On the political front, the BJP-led Gujarat government formed a committee chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai to examine the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state and draft a proposal for its execution. The move faced strong criticism from the Opposition, which alleged that the government was attempting to divert attention from pressing issues such as inflation and unemployment, while also raising concerns about potential implications for minority and tribal communities.
October saw a dramatic expansion of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s cabinet, with 19 new ministers inducted and 10 incumbents removed. A day prior to the swearing-in, all 16 ministers in Patel’s government had tendered their resignations. On the day of the oath ceremony, however, six resignations were not accepted. Following the expansion, the strength of the council of ministers, including the Chief Minister, increased from 17 to 26.
Harsh Sanghavi, Minister of State for Home, was elevated to the position of Deputy Chief Minister. The 40-year-old MLA represents the Majura constituency of Surat.
In the June bypolls, AAP’s former state president Gopal Italia won the Visavadar seat in Junagadh district, while the BJP retained the Kadi constituency in Mehsana.