The two-time Ghatlodia MLA from Ahmedabad, Bhupendra Patel, on Monday took oath as the 18th Chief Minister of Gujarat in the presence of BJP top brass led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who bowed to the gathering in a gesture of humility, days after the BJP recorded a historic majority in the state Assembly.
The 60-year-old Patel today began his second term as the state Chief Minister. He was appointed last year, replacing Vijay Rupani, to buck the anti-incumbency sentiment.
The BJP had won a record 156 out of 182 seats in the assembly elections in Gujarat, the results of which were declared on December 8. The Congress, which got 77 seats in the 2017 elections, could get only 17 seats. Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party won five seats, while Samajwadi Party and Independents won one and three seats respectively.
Patel has been sworn in for the second time as the chief minister. In 2021, he replaced Vijay Rupani as the chief minister. Rupani and his entire cabinet were shown the door by the party leadership.
Along with Patel, 16 MLAs took oath as ministers. Out of the 16, eight were sworn in as cabinet ministers, two ministers of state with independent charge and six ministers of state. More than 20,000 people, including special invitees, cheered as the ministers took an oath.
There is only one woman in the 16-member cabinet. Sources said that given the strength of the party, an expansion of the cabinet at a later stage cannot be ruled out.
Those who took oath as cabinet ministers are Kanubhai Desai, Rushikesh Ganeshbhai Patel, Raghavjibhai Patel, Balwant Chandansinh Rajput, Kunwarji Bavalia, Mulubhai Bera, Dr Kuber Dindod and Bhunben Babariya.
Harsh Sanghavi and Jagdish Vishwakarma have been given independent charge as ministers of state. Purshottam Solanki, Bachubhai Khabad, Mukesh Jhinabhai Patel, Praful Panseriya, Bhikhusinh Parmar and Kunwarji Halpati took oath as ministers of state.
