Jagdish Vishwakarma Appointed as BJP’s New Gujarat Chief

The BJP has appointed Jagdish Vishwakarma, a three-time MLA from Nikol, a Patidar-dominated area in Ahmedabad, and one of the sites of violent protests during the 2015 quota agitation, as its new Gujarat chief.

Vishwakarma, also known as ‘Jagdish Panchal,’ is a Minister of State holding multiple portfolios in the Bhupendra Patel government and is considered close to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He will formally take charge as the state chief on Saturday, succeeding C R Patil, who completed a successful tenure of over five years.

Vishwakarma is only the second OBC leader to become Gujarat BJP chief, after Kashiram Rana, and the first from Ahmedabad city to hold the top post in the state. His appointment aligns with the BJP’s recent OBC outreach strategy and appears aimed at consolidating support among backward classes in Central and North Gujarat. Notably, the Congress recently appointed Amit Chavda, an OBC from Central Gujarat, as its state president.

Ahead of the announcement, Vishwakarma is scheduled to lead a rally from his residence to the state headquarters, Shree Kamalam.