After a year of speculation, the possibility of a Gujarat cabinet expansion and a new state president is now a hot topic. At a recent meeting of the party's organisation, MPs, and MLAs at the Gandhinagar Kamalam office, State President C.R. Patil dropped a significant hint. According to a source, Patil said, "We will meet twice soon," which party leaders interpret as a signal for a new state president followed by a cabinet reshuffle.
The meeting, presided over by Patil, was attended by key figures including general secretaries Ratnakar, Rajni Patel, and Vinod Chavda. The primary purpose of the gathering was to plan for the 'Seva Pakhwadia' (Service Fortnight) celebration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday, which will run from September 17 to October 2.
Interestingly, for the first time, a senior RSS leader, Shailesh Patel, was also present at the meeting. His presence alongside party leaders has fueled speculation of major changes within the BJP's organisational structure.
<h3 dir="ltr">Timing and Deliberations</h3>
The state's monsoon assembly session is scheduled for September 9, 10, and 11, making a cabinet expansion unlikely before then. The changes are expected to happen after the session, following the appointment of the new state president. This suggests that an announcement for the new president could come as early as next week.
The selection of a new state president has been delayed for eight months. The party is struggling to find a suitable candidate who balances caste and regional equations. Key leaders like Amit Shah, Anandiben Patel, and C.R. Patil have significant influence, making it difficult to select a universally acceptable leader. Sources indicate that the RSS is also insisting on a candidate who aligns with its ideology.
With the current Chief Minister representing Central Gujarat and being from the Patidar community, and C.R. Patil representing South Gujarat, the new president is likely to be from Saurashtra or North Gujarat, and from the OBC or Kshatriya community, to maintain a balanced representation.
<h3 dir="ltr">What to Expect from the Reshuffle</h3>
With a current cabinet of 18 ministers, there is still room to add 10 more as per the 15% limit of the 182-seat assembly. Internal BJP sources suggest that while six ministers have performed well, the performance of around 11 others is considered weak. There is a possibility that some of the underperforming ministers may be dropped to make way for new faces.
Political analysts believe that former Congress leaders who joined the BJP, such as Arjun Modhwadia and C.J. Chavda, could be included in the new cabinet. There is also speculation that some ministers from Saurashtra and North Gujarat might be replaced. In Central and South Gujarat, ministers with allegations of corruption, like Bachu Khabad, might be removed to balance regional and caste equations.
All eyes are now on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Gujarat, as leaders and party workers are hoping for a final decision on the state president's name during his stay at the Raj Bhavan.

Gujarat BJP leaders hint at a major cabinet expansion and a new state president soon

Gujarat Cabinet Reshuffle on the Horizon

Gujarat BJP leaders hint at a major cabinet expansion and a new state president soon

August 25, 2025 | 23:22 IST