After CM Ashok Gehlot and former deputy CM Sachin Pilot being at loggerheads with the party’s leadership, Chief Ministers’ resignations have caught a pace. Started after Madhya Pradesh’s mid-way government change, replacing Kamalnath with Kamal’s Shivraj Chauhan, frequent cabinet reshuffling has posed a threat to policy, government, and accountability.
The BJP gives its Chief Ministers a long run at power, but the party has taken over Congress’s mark and changed 5 CMs in the last six months between March and August.
In a shocking development of political turmoil in Punjab, on Saturday, Punjab chief minister Captain Amrinder Singh stepped down made way for Dalit-Sikh leader Charanjit Singh Channi.
Though BJP wants to break the caste barrier with the replacement, Congress is still stuck with its caste-based agenda. Here is the list of all chief ministers who made the walkout and what led to their abdication.
1. Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa replaced with B.S. Bommai
What led to this? Yeddyurappa’s age was the most significant factor besides corruption allegations. The Saffron party believes that a young leader will better grow their party in the state.
2. Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat with Pushkar Singh Dhami
What led to this? Tirath Singh Rawat’s unpopularity with RSS and the party’s central leadership and growing complaints against Rawat from a section of MLAs led to the resignation.
3. Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani with Bhupendra Patel
What led to this? Bhupendra Patel is an influential leader of the Patidar caste in Gujarat, which is just 12-14% of Gujarat’s population. It is caste calculus that led to his replacement with Amit Shah’s close Bhupendra Patel.
4. Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal with Himanta Biswa Sarma
What led to this? The BJP high command opted for the change of guard in Assam, picking Himanta Biswa Sarma against Sarbananda Sonowal for Biswa’s dedication and achievements.
5. Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh With Charanjit Singh Channi
What Led to this? Captain Amarinder Singh resigned, saying he felt humiliated because he observed internal movements against his leadership in Punjab. But, Congress replaced him to expand the reach to the lower caste with Dalit-Sikh leader Charanjit Singh Channi.
