Bengaluru: The name of Karnataka Governor Vajubai Rudabai Vala is making rounds for post of Gujarat chief minister, according to BJP sources.
Mr Vala, one of the senior most leaders of the Gujarat BJP, has been serving as governor of Karnataka for more than three years. He hails from Rajkot and is a noted backward classes leader. Mr Vala had served as Speaker of the Gujarat Assembly for two years from 2012 and had the rare distinction of presenting 17 budgets in a row. Sources said the BJP national leaders are reportedly considering his name with a view to consolidating the Dalit and backward classes votes for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
But the main disadvantage for Mr Vala has been his age as he is 78 years and according to the newly laid guidelines by PM Modi, no leader over 75 years can hold an executive post. If PM Narendra Modi goes by this yardstick, Mr Vala cannot hold the CM gaddi. The name of union textile minister Smrithi Irani was also being actively considered by party leaders. In the just concluded assembly elections, the ruling BJP came back to power with 99 seats against the total 182 seats. The Congress won 80 seats.
