Congress turncoats left out In Gujarat cabinet expansion

Gandhinagar: As the newly inducted ministers took oath in Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's cabinet on Friday, three BJP MLAs - C.J. Chavda (Vijapur), Hardik Patel (Viramgam) and Alpesh Thakor (Gandhinagar South) - were seen sitting together, laughing and chatting. The image drew attention because all three, once prominent Congress leaders, had switched sides to the BJP with hopes of securing ministerial positions.

However, only former Congress chief Arjun Modvadia, now BJP MLA from Porbandar, was included in the cabinet. Chavda, who quit the Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and won re-election as a BJP candidate, was widely expected to be accommodated given his influence among OBC Kshatriyas in north Gujarat. His name was even floated as a replacement after Balwantsinh Rajput, another Congress turncoat, was dropped.