Gujarat cabinet reshuffle after assembly session

GANDHINAGAR: A cabinet expansion and the long-awaited appointments to state-run boards, corporations and companies seem to be round the corner. Chief minister Anandiben Patel on Friday hinted as much while talking to journalists after the nomination of Ganpat Vasava for the post of assembly speaker.
"The cabinet expansion and new appointments will be made soon after the two-day assembly session on November 10 and 11," she said but she did not divulge any details.
State BJP president R C Faldu, however, said that appointments to the boards and corporations will be made in the next 15 days. "We are consulting the central leadership over the issue. Once we receive the go-ahead, the state government and the party will announce the new appointments,'' Faldu said.
Senior BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha MP, Vijay Rupani, was recently elected to the House from Rajkot West assembly seat. His induction into the cabinet and Mangubhai Patel coming in as replacement of Vasava is expected to be part of the cabinet expansion that seems round the corner.
The chief minister is also likely to induct two-three more ministers into her cabinet by elevating some ministers of state (MOS). She is also expected to appoint four-five new MOS in the next few days, said sources. After Vasava's resignation, there are only 19 ministers in the Anandiben cabinet while Modi's cabinet had 22. She can accommodate up to 27 ministers, according to the pro-rata rule.
Ganpat Vasava to be speaker for second time
Ganpat Vasava, BJP MLA from Mangrol (reserved) constituency in Surat district, will be speaker of the Gujarat assembly for the second time. On Friday, Vasava resigned as minister of Forests and Environment, Tribal Development and Parliamentary Affairs, and filed his nomination for the Speaker's election which will be held during the two-day session of the House scheduled for November 10 and 11. The post of Speaker had fallen vacant after Vaju Vala was appointed Governor of Karnataka. Sources said that deputy speaker Mangubhai Patel, who is currently officiating as Speaker, is likely to replace Vasava in the Cabinet.
Earlier, Vasava was Gujarat assembly Speaker from February 2011 to December 2012 when Narendra Modi was chief minister. He was the first MLA from a tribal community to be elected Speaker of Gujarat assembly. This will be his second stint as Speaker.