Bhupendra Patel sworn in as Gujarat CM; PM Modi attends ceremony

Aditi Tandon

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New Delhi, December 12

The two-time Ghatlodia MLA from Ahmedabad, Bhupendra Patel, on Monday took oath as the 18th Chief Minister of Gujarat in the presence of BJP top brass led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who bowed to the gathering in a gesture of humility, days after the BJP recorded a historic majority in the state Assembly.

The 60-year-old Patel today began his second term as the state Chief Minister. He was appointed last year, replacing Vijay Rupani, to buck the anti-incumbency sentiment.

Sixteen ministers also took oath along with Patel, of them eight took oath as Cabinet ministers, two as Ministers of State with independent charge and six as MoS.

Outgoing Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai has been retained as Cabinet minister with Rushikesh Patel, Raghavji Patel, Balwantsinh Rajput, Kunvarji Bavaliya, Mulubhai Bera, Kuber Dindor and Bhanuben Babariya taking oath as Cabinet ministers.

Bhanuben Babariya, a first-time minister and an SC leader, is the sole woman to be sworn in today.

Outgoing MoS Home harsh Sanghavi has been retained in the Cabinet as MoS with independent charge with Jagdish Vishwakarma.

MLAs Parshottam Solanki, Bachubhai Khabad, Mukesh Patel, Praful Pansheriya, Bhikhusinh Parmar and Kunvarji Halpati took oath as Ministers of State.

Panseria is also a first timer to get an MoS berth.

Among heavyweight ministers, who were dropped from Patel’s previous term, are Nalin Vora, a Dalit stalwart, and Jeetubhai Vaghani, the heavyweight from Saurashtra region.

Among ministers, six are from the prominent Patel community. All sections and regions stand represented.

The oath-taking took place amid Modi, Modi chants in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief JP nadda and top BJP CMs, including UP’s Yogi Adityanath, Assam’s Himanta Sarma, MP’s Shivraj Chauhan.

Meanwhile, Patel will hold his first Cabinet meeting this evening.