Vijay Rupani sworn in as new Gujarat Chief Minister

GANDHINAGAR: Vijay Rupani sworn in as the 16th chief minister of Gujarat on Sunday, along with Nitin Patel as his deputy and 23 more ministers. The new cabinet, which is seen as handpicked by the BJP leadership with next year’s assembly election in mind, will hold its first meeting on Monday.

Patel becomes the third deputy chief minister of the Gujarat and the first from the BJP in the state to get that post.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Rupani, Patel and the new cabinet, while adding a line of appreciation for former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.

“I applaud the dedicated service of @anandibenpatel, who has been working tirelessly for the people of Gujarat for many years,” Modi tweeted.

The cabinet that sworn in on Sunday didn’t include one of the most prominent faces of the earlier government: former Finance Minister and government spokesperson Saurabh Patel. The rumour is that he may move to national politics. Others who didn’t find a place in Rupani’s cabinet included Vasuben Trivedie, Rajni Patel and Govind Patel, all close to Anandiben Patel.

There is only one woman, Nirmala Vagwani, in Rupani’s cabinet. The previous one had two women, including the CM.

The team has eight Patidar leaders, including three in the cabinet rank and five as ministers of state, a possible effort by the BJP to placate a community that is at the centre of a reservation agitation in the state. There are also a dozen new faces.

“Unlike former cabinets, this one comprises hardcore politicians, who have their roots among the people deeply entrenched and would impact elections in their own areas,” said a party worker after the swearing-in session, indicating the writ of BJP national president Amit Shah written large over the new ministry.

“There is no question that this is a handpicked cabinet comprising people with political prowess and this gives some hope for next year’s election,” said the party worker, who requested anonymity.

An internal survey of the Sangh reportedly had predicted an electoral debacle for the party in the state after the Dalit flare up post the Una incident.

The new cabinet, which has eight members with the cabinet rank and 16 ministers of state besides the cheif minister, saw a regional balancing act as well, with four each from North, Central and South Gujarat and nine from the volatile Saurashtra region making into it. The only woman member, Vagwani, is from the Sindhi community.

Efforts for a caste-balancing act is also seen with four Kadva Patel, four Leuva Patel, eight OBC, three Khsatriya and two tribal leaders, as well as one member each from the Jain, Brahmin, Sindhi and schedule caste being inducted into the ministry.