GANDHINAGAR: In a significant overhaul of the Gujarat cabinet on Friday, 40-year-old Harsh Sanghavi was sworn in as the state’s new Deputy Chief Minister, marking a meteoric rise for one of the BJP’s most dynamic young faces. His appointment signals the party’s focus on promoting a new generation of leadership and brings back the Deputy CM post for the first time since 2021.
Sanghavi, who first became a minister in 2021 under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has quickly established himself as a powerful and decisive administrator. As the Minister of State (MoS) for Home, a portfolio once held by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he led aggressive anti-narcotics drives and oversaw large-scale anti-encroachment operations across the state, most notably at the pilgrimage site of Beyt Dwarka. He has also been a vocal proponent of a hardline stance against ‘love jihad’.
His tenure as a minister saw him manage an impressive 12 portfolios, including key departments like Industries and Sports. As the MoS for Sports, Sanghavi was instrumental in driving the preparations for Ahmedabad’s bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Harsh Sanghavi takes oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat.#Gujarat #GujaratCabinet #HarshSanghavi pic.twitter.com/cRAiN31e9c
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) October 17, 2025
First elected as the state’s youngest MLA at 27 in 2012, Sanghavi has a proven track record of organizational skill and public service. He played a key backroom role during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Varanasi and was crucial in organizing PM Narendra Modi’s successful events abroad by reaching out to the Indian diaspora. This work earned him the trust of the BJP’s top brass, including PM Modi and Amit Shah.
Party insiders praise Sanghavi as a “workaholic” and a “youth icon,” citing his extensive social work during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he arranged isolation wards and medical supplies, and his initiatives to organize job fairs and book banks in his constituency of Majura, Surat.
“He is young, dynamic, he has proved his leadership qualities,” BJP spokesperson Yagnesh Dave told ThePrint. “He takes decisions cautiously and thoughtfully. He has shown talent, and the party wants to promote young talent.”
Sanghavi’s promotion to Deputy CM is seen as a reward for his performance, loyalty, and his ability to connect with the youth, solidifying his position as a key lieutenant of the central leadership and a major political force in Gujarat.
