The BJP-led Gujarat government, under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, unveiled a significantly expanded 26-member cabinet on Friday, October 17, 2025. This major overhaul comes just one day after the entire council of ministers, with the sole exception of the Chief Minister himself, submitted their resignations to the party leadership.
Key Inductions and Strategic Reset
A prominent new face in the 26-minister lineup is Rivaba Jadeja, the wife of popular Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019.
Other new ministers named in the expanded cabinet include Swaroopji Thakor, Pravenkumar Mali, Rushikesh Patel, Darshna Waghela, Kunvarji Bavaliya, Arjun Modhwadia, Parshottam Solanki, Jitendra Waghani, Praful Pansheriya, Harsh Sanghvi, and Kanubhai Desai. The full list of new cabinet ministers is:
- Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel
- Trikam Bijal Chhanga
- Swarupji Sardarji Thakor
- Pravenkumar Mali
- Rushikesh Ganeshbhai Patel
- PC Baranda
- Darshana M Vaghela
- Kantratalal Shivalal Amrutia
- Kunwarjibhai Mohanbhai Bavaliya
- Rivaba Ravindrasinh Jadeja
- Arjunbhai Devabhai Modhwadia
- Dr Pradyuman Vaja
- Kaushik Kantibhai Vekariya
- Parshottambhai O. Solanki
- Jitendrabhai Savjibhai Vaghani
- Ramanbhai Bhikhabhai Solanki
- Kamleshbhai Rameshbhai Patel
- Sanjaysinh Rajaysinh Mahida
- Rameshbhai Bhurabhai Katara
- Manisha Rajivbhai Vakil
- Ishwarsinh Thakorbhai Patel
- Praful Panseriya
- Harsh Sanghvi
- Dr Jayrambhai Chemabhai Gamit
- Nareshbhai Maganbhai Patel
- Kanubhai Mohanlal Desai
The Reason for Mass Resignation
The decision for all previous ministers to resign en masse on Thursday was described by a senior BJP leader as a “strategic reset” aimed at giving the Chief Minister and the party leadership a free hand to reorganise the administration. This strategic move is being executed ahead of the upcoming local body polls and the crucial 2027 state assembly election. Party officials noted that following their resignations, the outgoing ministers met with the Chief Minister and began the process of vacating their respective offices. The previous council of ministers included eight cabinet-rank ministers, two ministers of state (independent charge), and six ministers of state.
Swearing-in Ceremony
Chief Minister Patel met with Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat on Thursday evening to submit the final list of new ministers. The new cabinet is scheduled to be sworn in around noon on Friday.
This represents the first major cabinet reshuffle since Bhupendra Patel, who took over from Vijay Rupani in 2021, led the BJP to a massive victory in the 2022 state assembly polls. The oath-taking ceremony is expected to be attended by top party brass, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda. All BJP MLAs in the state have also been instructed to remain in Gandhinagar for the event.