In a dramatic political shake-up, all 16 ministers in Gujarat’s government, except Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, resigned on Thursday, paving the way for a sweeping cabinet revamp. The new council of ministers is set to take oath on Friday at 11:30 AM at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, marking one of the biggest reorganizations in the state’s recent political history.

According to reports, Chief Minister Patel is expected to meet Governor Acharya Devvrat later tonight to formally submit the resignations of the outgoing ministers. The move comes as part of the BJP’s strategy to inject new energy and leadership ahead of upcoming local body elections.

Reports suggest that around 10 new faces could be inducted into the cabinet, with nearly half of the current ministers being replaced. This reshuffle, described as both strategic and symbolic, is intended to balance regional representation and reward performance within the ruling BJP.

While the final list of ministers remains confidential, reports indicate that prominent leaders such as Dharmendrasinh, Rishikesh Patel, Mukesh Patel, and Bhupendrasinh Chudasama are likely to retain their posts. In contrast, Kanubhai Desai (Finance), Raghavji Patel (Agriculture), Kunvarji Bavaliya (Water Supply), and Murubhai Bera (Tourism) are expected to make way for new entrants.

The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be attended by top BJP heavyweights, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President J.P. Nadda, underscoring the importance of this transition. All BJP MLAs have been instructed to gather in Gandhinagar by Thursday evening ahead of the ceremony.

Gujarat’s 182-member Legislative Assembly allows a maximum of 27 ministers, accounting for 15% of its total strength. The upcoming expansion is expected to redefine the political landscape of the state as it gears up for crucial electoral battles in the months ahead.