Gujarat cabinet expansion: Four inducted, controversial ex-minister makes comeback

This was the first expansion of Anandiben Patel's cabinet after she took charge in May this year

Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel today inducted four new ministers in her cabinet, including a controversial legislator facing charge in a Rs 400 crore fishing contract scam. This was the first expansion of Patel’s cabinet after she took charge in May this year. With this expansion the Gujarat cabinet size has reached 24.

Former Rajya Sabha member and MLA from Rajkot west seat Vijay Rupani and legislator from reserved seat of Gandevi (ST) Mangubhai Patel were sworn in as cabinet rank ministers while Somnath MLA Jasa Barad and influential leader of the Koli community from Saurashtra Purshottam Solanki who represents Bhavnagar rural seat were sworn in as ministers of state.  All the ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor O P Kohli at a formal function held in state capital Gandhinagar on Wednesday.

Raupani has been allotted ministry of transport, water supply and labour & employment, while Manghubhai was made incharge of forest and environment and tribal development ministry. Barad has been allotted portfolio of agriculture and civil aviation and Solanki has been given charge of animal husbandry ministry.

Rupani is a general secretary of the state BJP unit and was elected from the Rajkot west in recent by-elections. The first time MLA has wide experience from being mayor of Rajkot to representing Gujarat in the Rajya Sabha. He is also the spokesperson for state BJP and is considered close to party president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, Mangubhai is a veteran tribal leader and has been represent Gandevi seat since many years. He also acted as pro-term speaker of the state Assembly after the Speaker Vaju Vala was appointed as Governor of Karnataka.

Somnath MLA Barad had shifted from Congress to BJP just before the 2012 assembly elections. Though he had originally joined BJP in the 1990s, but had move to Rashtriya Janta Party along with Shankarsinh Vaghela who had rebelled against the BJP leadership in 1996-97. Barad later joined Congress along with Vaghela, but switched loyalties just before the 2012 assembly polls and rejoined BJP.

Solanki will be the most controversial minister in the Anandiben cabinet. He has served as cabinet rank minister for fisheries and animal husbandry in the Modi government. Anandiben had dropped Solanki’s name from the cabinet while forming her government after becoming the first woman chief minister of Gujarat. In the recent past member of the Koli community from Saurashtra, which Solanki represents, had demanded to induct their leader as minister. However, Solanki has been made minister of state in the Anandiben cabinet.

Solanki is also facing charges of corruption in Rs 400 crore fishing contract scam. Investigation is on the case on direction of the Gujarat High Court.