The BJP’s choice of Jagdish Vishwakarma as its new Gujarat president reflects the party’s attempt to balance caste representation and internal power equations.
Vishwakarma, 58, a three-term MLA from Ahmedabad’s Nikol constituency, replaces Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil and also serves as a minister of state in Gujarat, handling MSME, industries, roads and buildings, forest and environment, printing and stationery, and salt industries.
A long-time party worker, Vishwakarma began his political journey at the grassroots level in 1998 as a booth in-charge in Ahmedabad’s Thakkarbapanagar area. Over the years, he rose steadily through the organisation, becoming convenor of the BJP’s industry cell and later the party’s Ahmedabad city president before moving into state politics. In his election affidavit, he declared assets worth over Rs. 29 crore and business interests in textile machinery, real estate, and infrastructure, placing him among the more affluent MLAs in the state.
He belongs to the Vishwakarma or Panchal community, traditionally known for artisanal work and listed among the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in several states. His elevation is being seen as part of the BJP’s effort to widen its social base beyond its core Patidar, upper-caste, and business-class supporters.
He succeeds C.R. Patil, who led the BJP to a record win in the 2022 Assembly elections, securing 156 of the 182 seats, after the party’s sweeping victory in the 2021 civic polls. Patil had expressed his desire to focus on his central responsibilities since mid-2024, and the announcement of a new state president had been keenly awaited by party workers across Gujarat.
Vishwakarma’s appointment brings renewed energy but also considerable challenges. He will have to maintain a delicate balance among key social blocs—Patidars, OBCs, Adivasis, and Dalits—while ensuring the BJP’s traditional elite supporters remain assured of their influence. The appointment may also leave some senior state leaders disappointed, and managing factionalism within the Ahmedabad unit and among sitting MPs and MLAs will test his organisational skills.
With the new leadership in place, the BJP is expected to concentrate on the upcoming municipal elections and the 2027 Assembly polls. The party continues to dominate local bodies, having won 62 of 66 municipalities and 55 of 78 taluka panchayats in recent contests.
A cabinet reshuffle in the state government is likely to follow Vishwakarma’s appointment. He is expected to seek a balance of caste and region in ministerial positions, reward loyal party workers, and promote new faces. Those who joined the BJP from the Congress with expectations of ministerial roles are also likely to be accommodated.
Vishwakarma’s elevation, therefore, represents the BJP’s latest balancing act—an effort to sustain its broad social coalition while maintaining a firm grip over Gujarat’s complex political landscape.
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