Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], October 17 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Lavingji Thakor on Friday asserted that the ruling "BJP respects every community equally" while showing full faith in the party.
The BJP MLA said that he received an invitation to the swearing-in ceremony of the ministers and happy to be there.
Speaking to ANI on the swearing-in ceremony for the designated ministers in the Gujarat cabinet expansion, Lavingji Thakor said, "Today I received an invitation to the swearing-in ceremony of the ministers, so I am very happy to be there. Previously, many people from the Kshatriya community have been appointed as ministers and will be appointed again today. Whoever they appoint as a minister, we are very happy. I have full faith in the BJP, which I believe respects every community equally."
Gujarat Minister designate Prafulkumar Naranbhai Pansuriya said, "The resignation I rendered yesterday was not accepted... I will accept any responsibility given to me... Every decision of the party high command is acceptable to me..."
A day earlier, the Gujarat Cabinet underwent a major reshuffle, with all 16 ministers, except Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, resigning.
The new cabinet will take oath on October 17 at 11:30 am at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, according to an official statement.
Gujarat can have a maximum of 27 ministers (15% of the 182-member assembly), and the BJP aims to fill more of these positions. The Gujarat cabinet comprised a total of 17 (including the Chief Minister) Ministers, with 8 being cabinet ministers and 8 being ministers of state.
The reshuffle is part of the BJP's efforts to rejuvenate its leadership in Gujarat ahead of future electoral challenges.
Governor Acharya Devvratji will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the designated ministers included in this expansion of the State Cabinet during the ceremony.
According to Article 164(A) of the Indian Constitution, a state cabinet shall not exceed 15 per cent of the total strength of the legislative assembly. The minimum number of ministers (including the CM) allowed is 12. In the 182-member legislative assembly, there can be around 27 ministers.
The cabinet expansion is seen as a strategic move to inject new energy into the administration and strengthen the BJP's governance framework in Gujarat.