Gandhinagar witnessed a dramatic political shake-up on Thursday as 16 ministers from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Gujarat government stepped down, setting the stage for a fresh council of ministers to take oath on Friday. Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel remains the sole member retaining his position ahead of the major reshuffle.
The swearing-in ceremony for the new cabinet is scheduled for 11:30 am at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, where Governor Acharya Devvrat will administer the oath of office and secrecy. Senior BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president J. P. Nadda, are expected to attend the event.
The mass resignations followed a series of closed-door meetings at the chief minister&rsquo;s residence. BJP national general secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal, who arrived in Gandhinagar earlier in the day, met each minister individually to collect their resignation letters. Party insiders described the operation as swift, disciplined, and strategically executed to enable a smooth transition.
According to sources, the reshuffle is designed to infuse new energy into the administration while ensuring balanced representation across regions, communities, and age groups. Nearly half of the outgoing ministers are expected to be replaced, with a blend of experienced leaders and fresh faces joining the government.
Speculation suggests the new cabinet may include around 23 ministers. Gujarat&rsquo;s 182-member assembly allows for a maximum of 27 ministers, or 15% of the House strength. All BJP legislators were directed to reach Gandhinagar by Thursday night, intensifying political buzz in the capital.
CM Patel is expected to submit the final list of new ministers to Governor Devvrat later this evening. The first meeting of the newly formed cabinet is likely to take place shortly after the oath-taking ceremony, marking a significant turning point for the state government.

Gujarat cabinet overhaul as 16 ministers resign

Major reshuffle under CM Bhupendra Patel; new cabinet to be sworn in at Mahatma Mandir

Gujarat cabinet overhaul as 16 ministers resign

Major reshuffle under CM Bhupendra Patel; new cabinet to be sworn in at Mahatma Mandir

October 16, 2025 | 17:37 IST