by: Nav Jeevan

PM congratulates Bhupendrabhai Patel on taking oath as CM of Gujarat

NE NEWS SERVICE

GANDHINAGAR, DEC 12

 Bhupendrabhai Patel was sworn-in as the chief minister in Gandhinagar on Monday at a ceremony attended by PM Narendra Modi and top BJP leaders, including Union ministers and chief ministers of state ruled by the party.

At a function held at the Helipad Ground near the new secretariat, Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath of office to Patel, 60, who started his second consecutive term as CM.

16 ministers sworn-in along with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in the state capital  Gandhinagar on Monday.

Eyeing the 2024 elections, caste, communities, and the region were taken into consideration while allocating portfolios of the ministers.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Bhupendrabhai Patel on taking the oath as Chief Minister of Gujarat.

The portfolios of the ministers in the Gujarat government were announced on Monday.

Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel retains urban development, urban housing development, road and building, mining, tourism, port and information broadcasting.

Cabinet Rank

Kanu Desai (Brahmin)- Finance, Energy and Petrochemicals

Desai, 71, a three-time MLA, 2012, 2017 and 2022, from Pardi in Valsad district who was minister of finance, energy and petrochemicals in the previous Bhupendra Patel government.

Rishikesh Patel- Health and Family Welfare, Law

A four-time MLA from Visnagar in Mehsana district of North Gujarat, Patel was the health minister in the previous Bhupendra Patel government.

Raghavji Patel- Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Rural Development 

Patel, 64, is the MLA from the Jamnagar Rural constituency who was earlier associated with the Congress. Raghavji Patel was made a minister in the 2021 Bhupendra Patel Patel government.

Balwantsinh Rajput- Industries, MSMEs, Civil Aviation, Labour

Rajput, 60, is also a Congress turncoat and a businessman who owns the Gokul Group of companies.

Kunvarji Bavaliya- Water and irrigation, Civil Supplies

A seven-time MLA from Jasdan in Rajkot district and a prominent Koli community leader,   He was also the Lok Sabha  MP from Rajkot between 2009 and 2014.

Mulu Bera (Ahir)- Tourism, Culture, Climate Change

Bera, 57, defeated Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gandvi and sitting Congress MLA from Khambhalia Vikram Madam in the just held elections..

Dr Kuber Dindor (ST)- Tribal development, Primary education

Dindor, 52 is a tribal leader elected from the Santrampur (Scheduled Tribes) Assembly seat in Mahisagar district. He was a minister of state in the earlier government of Bhupendra Patel.

Bhanuben Babaria (SC)- Women and child development, Social Justice

Elected from the Scheduled Castes (SC) reserved seat of Rajkot Rural, Babaria, 47, is a three-time MLA from the constituency. She is the only woman minister in the new Bhupendra Patel government.

Ministers of State

Harsh Sanghavi-Home, Sports and Youth activities, NGOs, NRI, Transport

Mukeshbhai Zinabhai Patel-Forest and environment, Climate change, Water

Kuvarjibhai Narshibhai Halpati-Tribal development, Labour

Jagdish Vishwakarma-Cooperation, Salt, Protocol

Bachubhai Khabad-Panchayat, Farming

Parshottam Solanki-Fisheries

Bhikubhai Chatursinh Parmar-Food and civil supplies, social justice

Praful Panseria-Parliamentary affairs, Primary, secondary and higher education