Gujarat Cabinet Reshuffle: All 16 Ministers Resign Ahead of Expansion

In a significant political shift, all 16 ministers in the Gujarat government submitted their resignations on Thursday, just one day before a scheduled cabinet expansion. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel remains the sole member unaffected by this mass resignation, according to sources within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The cabinet expansion is set to take place at 11:30 AM on Friday.

The current council of ministers includes 17 members, with Bhupendra Patel serving as Chief Minister and eight others holding cabinet-rank positions. The remaining ministers are designated as Ministers of State (MoS). The state of Gujarat, which operates under a 182-member assembly, is permitted to have a maximum of 27 ministers, equating to 15 percent of the assembly’s strength.

This abrupt resignation of ministers comes on the heels of a leadership change within the state BJP. Earlier this month, Jagdish Vishwakarma was appointed the new president of the Gujarat BJP, replacing C R Paatil, a current Union minister.

Bhupendra Patel assumed the role of Chief Minister for the second time on December 12, 2022, and this cabinet reshuffle is anticipated to reflect the party’s strategic adjustments ahead of upcoming legislative priorities.

As the political landscape in Gujarat evolves, the outcomes of the cabinet expansion may hold significant implications for governance and party dynamics in the region. The BJP’s swift action in reshaping its ministerial team underscores the party’s commitment to addressing ongoing challenges and optimizing its leadership structure.

The developments surrounding this cabinet expansion will be closely monitored, as they are expected to influence both local governance and the BJP’s political strategy moving forward.