Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 17: Surat MLA Harsh Sanghavi took oath as the deputy chief minister of Gujarat on Friday as the state witnessed a major cabinet reshuffle, with several new ministers assuming charge of key portfolios.

The new cabinet includes Swaroopji Thakor, Pravenkumar Mali, Rushikesh Patel, Darshna Waghela, Kunvarji Bavaliya, Rivaba Jadeja, Arjun Modhwadia, Parshottam Solanki, Jitendra Waghani, Praful Pansheriya, Harsh Sanghvi, and Kanubhai Desai.

The entire Gujarat cabinet, except for Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, had resigned on Thursday. “Resignations of all the 16 ministers have been taken by the party. Except for Chief Minister Patel, all the ministers have resigned,” a source told PTI. The outgoing cabinet included eight cabinet-rank ministers and nine ministers of state.

The reshuffle comes nearly three years into Patel’s current term and ahead of crucial local body elections across municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats, and taluka panchayats.

Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar.

Earlier this month, Jagdish Vishwakarma, minister of state, was appointed Gujarat BJP state president, succeeding Union Minister CR Paatil. Gujarat’s 182-member assembly allows up to 27 ministers, or 15% of the house.

Patel, who was sworn in for his second term as chief minister on December 12, 2022, continues to lead the state government as it prepares for the upcoming elections.