Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inducted 26 ministers in a significant cabinet reshuffle, elevating Harsh Sanghvi as Deputy Chief Minister and bringing in fresh faces like Rivaba Jadeja as Minister of State. The ceremony was held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.
Harsh Sanghvi, 40, is Gujarat’s youngest Deputy Chief Minister and a three-time MLA from Surat. Known for his strong public connections, he previously handled key portfolios like Home, Youth Affairs, Disaster Management, and Cultural Activities. He gained prominence for efficient policing reforms and youth outreach. Seen as a rising BJP leader, he’s often compared to Amit Shah.
Rivaba Jadeja, 34, is a first-time BJP MLA from Jamnagar North and now Minister of State in the Gujarat cabinet. An engineering graduate and RSS affiliate, she symbolizes new-generation leadership with a focus on women and rural development. She is also the wife of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja.
Other important portfolio holders include Kanubhai Desai, who continues as Finance Minister, and Jitu Vaghani, who retains charge of Education. Rajendra Trivedi has been assigned the pivotal role of Speaker of the Assembly. Arjun Modhwadia, a senior Congress leader, remains in the opposition but is widely noted for his influence in state politics.
This new cabinet reshuffle was because of the incident on Thursday when all 16 Gujarat ministers had resigned, allowing CM Bhupendra Patel to revamp his cabinet ahead of the 2026 local and 2027 state elections.
The new cabinet features diverse representation, including seven Patidars, eight OBCs, three Scheduled Castes, four Scheduled Tribes, and three women ministers. This reshuffle is widely viewed as a strategic effort to revitalize Gujarat’s leadership and prepare for the 2026 local body elections and 2027 state assembly polls.
