Gujarat Opinion Poll: Vijay Rupani favourite for CM's post, followed by Congress' Shaktisinh Gohil

As BJP looks set to retain power in its bastion of Gujarat in the upcoming Assembly elections, incumbent Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is the most popular choice for the top post in the state, according to the India Today-Axis My India opinion poll.

Asked who should be the next chief minister of Gujarat, 34 per cent of those surveyed voted in favour of Rupani, who replaced Anandiben Patel in 2016. Anandiben Patel was installed as the chief minister after Narendra Modi vacated the chair to move to Delhi as prime minister after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

However, after mismanagement of governance and dissatisfaction among the people and the BJP, Anandiben was replaced with Rupani. Since then, the incumbent chief minister has sought to bring governance back on the track.

As per the opinion poll, Rupani is followed by Shaktisinh Gohil of the Congress with 19 per cent of the people who were surveyed favouring him. Gohil is followed by Bharatsinh Solanki, president of the Congress' Gujarat unit. Eleven per cent favour Solanki as the next Gujarat chief minister.

BJP president Amit Shah too finds favour with the people with 10 per cent voting for him as the next chief minister.

Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) chief Hardik Patel is favoured by 6 per cent of the people who were surveyed. Hardik Patel launched a movement last year demanding OBC quota for Patidars and Patels in government jobs and educational institutions. Paatel make up for 14 per cent of the Gujarat's population.

Despite his denial, Hardik Patel has been found to be hobnobbing with the Congress. He was reportedly seen coming out of the hotel in which Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had been staying in Ahmedabad. He is the only youth agitationist to be favoured for the CM's post.

The names of OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, who joined the Congress on October 23, and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani do not find mention in the list of favourites for the CM's post.

Despite being removed as chief minister, Anandiben Patel is still favoured by 5 per cent of the people who were surveyed for the top post. Close on her heels, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel finds favour with 4 per cent.