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All 16 ministers of Gujarat have submitted their resignations to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday, October 16, a day ahead of the planned cabinet expansion.
A BJP party source said, “The party has accepted the resignations of all 16 ministers. Except Chief Minister Patel, all the ministers have resigned.” PTIOnly eight of them are cabinet level ministers.
Bhanuben Manoharbhai Babaria, head of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Women and Child Welfare, is the only woman minister among them.
The party had reportedly planned to bring about 10 new ministers on board and replace about half of the existing ministers, who have now resigned themselves. There are 182 members in the Gujarat Assembly and there can be a maximum of 27 ministers.
If the plan for cabinet expansion still remains in place, it is scheduled to take place on Friday (October 17) at 11:30 am.
Patel, who is holding the post of Chief Minister for the second time, is currently a minister in Gujarat.
Others who resigned include Kanubhai Mohanlal Desai (Minister of Finance, Energy and Petrochemicals), Rushikesh Ganeshbhai Patel (Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education, Higher and Technical Education, Law, Justice, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs), Raghavjibhai Hansrajbhai Patel (Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Cow Breeding, Fisheries, Rural Housing and Rural Development). Balwantsingh Chandansingh Rajput (Minister of Industries, Micro, Small and Medium Industries, Cottage, Khadi and Rural Industries, Civil Aviation, Labor and Employment), Kunwarjibhai Mohanbhai Bavaliya (Minister of Water Resources and Water Supply, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Affairs), Mulubhai Hardasbhai Bera (Minister of Tourism, Cultural Activities, Forest and Environment, Climate Change), and Kuberbhai Mansukhbhai Dindor (Minister of Tribal Development, Primary, Secondary and Adult Education), others.