All about Anandiben

Anandiben, who tendered her resignation on Monday, has the double distinction of being Gujarat’s first woman CM as well as the only woman MLA to be elected four consecutive times

GN Bureau | August 2, 2016


#Narendra Modi   #Gujarat CM   #Anandiben Patel   #Amit Shah  
Anandiben Patel
Anandiben Patel

Following recent unrest in Gujarat, chief minister Anandiben Patel posted her resignation letter on her official website, linked to Facebook and Twitter. As the BJP parliamentary board decides over her resignation, here are a few facts about the teacher-turned-politician.

 

  • Anandiben taught science and mathematics to higher secondary students in Mohiniba Kanya Vidyalaya in 1970. Later, she became the school's principal.
  • She received Gujarat government’s bravery award in 1987 for rescuing two girls who fell into the river.
  • She joined BJP as the Gujarat Pradesh Mahila Morcha president in 1987.
  • Anandiben is one of the longest serving woman MLAs in Gujarat. She is also the only woman MLA of Gujarat to be elected four consecutive times.
  • She started her political journey as Rajya Sabha member in 1994 and moved to Gujarat during the state elections in 1998. She had an uninterrupted stint in office for 18 years.
  • She has been the cabinet minister of road and building, revenue, urban development and urban housing, disaster management and capital projects from 2007 to 2014.
  • The only BJP leader who has so far resigned from a post because of the age limit is Najma Heptulla. She stepped down as union minister for minority affairs on July 12.
  • Top contenders for the chief minister’s post include national BJP president Amit Shah, Gujarat BJP chief Vijay Rupani and Gujarat’s health and family welfare minister Nitin Patel.

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