Rupani takes charge; allocates portfolios to ministers

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today allocated portfolios to his Council of Ministers and kept the key home department with himself as he took charge of his new job.

Rupani, who was yesterday sworn-in as the state Chief Minister, after his predecessor Anandiben Patel resigned from the position, today presided over the first Cabinet meeting. He also had a lengthy discussion with his deputy Nitin Patel here.

Like Anandiben, Rupani has kept major portfolios with himself while Nitin Patel has been re-alloted the Finance department, which he used to handle under Narendra Modi-led government and was later taken from him by Anandiben Patel after the change of guard in 2014.

"Our Chief Minister Vijay Rupani held a detailed discussion with me and finalised the portfolios in consultation with our party leaders," said Patel.

Before taking charge, Rupani paid his respects to the statutes of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and B R Ambedkar. Portfolios to be handled by Rupani include General Administration, Home, Administrative Reforms and Training, Planning, Industries, Mines and Minerals, Ports, Climate Change, Science and Technology and Information & Broadcasting.

Rupani will also look after the portfolios which are not allocated to any other minister, an official release said. Nitin Patel has been given Finance, Urban Developmentand Urban Housing, Roads and Building, Capital Project, Narmada, Kalpsar and Petro-chemicals.

On Sunday, eight cabinet and 16 state-ranked ministers took oath. Senior cabinet minister Bhupendra sinh Chudasama has been given charge of Revenue, Education (Primary, Secondary and Adult), Higher and Technical Education and Law and Parliamentary Affairs department.

Portfolios of Tourism, Tribal Welfare and Forests has been allocated to Ganpat Vasava. BJP's Dalit face in the cabinet, Atmaram Parmar, has been given Social Justice and Empowerment department, which includes welfare of Scheduled Castes as well as OBCs.

He was also given the portfolio of Women and Child Development department. Newly inducted minister Chiman Saparaiya has been given Agriculture and Energy while Babu Bokhiria has been alloted Water Supply, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Cow protection, Civil Aviation and Salt Industry.