Ex-Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel to be Madhya Pradesh’s Next Governor

Anandiben Patel had given up her position as the chief minister of Gujarat in August 2016.

Anandiben Patel. 

(Photo: Reuters)

Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel was appointed on Friday, 19 January, as the new Governor of Madhya Pradesh.

Patel succeeded PM Modi as the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2014. However, in August 2016 she resigned from the post.

In her Facebook post about her resignation, the now 76-year-old Patel had hinted at an unwritten rule set by PM Modi that mandates party leaders above the age of 75 to quit the position. However, the main cause behind her resignation was considered to be BJP’s loss in the 2015 local self-government election and the Hardik Patel-led Patidar agitation.

Patel will be replacing Om Prakash Kohli, who has the additional charge of the office of MP Governor, along with the office of Gujarat Governor. According to a PTI report, OP Kohli was given the additional charge as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh in September 2016, when the tenure of incumbent Ram Naresh Yadav ended.

Patel was felicitated by BJP leaders in Gandhinagar on being appointed the Governor of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, 20 January, reported ANI.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)

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