Cabinet expansion likely ahead of Gujarat monsoon session next month

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looking to address party discontent and balance caste equations within its ranks, Gujarat could be looking at a cabinet expansion before the Assembly session in August.

The expansion is a bid to maintain a balance between “original” BJP leaders and those who recently crossed over from the Congress, according to those close to the development. Up to three MLAs who recently joined the BJP and won in the by-elections held alongside the Lok Sabha polls may be included in the cabinet before the monsoon session of the state assembly.

Usually held in September, the session will likely be brought forward by a month, in keeping with the rule that mandates a gap of no more than six months between sessions. The budget Session, usually held in March was moved up to February due to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The current cabinet has remained unchanged since December 2022, when Bhupendra Patel took oath as chief minister for the second time. With panchayat elections expected to be held later in the year, the ruling party will be looking to course correct from its Lok Sabha loss in Banaskantha.