Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: In a significant overhaul of Gujarat’s cabinet, Majura MLA Harsh Sanghavi took oath as the state’s new deputy chief minister on Friday at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. Alongside Sanghavi, 25 ministers were sworn in, bringing the total cabinet strength to 26, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The reshuffle, which comes just three years into the government’s term, is aimed at introducing fresh faces ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Key Retentions and New Appointments
Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath to the new ministers. Several leaders retained their portfolios, including Visnagar MLA Rushikesh Patel (Health, Education, Law), Kamrej MLA Praful Pansheriya (MoS Parliamentary Affairs), Jasdan MLA Kunvarji Bavaliya (Water Resources), Pardi MLA Kanubhai Desai (Finance, Energy, Petrochemicals), and Bhavnagar Rural MLA Parshottam Solanki (MoS Fisheries).
Among the new inductees, Harsh Sanghavi, a three-time MLA and former Minister of State for Home, emerged as the most prominent figure, taking on the deputy CM role. Others inducted include Naresh Patel (Gandevi), Darshna Vaghela (Asarwa), Pradyuman Vaja (Kodinar), Kantilal Amrutiya (Morbi), Manisha Vakil (Vadodara City), Arjun Mondhwadia (Porbandar), Jitu Vaghani (Bhavnagar), Kaushik Vekariya (Amreli), Swarupji Thakor (Banaskantha), Trikam Chhanga (Anjar), Jayram Gamit (Nizar), Rivaba Jadeja (Jamnagar North), PC Baranda (Bhilloda), Ramesh Katara (Dahod), Ishwarsinh Patel (Ankleshwar), Pravin Mali (Deesa), Ramanbhai Solanki (Borsad), Kamlesh Patel (Petlad), and Sanjay Singh Mahida (Mahudha).
Strategic Move Ahead of 2027 Polls
The reshuffle follows the resignation of all 16 ministers, excluding CM Bhupendra Patel, on Thursday. Gujarat’s 182-member Assembly permits a maximum of 27 ministers, and this expanded cabinet reflects the BJP’s strategy to strengthen governance and electoral positioning ahead of local polls and the 2027 Assembly elections.
