Something&rsquo;s cooking in Gujarat&rsquo;s political circles, and a five-minute phone call has just turned up the heat!
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was all set to hand out awards at an Education Department event at the National Forensic Science University on Friday (March 28) when&mdash;bam!&mdash;his personal secretary, Pranab Parekh, slipped him a mobile phone and whispered something in his ear. Without a second thought, Patel took the phone and walked off stage to take the call.
For five minutes, Gujarat&rsquo;s political circles held their breath. Who was on the other end? Delhi? Nagpur? Was it a call from PM Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah? Or maybe a directive from RSS headquarters?
This comes just days after Pondicherry Governor K. Kailasanathan met Patel in Gandhinagar, fueling speculation about a much-anticipated cabinet expansion. With 10 ministerial spots open, political insiders are watching every move.
Of course, some in the Education Department insist it was just a routine call&mdash;too much stage noise, so Patel stepped away to hear better. But let&rsquo;s be honest, when a CM leaves an event mid-ceremony for a hush-hush call, people are bound to talk.
Was it just bad timing, or was something big happening behind the scenes? Gujarat&rsquo;s political circles won&rsquo;t stop guessing anytime soon!

When a CM leaves an event mid-ceremony for a hush-hush call, people are bound to talk

Who was on the other end of the 5-minute call, and why did Bhupendra Patel step away mid-event?

CM's Mystery Call Sparks Cabinet Buzz

Who was on the other end of the 5-minute call, and why did Bhupendra Patel step away mid-event?

March 29, 2025 | 14:47 IST