged 156 seats in the 182-member Assembly, its highest-ever poll tally in the state. The opposition Congress could manage only 17 seats while Arvind Kejriwal`s Aam Aadmi Party had to be content with just 5 seats. Three seats went to Independent candidates while the Samajwadi Party (SP) won a lone seat in the state.

The BJP, which has won its seventh straight election in Gujarat, not only improved its own best record of 127 seats in 2002-- the first election with Narendra Modi as Chief Minister -- but the Congress` tally of 149 seats in 1985.

(With ANI inputs)