Harsh Sanghavi Becomes Gujarat Deputy CM in Cabinet Shake-Up

In a major political development on 17 October 2025, Harsh Sanghavi was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, signaling a significant shift in the state’s political leadership. This move came as part of a massive cabinet reshuffle led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who inducted 25 ministers in a fresh bid to restructure governance, improve regional representation, and prepare for future electoral challenges. The oath-taking ceremony took place at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar, in the presence of Governor Acharya Devvrat, who administered the oaths to the new ministers.

Cabinet Overhaul: Resignations and New Faces

• A day before the reshuffle, all 16 cabinet ministers — except the Chief Minister — submitted their resignations.
• This cleared the path for a full-scale overhaul of the state cabinet.
• The reshuffled council now includes 26 members, nearly reaching the constitutional limit of 15% of the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, which allows for a maximum of 27 ministers.
• Among the 25 newly inducted ministers, 19 are first-time appointees, while 6 former ministers were retained.
• This reshuffle was not only about numbers but also about balancing caste, regional, and generational factors to ensure broader political appeal.

Harsh Sanghavi: Gujarat’s New Deputy CM

• Harsh Sanghavi, aged 40, is a three-time MLA from Majura in Surat.
• Known for his administrative drive and youth-centric approach, Sanghavi has held multiple key portfolios, including Home, Youth and Sports, Industries, and more.
• His elevation to Deputy Chief Minister marks the revival of the post after four years, last held in 2021.
• By assigning Sanghavi the independent charge of the Home Department, the state government has broken tradition — this ministry has typically remained under the Chief Minister’s control.

Static Facts

• Oath-Taking Date: 17 October 2025
• Deputy CM Appointed: Harsh Sanghavi
• Chief Minister: Bhupendra Patel
• Governor: Acharya Devvrat
• Venue: Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar
• Gujarat Assembly Strength: 182 MLAs
• Max Ministers Allowed: 27 (15% of total MLAs)
• Ministers Sworn In: 25 (plus the CM)