Key Points
- All 16 ministers in Gujarat, except Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, have resigned ahead of a planned cabinet expansion tomorrow.
- Cabinet size will increase from 17 to a maximum of 27 ministers, with around 10 new faces expected.
- The move follows the BJP’s strategy to combat anti-incumbency and infuse new energy ahead of local body polls and 2027 assembly elections.
- BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to attend oath ceremony at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.
- Jagdish Vishwakarma was recently appointed BJP Gujarat state president, replacing Union Minister C R Patil.
- Interim resignations submitted tonight; final ministerial list to be announced after BJP leadership’s key meeting.
Gandhinagar: In a significant political development, the entire Gujarat cabinet, barring Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, tendered their resignations on Thursday evening in preparation for a major cabinet reshuffle scheduled for Friday. The move is widely seen as part of the BJP’s efforts to overcome growing anti-incumbency and revitalize governance ahead of upcoming local body elections and the 2027 Assembly polls.
The current council comprises 17 members, including eight cabinet ministers and eight Ministers of State. Gujarat’s 182-member assembly permits a maximum of 27 ministers, allowing room for the induction of nearly 10 new ministers in the expanded cabinet. The BJP leadership is expected to balance caste, regional representation, youth, and women’s representation in the new line-up.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who took oath for the second time on December 12, 2022, will submit his resignation to Governor Acharya Devvrat on Thursday night. The governor’s office will then administer the oath of office to the new ministers during a ceremony at 11:30 am on Friday at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.
Top BJP leaders, including National President JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have arrived in Gandhinagar to oversee the proceedings. A key meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence on Thursday night, attended by senior BJP organisation general secretary Sunil Bansal and state leaders like Ratnakar and Jagdish Vishwakarma (the new BJP Gujarat president), is set to finalize the new cabinet list.
The reshuffle is expected to bring a blend of experienced politicians and fresh faces, aiming to sustain the party’s dominance in Gujarat. This decision comes nearly three years into the current term and aligns with the BJP’s historical strategy that saw a major cabinet overhaul ahead of the 2022 elections, which resulted in a record 156 seats for the party.
With a tight schedule and no cabinet meetings until completion of the reshuffle, all MLAs and outgoing ministers have been directed to remain in Gandhinagar. Political observers see this reshuffle as a crucial step that could reshape Gujarat’s political landscape, injecting new energy and addressing regional and caste considerations to secure the BJP’s future electoral success.
This expansive cabinet reshuffle highlights the BJP’s meticulous planning as it prepares to navigate the forthcoming political challenges in the state. The expanded Gujarat cabinet will be closely watched for signals about shifting power dynamics, leadership priorities, and governance focus in the coming years.
