Gandhinagar: In a major reshuffle of the Gujarat Cabinet, Majura MLA Harsh Sanghavi was sworn in as the new Deputy Chief Minister on Friday, marking a significant change in the Bhupendra Patel-led government. A total of 25 ministers took oath at a ceremony held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, administered by Governor Acharya Devvrat.

Sanghavi, a three-time MLA who previously served as Minister of State for Home, now joins Chief Minister Patel in a revamped cabinet that includes both reappointments and new entrants. With this expansion, the cabinet strength now stands at 26, one short of the constitutional limit of 27.

The reshuffle, coming three years into the government’s tenure and two years before the 2027 Assembly elections, has introduced several new faces. Among the fresh inductees are Gandevi MLA Naresh Patel, Asarwa MLA Darshna Vaghela, Kodinar MLA Pradyuman Vaja, Morbi MLA Kantilal Amrutiya, Vadodara City MLA Manisha Vakil, and Porbandar MLA Arjun Mondhwadia, who joined the BJP from Congress last year.

Key reappointments include Visnagar MLA Rushikesh Patel, Kamrej MLA Praful Pansheriya, Jasdan MLA Kunvarji Bavaliya, Pardi MLA Kanubhai Desai, and Bhavnagar Rural MLA Parshottam Solanki.

The new Council of Ministers also features Jitu Vaghani, Kaushik Vekariya, Swarupji Thakor, Trikam Chhanga, Jayram Gamit, Rivaba Jadeja, PC Baranda, Ramesh Katara, Ishwarsinh Patel, Pravin Mali, Ramanbhai Solanki, Kamlesh Patel, and Sanjay Singh Mahida.

All 16 ministers from the previous cabinet, except Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, had resigned on Thursday, paving the way for this sweeping overhaul of the Gujarat government.

With inputs from ANI