No major  reshuffle in cabinet and BJP in Gujarat

Gandhinagar : Speculation about a cabinet reshuffle in the Gujarat government has been rife for the past month. With the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections, discussions surrounding cabinet expansion and changes gained momentum. However, recent developments within the government and the ruling party have temporarily halted these discussions. Additionally, concerns regarding large-scale transfers of IPS officers remain unresolved.

No Immediate Cabinet Reshuffle

Following the Lok Sabha elections, there were widespread fears of a significant cabinet reshuffle. The BJP’s defeat in the Banaskantha seat in North Gujarat triggered organisational and governmental shake-ups. Rumours intensified after former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani suggested expanding the cabinet.

Newly elected MLAs Arjun Modhwadia and CJ Chavda, who joined the BJP after leaving the Congress, were expected to be inducted into the cabinet. However, the ruling party’s recent actions have put a pause on any immediate changes.

Party-Level Developments

The BJP, in addition to the government, anticipated a new party president and organisational restructuring. Last week, party president CR Paatil convened a meeting with district-level office bearers to prepare for upcoming local government elections, scheduled for November-December after Diwali. Patil’s unofficial announcement of contesting local body elections under his leadership indicates continuity at the party level for now.

President Patil strengthening his grip on “Kamalam”.

Recent shifts within the Gujarat BJP points toward  President CR Patil’s growing influence. Dharmendra Shah, the party’s co-treasurer, was abruptly removed, while LK Advani’s former secretary, Srinath Shah, assumed the role of BJP office secretary. Srinath, previously CR Patil’s unofficial media associate, now facilitates direct control over party affairs.

Notably, Surendra Patel (commonly known as “Kaka”) has served as party treasurer for decades. Given Kaka’s  recent 88th birthday, the party will need to appoint a new treasurer. The timing of this decision depends on the next party president’s assumption of office.

IPS Officer Transitions

Two prominent Gujarat Police officers are retiring at the end of July. IPS ADG RB Brahmabhatt (1995 batch), currently working in CID (Intelligence), and ADG Subhash Trivedi CID (Crime) (2004 batch) are both stepping down. Trivedi, leading the Rajkot TRP game zone fire investigation, may receive a three-month service extension. His previous investigative work includes cases like the Gujarat Queen train rape and the Botad hooch tragedy.

Additionally, IPS Deepen Bhadran (2007 batch), formerly in charge of Gujarat ATS, is heading to Delhi on deputation. With several key positions opening up in the police department, including the Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau, the government is likely to finalise IPS officer transfers by the end of July.