Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel exhibited his sulkiness openly on Saturday during Vibrant Gujarat Summit seminar. The sulky BJP leader kept a distance from the chief minister during the seminar by Gujarat government.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was to share his vision of his government in the seminar 'Gujarat's Sprint to 2022' and both, Rupani and Patel were listening to speakers who were on the dais. Suddenly, Patel left the place and went in a distant corner near to stage and sat on an ordinary chair.

Five senior officials including chief secretary Dr JN Singh and secretary to CM Ashwani Kumar rushed to placate Patel to take the position in front of the dais, but he refused and remained stuck on the same chair.

Patel, in fact, was not oblivious that people attending the seminar and especially media persons were noticing the entire melodrama been played in front of them when CM Rupani was also present at the venue. It was clearly visible that Nitin Patel did not agree to change his place and ultimately the additional chief secretary in General Administration Department, Sangita Singh had to sit next to him in another chair to stop the situation worsening. Thereafter, Rupani and Patel both went on the dais for their address in the seminar but their body language clearly revealed that there was a strain in the chemistry between the CM and Deputy CM.

No comment on the incident could be received on the issue either from the deputy CM or the officials of the state government. It is also noteworthy that Patel was not happy with the exclusion of his name from the invite for the inauguration of newly built Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also was present at the event, but Patel did not appear there. He had also left the place of Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show held in Gandhinagar when PM and CM were present at the venue. Also, Patel did not go to receive the PM on his arrival at Ahmedabad airport on the same day.