Of the 26 ministers in the newly constructed Gujarat state Cabinet, five ministers (19%) have declared criminal cases against themselves in their election affidavits. Among them, one has serious criminal charges, including offences related to attempt to murder, corruption, or crimes against women.

Following the reconstitution of the Gujarat State Cabinet on October 17, 2025, an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Gujarat Election Watch has revealed key insights into the background of the 26 ministers, including the Chief Minister. The data, drawn from self-sworn affidavits submitted during the 2022 Assembly elections and subsequent bye-elections, sheds light on the prevalence of criminal charges, wealth concentration, educational diversity, and gender representation within the cabinet.

As many as  21 Ministers, including 19 fresh faces, were sworn in on Friday (October 17) as part of Gujarat’s newly constituted Cabinet under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel with Harsh Sanghvi as his first Deputy Chief Minister. Analysts note that while criminal charges do not imply guilt, the presence of such cases among elected representatives raises concerns about accountability and the integrity of public office.

Financially, the cabinet is heavily skewed towards wealth. A striking 23 ministers (88%) are crorepatis, with average assets per minister standing at Rs 11.12 crore. The richest among them is Rivaba Jadeja, MLA from Jamnagar North, with declared assets of Rs 97.35 crore. At the other end of the spectrum is Dr. Jayrambhai Chemabhai Gamit, MLA from Nizar (ST), who has assets worth Rs 46.96 lakh. Additionally, 18 ministers have declared liabilities, with Parshottambhai O. Solanki leading the list with Rs 8.93 crore in debts.

In terms of education, the cabinet displays a mix of qualifications. Six ministers have education levels between 8th and 12th standard, while 16 hold graduate-level degrees or higher. Four ministers possess diploma qualifications. This variety suggests a range of experiences, though the dominance of higher-educated ministers may influence policy directions.

Gender representation remains limited, with only three women (12%) in the cabinet. Among them is Rivaba Jadeja, whose political debut has drawn significant media attention. Despite their low numbers, the presence of women ministers is seen as a step forward, albeit a modest one.

Age-wise, the cabinet is largely composed of individuals between 51 and 70 years (58%), with a smaller group aged 31 to 50 years (38%) and one minister above 70.

The analysis offers a comprehensive snapshot of the current cabinet’s profile, highlighting both diversity and persistent structural imbalances in representation and integrity.