Gujarat cabinet expansion likely on October 16 after key Delhi meeting with PM Modi and Amit Shah

Gandhinagar | Gujarat —  After days of speculation, the Gujarat cabinet expansion appears set for October 16, coinciding with the holy day of Agiyaras. The move follows a high-level meeting in Delhi on Monday involving Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, BJP state president Jagdish Vishwakarma, and organizational general secretary Ratnakar, who held a marathon discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Later in the evening, the three leaders were invited for dinner at Amit Shah’s residence, signaling that the final decision on the new cabinet lineup has been reached. Sources close to the BJP leadership confirmed that the final list of ministers will be prepared by tonight and announced soon after the leaders return to Gandhinagar.

Major reshuffle on the cards — uncertainty for key ministers

Insiders reveal that the cabinet expansion will bring sweeping changes, with only a few ministers likely to retain their portfolios. There is growing uncertainty surrounding Assembly Speaker and former minister Shankar Chaudhary and former state president Jitu Vaghani, both of whom are reportedly on the watch list.

Speculations suggest that Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel may be dropped from the cabinet. Patel, who attended the Ravi Krishi Mahotsav in Godhra on Monday, refused to comment when questioned about the expansion — a silence seen by many as an indication of the upcoming reshuffle.

Saurashtra may gain more representation

Political experts believe that Saurashtra will receive increased representation in the new cabinet as the BJP prepares for upcoming municipal, district, and panchayat elections and looks ahead to the 2027 Assembly polls. Most ministers, except for Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and the Ministers of State for Home, Education, and Health, may be replaced with young, capable faces to rejuvenate the government’s image.

This approach, analysts say, reflects the “Gopal Italia factor” — a strategy to strengthen the BJP’s appeal among youth and urban voters, where the AAP had previously made inroads.

Who may lose cabinet berths?

Those likely to be dropped include Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai, Water Supply Minister Kunwarji Bavaliya, Industries Minister Balwantsinh Rajput, Tourism Minister Mulubhai Bera, Education Minister Kuber Dindor, and Social Justice Minister Bhanuben Babaria. Among Ministers of State, Purushottam Solanki, Bachubhai Khabar, Mukesh Patel, Bhikhusinh Parmar, and Kunwarji Halpati are also reportedly on the list of those being reconsidered.

Cabinet expansion before Diwali

With Diwali around the corner, the BJP leadership aims to announce the cabinet expansion on October 16, offering the new ministers an auspicious start. The reshuffle is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the party’s organization and governance machinery ahead of crucial local and state elections.

As one senior BJP insider remarked, “This will be a performance-based cabinet, crafted to align with the vision of PM Modi and CM Bhupendra Patel for Gujarat 2027.”