Just in: Vijay Rupani to be Gujarat CM, Nitin Patel to be his deputy.

Rupani was made president of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Gujarat unit in February. His appointment, insiders said, was delayed by almost a month owing to differences between Anandiben Patel and BJP President Amit Shah.

He replaced the Leuva Patidar leader, R C Faldu, and his appointment came at a time when the party was facing serious challenges from the community.

The appointment was seen as a mark of confidence the BJP brass had in the leader from the Baniya community.

A Jain Baniya, Rupani does not belong to one of the majority communities in the state; Jains make up only one per cent of Gujarat's population while Baniyas comprise three per cent.

The BJP selected a non-other backward classes and non-Patel leader at the helm to avoid a tricky political situation, sources said. Many see Rupani as an Amit Shah confidante. Hence, his appointment hinted at the latter's increased indirect control of the state unit, where rumours of factionalism are rife.

Rupani was a cabinet minister with portfolios such as transport and labour & employment. As Gujarat party president, Rupani was required to consolidate the cadre amid challenges such as the Patidar reservation agitation.

Also, given the party's poor performance in rural areas during the recent local body polls, Rupani's role was deemed to be crucial in maintaining and improving on the party's prospects in the assembly elections in December 2017.

Rupani has also been the party's general secretary and was an active member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

Nitin Patel is considered a seasoned politician, who rose up the ranks over the years, especially in the last two years as the second-in-command of CM Anandiben Patel.

Currently serving as health, public welfare and roads and building minister in Gujarat, Patel has also been a businessman, having dabbled in cotton ginning and oil pressing.

Having contested his first assembly election in 1995, Patel has usually won from the Kadi constituency and became a cabinet minister in the Keshubhai Patel government.