Chavda, who holds considerable sway in the Ahir community had resigned from the Manavadar Assembly seat in Junagadh to join the ruling party.
A day after expanding his cabinet that included induction of two Congress turncoats, the Rupani government on Sunday announced the portfolios for the new ministers. Jawahar Chavda , a four-time Congress MLA who had joined BJP on Friday was given the tourism and fisheries department portfolio.
Chavda, who holds considerable sway in the Ahir community had resigned from the Manavadar Assembly seat in Junagadh to join the ruling party.
Until now, Forest and Environment Minister Ganpat Vasava was holding the charge of Tourism ministry while Fisheries department was handled by minister Purshottam Solanki, who has been unwell.
Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, another Congress turncoat has been made minister of state for food and civil supply, consumer protection and cottage industries. Jadeja, had joined hands with the BJP in 2017 and and had fought on a party ticket from Jamnagar North. He had defected during the hotly contested Rajya Sabha elections in the state.
Veteran BJP leader Yogesh Patel has been made minister of state for Narmada and Urban housing department. Patel, a BJP veteran has won the Manjalpur seat in Vadodara seven times.It should be noted that Patel is also a former Congress leader who had quit the party way back in 1995.
Meanwhile Vasan Ahir has been given additional charges as Minister of State for tourism department. The CM also appointed Waghodia MLA Madhu Shrivastav as Chairman of the Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Limited. With the new induction the Rupani government has now 24 ministers.
LOWDOWN
This is second cabinet expansion of Rupani government after coming to power in 2017. The first expansion happened after the BJP accommodated veteran Koli leader Kunvarji Bavalia in the cabinet in July 2018.
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