After phone call with Amit Shah, Nitin Patel takes charge of ministries

NEW DELHI: Days after reports emerged that Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel was unhappy with his portfolios being stripped away , he took charge of his ministries on Sunday.
"I will go to Secretariat and take charge of the ministries today," ANI quoted Patel as saying earlier in the day.
He added that he had been "assured that I will be given suitable departments," after a phone call with BJP president Amit Shah.
Patel, who was upset after the important finance and urban development portfolios were taken away from him, had on Saturday claimed that his "fight is for prestige and not post. My respect and honour should be restored in the party ."

Patel said that he did not support the call for a bandh by his well-wishers and requested them to withdraw it. Patidar outfit SPG had called for a bandh in Mehsana on January 1 to show solidarity with Patel.
The BJP government in Gujarat is expected to intimate the state's Governor about the new portfolios to be allotted to Patel.
In his previous innings as deputy, Patel handled key departments like finance and urban development. This time around he was allotted road and building, health, medical education, Narmada, Kalpsar and capital projects.

The finance portfolio was instead alloted to Saurabh Patel, while chief minister Vijay Rupani kept the urban development department.
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Sulking, Patel refused to take charge of his departments.
Interestingly, Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel jumped into the conflict, offering to join hands with Patel: "If Nitinbhai along with 10 MLAs is ready to leave BJP, then I will talk to Congress to get him a good position. If BJP does not respect him, he should leave the party."
(With inputs from agencies)