Who are new Cabinet Ministers in Bhupendra Patel-led Gujarat government?

October 17, 2025
BJP Gujarat Politics

Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel today expanded his council of ministers, with new ministers taking the oath of office. The first to take oath was Harsh Sanghavi, who has now become the Deputy Chief Minister. After him, the newly appointed cabinet-rank ministers took oath, including Jitu Vaghani, Naresh Patel, Arjun Modhwadia, Dr. Pradyuman Vaja, and Raman Solanki.

A man in orange scarf and white attire stands at a podium holding a book and microphone, speaking during a ceremony. He wears glasses and has garlands around his neck. Other men in formal clothes, one in black suit and another in uniform with red turban, stand beside him. Background features pink wall with flower garlands.

After Sanghavi, Jitendra Vaghani (Jitu Vaghani), MLA from Bhavnagar West, took oath as a Cabinet Minister. Belonging to the Leuva Patel community, Vaghani is a three-time MLA, having won in the 2012, 2017, and 2022 elections. He has also served as Gujarat BJP President and was a Cabinet Minister in the first Bhupendra Patel cabinet in 2021, holding portfolios such as Primary, Secondary and Adult Education, Higher and Technical Education, and Science and Technology.

Vaghani was born on September 11, 1970. He belongs to the Kanbi community and is from the Leuva Patel sub-caste. Vaghani holds B.Com and LL.B degrees. He has been an active political leader from the Saurashtra region.

A man with gray hair wearing a white kurta, orange scarf, and vest stands at a podium holding a document and microphone. He is flanked by three other men in formal attire including white kurtas, black suits, and orange scarves. The setting is a stage with a beige backdrop and microphone stand.

Another former minister who took oath today as a Cabinet Minister is Naresh Patel. Patel is the MLA from the Gandevi seat in South Gujarat, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates. He has previously held portfolios including Tribal Development, Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection during his earlier term as a Gujarat minister.

Naresh Patel was born on June 1, 1967. He belongs to the Dhodiya Patel caste and has a strong political base in South Gujarat’s tribal belt. His educational qualification is Class 10 pass.

An elderly man with glasses and gray hair stands at a podium holding a book wearing a white kurta with blue and red scarf over it speaking into a microphone. He is flanked by other men and women in formal Indian attire including kurtas and sarees some with red and blue scarves seated on a stage with orange backdrop and garlands.

Porbandar MLA and senior leader Arjun Modhwadia also took oath as a Cabinet Minister today. Before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party in March 2024, Modhwadia had served as Gujarat Congress President. He was also Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister. Modhwadia was first elected as MLA in 2002, re-elected in 2007, and for a third time in 2022 on a Congress ticket. He resigned from Congress and as MLA in 2024, only to contest again in the bypolls on a BJP ticket.

Born on February 17, 1957, Modhwadia belongs to the Mer caste. He holds a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.I.E. qualification.

A man in orange traditional attire and white shirt stands at a podium holding a microphone and an orange book with text on it. He has a red mark on his forehead and wears a wristband. Two other men in similar orange attire sit nearby one with glasses and a mustache. A woman in a maroon outfit sits beside them. The background is a plain wall with a small emblem.

Dr. Pradyuman Vaja, MLA from Kodinar (SC seat), was also sworn in as a Cabinet Minister today. A medical doctor by profession, he also holds LL.B and LL.M degrees. Vaja has served as State President of the BJP SC Morcha. He was born on August 18, 1968. He belongs to the Hindu community and comes from the Vankar sub-caste.

A man in white kurta and orange vest stands at a podium holding a book, taking an oath. He wears glasses and an orange scarf. Several people in traditional Indian attire including orange scarves sit on chairs behind and beside him on a stage with beige backdrop. Other attendees include men and women in formal clothes like vests and sarees.

Borsad MLA from Central Gujarat, Ramanbhai Solanki, also took oath as a Cabinet Minister. Borsad was long under the political influence of the late Madhavsinh Solanki and his son Bharatsinh Solanki. The BJP won Borsad for the first time in 2022 with Ramanbhai Solanki as its candidate.

Ramanbhai belongs to the Kshatriya Thakor caste and holds a Diploma in Agriculture. Solanki has been associated with rural development and agriculture-related initiatives in Central Gujarat.

With the induction of five new Cabinet Ministers and the existing cabinet-rank ministers Rushikesh Patel, Kanubhai Desai, and Kunvarji Bavaliya, there are now a total of eight cabinet-rank ministers in the Bhupendra Patel-led Gujarat government.

Several New Faces Sworn In as Ministers of State

Group of politicians on a stage with floral decorations in background. Central figures include a woman in green saree holding a plate, a man in white kurta with saffron scarf speaking into microphone, another man in orange attire holding a book, and others in formal suits and turbans seated or standing nearby. All appear engaged in a formal ceremony.

After the Cabinet Ministers took their oath, the Ministers of State were sworn in one by one. Praful Panseriya, who was elevated from MoS to MoS (Independent Charge), was among the first to take oath. The Kamrej MLA had earlier served as MoS for Parliamentary Affairs, Primary, Secondary and Adult Education, and Higher Education, stepping down from his previous role just a day before the reshuffle.

He was followed by Ishwarsinh Patel, MLA from Ankleshwar in Bharuch, and Manisha Vakil, MLA from Vadodara city (SC reserved seat), who also took oath as Ministers of State with Independent Charge.

Three men and one woman stand on a stage during an oath-taking ceremony. The first man wears a white kurta with saffron shawl and holds a book. The second man in saffron kurta speaks into a microphone holding a book. The woman in pink saree with bangles holds a book. The third man in saffron attire stands nearby. Background includes beige wall, garlands, chairs, and other suited individuals.

After these three ministers were administered the oath by Governor Acharya Devvrat, the next group of MLAs to take oath included Kantibhai Amrutiya from Morbi (Ceramic City), Rameshbhai Katara from Fatepura (ST reserved seat), and Darshnaben Vaghela from Asarva (SC reserved seat in Ahmedabad city).

Group of men in traditional Indian attire including saffron scarves and white kurtas stand at podiums holding books, with some wearing formal suits, against a backdrop of orange walls and floral decorations in a ceremonial hall setting.

They were followed by Kaushik Vekariya (Amreli), Pravin Mali (Deesa), and Dr. Jayrambhai Gamit (Nizar, ST reserved seat). The oath was then taken by Trikambhai Chhanga (Anjar, Kutch), Kamlesh Patel (Petlad, Central Gujarat), and Sanjaysinh Mahida (Mahudha, Central Gujarat).

Three men in white kurtas and saffron scarves stand on a stage holding books and microphones during an oath ceremony. The stage features orange marigold garlands and drapes against a beige wall. Additional men in formal attire including suits and kurtas are visible nearby. The setting appears formal with decorative elements.

Other MLAs sworn in as Ministers of State included PC Baranda (Bhiloda, ST reserved seat), Swarupji Thakor (Vav), and Rivaba Ravindrasinh Jadeja (Jamnagar North). DeshGujarat

Group of people on a stage with beige background and green garlands, several men and women in orange and white traditional attire holding books and microphones, standing and seated positions during a formal ceremony.

Related Stories

Recent Stories