In a dramatic turn of events, all Gujarat ministers resign, leaving only the Chief Minister in office amid speculations of a major cabinet reshuffle.
Fourteen of the Gujarat Government’s 16 Ministers Resign, New Team to be Sworn in on Friday. In a dramatic political turn of events in Gujarat, all 16 ministers in Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s cabinet resigned on Thursday, making way for the scale of a massive reshuffle in the state government. The new council of ministers are to take oath on Friday at 12:39 pm, as per an official government statement.
The announcement is a notable event in Gujarat’s political timeline, following almost two years since Bhupendra Patel was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second consecutive term on December 12, 2022. The sources suggest that the impending cabinet expansion will provide fresh momentum and balance caste, regional, and political calculations in the run-up to future electoral contests. Cabinet Expansion at 12:39 pm — A Moment of Great Careful Calculation A release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that the ceremony to expand the cabinet will take place at Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar at 12:39 pm sharp on Friday, a time considered astrologically favorable. “Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s cabinet will be expanded at 12:39 pm on Friday,” the release read.
Political commentators opine that the accuracy of timing is a testament to the BJP’s attention to detail and tradition, particularly in a state well-reputed to combine governance with symbolic cultural actions.16 Ministers Resign — Half Likely to Be Replaced With all 16 ministers, eight of whom are of cabinet rank and eight Ministers of State (MoS), resigning, the turf is now set for a total makeover. Though Bhupendra Patel stays on as the Chief Minister, sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) informed PTI that almost half the ministers in the current setup are expected to be omitted, paving the way for about 10 new entrants in the revamped cabinet.
The reshuffle, party sources indicate, is intended to find the optimal mix of experience and youth. It could also be intended to include representatives of communities and regions that contributed significantly to the BJP’s comprehensive win in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly polls.The 182-member Gujarat Assembly permits as many as 27 ministers, or 15 per cent of the House strength, under constitutional provisions.
The expansion, therefore, may increase the size as well as diversity of the state cabinet.Leadership Changes in Gujarat BJP .The shake-up follows closely on the heels of yet another top organizational change in the Gujarat BJP. Last week, Jagdish Vishwakarma, who is a Minister of State with the Gujarat government, was named the BJP’s new Gujarat state president to replace Union Minister C.R. Paatil.Vishwakarma’s promotion is being seen as a part of a larger design to tighten the party’s grassroots connect and gear the state machinery for the 2026 local body elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. His assignment also called for reforms within the government, giving a further push to the cabinet reformation exercise.
A Political Reset Before the Next Big Test Political analysts opine that the resignations and reshuffle indicate that the BJP is trying to remain ahead of anti-incumbency winds. Gujarat, a central stronghold of the party since the 1990s, remains symbolic and strategic ground for the BJP’s national narrative.Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, with his soothing temperament and administrative orientation, enjoyed robust support from the state leadership as well as the central command of the party. His new cabinet is likely to introduce a combination of technocrats, fresh faces, and politically powerful leaders in such a way that there would be continuity as well as renewal.
Though formal statements about the new ministers will only be made on Friday, sources suggest that the shake-up will largely focus on performance-based assessment, rewarding efficiency and discipline in the ranks.What Lies Ahead While Gujarat waits to unveil its new cabinet, political activity has gained momentum in Gandhinagar. Top BJP leaders have been having back-to-back meetings to confirm names and positions. The swearing-in ceremony is likely to attract major attention, marking the state government’s fresh push for governance, infrastructure, and investment.Until then, attention remains riveted on Friday at 12:39 pm, when Bhupendra Patel will officially induct his new council — a council that will take Gujarat’s model of governance and the BJP’s political legacy into the next phase of the state’s history.
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