Sulking Nitin Patel wins 'prestige' battle, gets Finance

New Delhi: Days after his swearing in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, a sulking Nitin Patel was on Sunday placated by BJP Chief Amit Shah and convinced him to take charge formally. In what is given out to be "prestige" battle, the key portfolio of Finance-that was with the Patidar leader (Nitin Patel) in the last Ministry- was given to him again on Sunday.

"Amitbhai called me this morning at 7.30 am and communicated that my prestige will be maintained and assured to allot a suitable portfolio", Mr Patel told reporters in Ahmedabad, however, maintaining that his fight was never for a portfolio but for the "prestige".

The Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced the decision saying Nitin Patel has been allotted Finance portfolio and "this puts an end to all the issues". The new BJP Ministry in Gujarat was sworn in on December 26 and since then Mr Patel had been declining to take over the charge.

Finance Ministry was earlier allotted to Saurabh Patel, who is now left with the Energy portfolio.

Nitin Patel further said, "The full-fledged work will start form the New Year. I believe that my respect is restored and the party has upheld my dignity".(UNI)