Political activity has gathered pace in Gandhinagar with Gujarat bracing for a major cabinet reshuffle on Friday.
This will be the first major cabinet expansion/reshuffle in Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s government, currently operating with just 17 ministers. The BJP is preparing to infuse new energy and social balance ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
The swearing-in ceremony of the new ministers will take place at the Mahatma Gandhi Mandir. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and national BJP president JP Nadda are expected to remain present. The expansion is likely to reflect the party’s larger electoral strategy for Gujarat, where it faces a renewed challenge from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Gopal Italia, particularly in Patidar-dominated areas.
According to sources, all ministers have been directed to stay put in Gandhinagar over the next 48 hours. Many of them are expected to submit their resignations by Thursday evening. Intense consultations in Delhi earlier this week are said to have finalised the blueprint for the major revamp.
The reshuffle will not only fill up the dozen or so vacant offices in the Swarnim Sankul complex but may also see a generational shift and region-wise balancing.
Sources said that key ministers such as Dharmendrasinh, Rishikesh Patel, Mukesh Patel, and Bhupendrasinh Chudasama could retain their portfolios. However, others including Kanubhai Desai (Finance), Raghavji Patel (Agriculture), Kunvarji Bavaliya (Water Supply), and Murubhai Bera (Tourism) might make way for new entrants.
Those expected to join the revamped cabinet include Jayesh Radadiya, Shankar Chaudhary, Arjun Modhwadia, Jitu Vaghani, Reevaba Jadeja (cricketer Ravindra Jadeja’s wife, and Alpesh Thakor (who had joined the BJP in 2019 after quitting the Congress) — a mix of young leaders and experienced faces aimed at strengthening the BJP’s representation across regions and communities. Saurashtra, in particular, is likely to see enhanced representation as the party seeks to consolidate its base ahead of the high-stakes 2027 polls.
Sources said that another minister who is likely to be dropped is Bachu Khabad. His two sons are allegedly involved in multicores MGNREGA scam in Dahod. The opposition Congress has been demanding that he should be sacked. It now remains to be seen what the BJP does.
When the scam broke out, the then Gujarat BJP president C. R. Paatil had said that the party would think about action if Khabad’s involvement comes to light.
Also Read: Gujarat Cabinet Expansion Before Diwali? https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-cabinet-expansion-before-diwali/
