New ministry in Gujarat: CM Bhupendra Patel keeps home, no deputy announced

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel allocated portfolios to 24 newly-inducted ministers, keeping a host of departments with himself and without appointing any deputy. Read all details here... 

New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday (September 16, 2021) allocated portfolios to 24 newly-inducted ministers, keeping a host of departments including Home with himself and without appointing any deputy. Kanubhai Desai was allocated Finance and Energy and Petrochemicals portfolios.

Besides the Home ministry, CM Patel will hold the charge of General Administration Department, Information and Broadcast, Industries, Mines and Minerals, Capital Projects, Urban Development, Urban Housing and Narmada and Ports, an official release said. The allocation was announced in the first cabinet meeting held in Gandhinagar after the ministers were sworn in earlier in the day.

Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath to 10 cabinet ministers and 14 ministers of state at 1.30 pm in a ceremony. The ministry formation exercise shows that the BJP has tried to balance caste and regional representation. The CM pick is a Patidar community leader and the BJP has given berth to six Patidars and OBCs each, four from scheduled tribes, three from scheduled castes, two each from among Brahmins and Kshatriyas and one member from the Jain community.