The decision was taken at a meeting of party executives. Jadeja will replace Rupani.

A close aide of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Jadeja had contested from Dhrangadra in 2007 Assembly elections but lost to Congress' Harilal Patel. Jadeja is one of the seven ministers of the previous Modi Cabinet, who failed to make it back to the Assembly, despite the party getting a complete majority.

As both the prominent Kshatriya leaders of the last state cabinet Bhupendrasinh Chudasma and Jadeja could not win in the elections, observers feel that the step was necessary to keep the powerful Kshatriya lobby in the state in good humour. "The step has been taken in the long term interest of the party," said a party insider.

Rupani's removal appeared imminent since the Assembly elections. Even before the polls took place, he was pushed to Rajkot and was asked to look after the Saurashtra region, while Bhavna Dave, Yamal Vyas, Bharat Garibala and Dr. Mukund Shah were asked to speak for the party.