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Sole candidate to file nomination, Cabinet minister Vishvakarma set to be Gujarat BJP chief

A formal announcement of Vishvakarma's election as the party president is expected to be made on Saturday in the presence of senior BJP leaders following which he will assume charge of the top post.

Vishvakarma was elected to Gujarat Assembly for the first time in 2012. (File Photo)

Minister of State in the Gujarat government and Nikol MLA Jagdish Vishvakarma (52) is all set to be elected unopposed as the next president of Gujarat BJP as he emerged as the sole candidate to have filed his nomination in the election process for the top post on Friday. A formal announcement of Vishvakarma’s election as the party president is expected to be made on Saturday in the presence of senior party leaders following which he will assume charge of the top post.

On Thursday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had issued a notification for the election of the state president and 39 national council members. As per the schedule, the nominations were to be filed between 11 am and 2 pm.

According to media convener of Gujarat BJP Yagnesh Dave, Vishvakarma was the only one to have filed his nomination for the post of state president. Similarly, for the 39 posts of national council members, only one person filed nomination for each of the posts.

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According to a party release, the function in which the newly elected president would assume the charge on Saturday will be attended by senior party leaders like central election incharge K Lakshman, state incharge and union minister Bhupender Yadav, outgoing president and Union minister C R Paatil, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and party organising secretary Ratnakar among others.

Vishvakarma, a three-time MLA from Nikol constituency of Ahmedabad city, will be the 12th president of Gujarat BJP. Belonging to the Other Backward Class (OBC) community, Vishvakarma is currently the Minister of State for Cooperation; Salt Industries; Printing and Stationery; Protocol; Micro, Small and Medium Industries; Cottage, Khadi and Rural Industries, and Civil Aviation. For the portfolios of Cooperation, Salt Industries, Printing and Stationery, and Protocol, he holds independent charge.

From booth worker to party chief

Vishvakarma started his political journey as a party’s booth worker in Thakkarbapanagar constituency of Ahmedabad in 1998. In 2013, he was appointed as convener of the party’s Industry Cell at state level. He also served as the party’s president of Ahmedabad city unit.

Vishvakarma was elected to Gujarat Assembly for the first time in 2012. He went on to win from the same constituency in 2017 and 2022 as well.

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Vishvakarma has studied up to Second Year of Bachelor of Arts and is in the business of textile machinery manufacturing, real estate and marketing.

On Friday, BJP’s media team had announced that Vishvakarma will meet media persons at his residence in Thakkarbapanagar late in the evening. However, the interaction was later cancelled. On Saturday, Vishvakarma is scheduled to carry out a rally from his residence before reaching state headquarters Shree Kamalam.