Gujarat Cabinet rejig: Harsh Sanghavi on Friday took oath as the deputy chief minister of Gujarat at a swearing-in ceremony for the new cabinet members.
The Gujarat government on Friday announced its new cabinet of 26 ministers, which includes Rivaba Jadeja, wife of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja. The announcement comes a day after the previous council of ministers, except Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, submitted their resignations as part of a “strategic reset”, said party officials.
The new cabinet includes Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel, Trikam Bijal Chhanga, Swarupji Sardarji Thakor, Pravenkumar Mali, Rushikesh Ganeshbhai Patel, PC Baranda, Darshana M Vaghela, Kantratalal Shivalal Amrutia, Kunwarjibhai Mohanbhai Bavaliya, Rivaba Ravindrasinh Jadeja, Arjunbhai Devabhai Modwadia, Dr Pradyuman Vaja, Kaushik Kantibhai Vekariya, Parshottambhai O. Solanki, Jitendrabhai Savjibhai Vaghani, Ramanbhai Bhikhabhai Solanki, Kamleshbhai Rameshbhai Patel, Sanjaysinh Rajaysinh Mahida, Rameshbhai Bhurabhai Katara, Manisha Rajivbhai Vakil, Ishwarsinh Thakorbhai Patel, Praful Panseriya, Harsh Sanghvi, Dr Jayrambhai Chemabhai Gamit, Nareshbhai Maganbhai Patel, Kanubhai Mohanlal Desai.
Strategic Reset Before Local and Assembly Polls
According to Hindustan Times, a senior BJP leader said the ministers were asked to submit their resignations by Thursday afternoon to give the CM and the party leadership flexibility for a strategic reshuffle before the local body elections and 2027 state assembly polls. “The chief minister met the ministers after they resigned on Thursday and they have started vacating their offices”, he added.
CM Patel had earlier led a council of eight cabinet-rank ministers, two ministers of state with independent charge and six ministers of state. After the resignations, Patel met Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat on Thursday evening and submitted the names of the new ministers. The oath-taking ceremony will be held around noon on Friday with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda in attendance.
All BJP MLAs of the state have been asked to remain in Gandhinagar for the swearing-in ceremony. This is the first major change in Patel’s council since he took over as CM in 2021 after the party’s landslide victory in the 2022 state assembly elections.