In a major political development, Harsh Sanghavi was sworn in as Gujarat’s new Deputy Chief Minister on Thursday following a sweeping cabinet reshuffle that saw all 16 ministers, except Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, resign a day earlier.
Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath of office to Sanghavi and 25 other ministers at a ceremony held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. With the induction of new members, the cabinet strength now stands at 26, including the Chief Minister.
Harsh Sanghavi: The Young Face of Gujarat Politics
At 40, Harsh Sanghavi represents the younger generation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership. Known for his energetic public outreach and clean image, Sanghavi is widely regarded as a close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
His political journey began in 2012, when he was elected as the youngest MLA from Majura constituency in Surat at the age of 27. Since then, he has successfully retained his seat in the 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections, winning by significant margins.
In the 2022 polls, Sanghavi defeated Aam Aadmi Party’s P.V.S. Sarma by a massive margin of 1,16,675 votes. Prior to his elevation, he served as Minister of State for Home in the previous cabinet.
With this appointment, Sanghavi becomes the sixth person to hold the position of Deputy Chief Minister in Gujarat’s history.
A More Inclusive Cabinet
The newly formed cabinet includes three women ministers — Rivaba Jadeja, Darshana Vaghela, and Manisha Vakil — reflecting the government’s push for greater gender representation. Prominent leaders such as former Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani and Arjun Modhwadia have also been inducted.
Of the 25 ministers sworn in, six are returning members from the previous cabinet, while several fresh faces have been added to bring renewed energy and balance ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Political Significance
The reshuffle marks a strategic move by the BJP to strengthen its governance team in Gujarat, two years before the state heads to polls. It also coincides with heightened political activity across India, especially in Bihar, where elections are due in November.
Under constitutional norms, Gujarat’s 182-member assembly allows a maximum of 27 ministers, meaning the current cabinet leaves room for one more possible appointment.
