GANDHINAGAR, Oct 16: In a major political development ahead of the anticipated cabinet expansion in Gujarat, all 16 ministers in the state government tendered their resignations to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday, paving the way for a fresh ministerial team to be sworn in on Friday. The move marks a complete overhaul of the existing cabinet, a strategic decision by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to infuse new energy and balance political representation ahead of crucial policy rollouts and the 2027 Assembly elections.
According to BJP sources, the resignations were collected after consultations with the party’s top leadership. “All 16 ministers, barring Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, have resigned. The party has decided to reconstitute the council of ministers to realign governance priorities,” a senior BJP insider said. The cabinet expansion ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 am on Friday, as per an official release from the state government.
The current council of ministers comprises 17 members, including eight cabinet-rank ministers and eight Ministers of State (MoS). As per the constitutional limit, Gujarat which has a 182-member Legislative Assembly can have up to 27 ministers, accounting for 15 percent of the total strength. The impending reshuffle will therefore allow for inclusion of new faces, likely blending experienced legislators with emerging leaders from different regions and communities.
The mass resignation follows a pattern familiar in Gujarat’s political landscape, where the BJP has periodically restructured its cabinet to maintain momentum, pre-empt complacency, and ensure organizational discipline. A similar exercise was carried out in 2021 before Bhupendra Patel took over as Chief Minister, succeeding Vijay Rupani. Party insiders suggest that the current move is also aimed at enhancing efficiency and reflecting evolving political equations within the state unit.
Political observers view this decision as part of the BJP’s broader strategy to strengthen governance ahead of upcoming civic elections and to consolidate its base across diverse constituencies. “Such exercises in Gujarat are not abrupt but calculated — they indicate the leadership’s focus on performance-based politics and internal accountability,” said a senior political analyst in Gandhinagar.
Adding to the significance of the timing, this development comes shortly after Minister of State Jagdish Vishwakarma was appointed the new president of the Gujarat BJP unit, replacing Union Minister C.R. Paatil. The reshuffle at both the organizational and governmental levels suggests a synchronized effort by the party to project a refreshed image while tightening administrative coordination.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who assumed office for the second consecutive term on December 12, 2022, is expected to announce a leaner, performance-driven cabinet with a focus on governance delivery and developmental projects. Insiders indicate that the new council will prioritize sectors such as infrastructure, education, industrial expansion, and rural welfare areas that remain central to Gujarat’s growth narrative.
While the full list of new ministers has not been disclosed, the move is expected to balance caste, regional, and gender representation, reflecting the BJP’s emphasis on inclusive governance. Sources close to the leadership hinted that a few senior ministers might be retained for continuity, while younger legislators with strong organizational credentials could find space in the restructured cabinet.
The reshuffle also comes amid a period of internal consolidation within the BJP, which continues to dominate Gujarat’s political scene but faces growing expectations for performance and innovation in governance. With the cabinet expansion, the Patel-led government aims to reinforce administrative dynamism and deliver on promises made in the 2022 Assembly polls, where the BJP secured a record-breaking 156 seats.