Council of Ministers of Gujarat
Council of Ministers of Gujarat (Gujarati: ગુજરાતનું મંત્રીમંડળ) exercises executive authority of the Indian State of Gujarat. The council is chaired by the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The council serves as the highest decision-making body in the State of Gujarat and advises the Governor of Gujarat in the exercise of his or her functions. The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.
Constitutional Provisions
Article 163 of the Constitution of India makes provision for the State Governments of the Republic of India to have a Council of Ministers, headed by a Chief Minister, so as to aid and assist that state's Governor in the exercise of his or her functions.
While the Governor is the executive Head of the State, actual executive power can only be exercised after a consensus is reached by the Council of Ministers. Upon being so advised, the Governor is expected to act accordingly.
The Governor of Gujarat appoints the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Ministers serving on the Council, in turn, are appointed by the Governor under advisement by the Chief Minister. While a Council Minister technically holds office at the pleasure of the State Governor, practically, a sitting Minister may be removed by the the Governor only after consulting with, and receiving advice from, the Chief Minister.
Both the Chief Minister and those serving on the Council of Ministers must also be members of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. If he or she is not a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), he or she shall obtain membership of the assembly within six months of his or her appointment. The Council is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly and holds office till they enjoy the confidence of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Alternatively, a serving Council Minister may be removed by the Legislative Assembly through passage of a no confidence motion.
As per Article 164 (1A) of the Constitution of India, the maximum strength of the Council of Ministers in Gujarat will be fifteen percent of the total Legislative Assembly strength . Hence, considering that the total strength of the Legislative Assembly of Gujarat is 182 members, the State's Council of Ministers may only be served by no more than forty-three members.
Types of Ministers
The Gujarat Council of Ministers follows the westminster's model of cabinet. There are two type of ministers.
- Cabinet Ministers
- Ministers of State
Cabinet Ministers
Actual power of decisions vests with cabinet ministers. The cabinet is chaired by the Chief Minister.
Ministers of State
They are also known as Deputy Ministers. They are appointed to assist cabinet ministers. However, many times, they are given independent charge of their department. In that case, they enjoy a latitude for decision making similar to a cabinet minister, with respect to those decisions under the aegis of their respective departments. However, Ministers of State do not participate in cabinet meetings.
Present Council of Ministers
Cabinet Ministers
| Serial No | Name of Cabinet Minister | Portfolio |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ms. Anandiben Patel | Chief Minister, General Administration, Administrative Reforms & Training, Industries, Home, Climate Change, Ports, Information & Broadcasting, Narmada, Kalpasar, Revenue, Disaster Management, Urban Development, Science Technology, All policies and subject matters not allotted to other Ministers |
| 2 | Mr. Nitinbhai Patel | Health, Medical Education, Family Welfare, Road and Building, Capital Project |
| 3 | Ramanlal Vora | Social Justice and Empowerment (including welfare of Scheduled Castes, Welfare of socially and educationally backward classes) |
| 4 | Mr.Bhupendrasinh Chudasama | Education (Primary, Secondary and Adult), Higher and Technical Education, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer affairs, Legislative and Parliamentary affairs. |
| 5 | Mr. Mangubhai C. Patel | Forest and Environment, Tribal Development. |
| 6 | Mr. Saurabh Patel | Finance, Energy and Petrochemicals, Mines Minerals, Cottage Industries, Salt Industries, Printing and Stationery, Planning, Tourism, Civil aviation |
| 7 | Mr. Babubhai Bokhiria | Water Resources (excluding Kalpasar), Agriculture, Co-operation, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Cow Breeding. |
| 8 | Mr. Vijaykumar Rupani | Transport, Water Supply, Labour and Employment. |
Ministers of State
| Sr No | Name of State Minister | Portfolio with Independent Charge | Portfolio without Independent Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shankar Chaudhary | Urban Housing | Health and Family Welfare, Transport |
| 2 | Ms. Vasuben Trivedi | Women and Child Welfare | Higher and Technical Education. |
| 3 | Mr. Pradipsinh Jadeja | Law and Justice, Devsthan, Pilgrimage Development, Co-ordination of voluntary organizations, Non-resident Gujaratis Division, Protocol | Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs |
| 4 | Mr. Jayantibhai Kavadiya | Panchayat, Rural Housing and Rural Development | Co-Operation |
| 5 | Mr. Nanubhai Vanani | Sports, Youth Cultural activities | Water Resources (excluding Kalpasar), Education (Primary, Secondary and Adult) |
| 6 | Mr. Dilip Thakore | - | Welfare of socially and educationally backward classes, Labour and Employment |
| 7 | Mr. Parshottam Solanki | - | Animal Husbandry |
| 9 | Mr. Chhatrasinh Mori | - | Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs. |
| 10 | Mr. Jaydrathsinhji Parmar | - | Building, Capital Project. |
| 11 | Mr. Rajnikant Patel | - | Home, Police Housing, Border Security, Civil Defence, Home Guards, Gram Rakshak Dal, Prison, Prohibition, Excise. |
| 12 | Mr. Govindbhai Patel | - | Energy and Petrochemicals, Science and Technology |
| 13 | Mr. Tarachand Chheda | - | Cottage Industry, Salt Industry and Cow Breeding. |
| 14 | Mr. Jayeshkumar Radadiya | - | Tourism, Water Supply. |
| 15 | Mr. Bachubhai Khabad | - | Fisheries, Forest and Environment |
| 16 | Mr. Kantibhai Gamit | - | Tribal Development |
| 17 | Mr. Jasabhai Barad | - | Agriculture and cooperation |