Keeping caste equation and regional balance in tandem, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani appointed eight BJP MlAs as Parliamentary Secretaries (PRS) on Tuesday. 

After the oath taking ceremony of PRS, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said the team of 33, including the 25 member Council of Ministers and the eight Parliamentary Secretaries, is dedicated to the development of Gujarat and service of people.

“This team represent almost all the castes and regions. It has representation of Saurashtra & Kutch, North, South and Central Gujarat. As far as caste equation is concerned the team include one Jain, nine Patidars, 12 OBC, two Dalits, three Schedule Tribe (Tribal), two Brahmins, three Kshtriya and one Sindhi. Two women are also part of it,” said Patel.

Bhavnagar East MlA Vibhavari Dave, who belongs to Brahmin community, is given responsibility of Women & Child Welfare as well as Education. Anjar MlA in Kutch district Vasan Ahir (OBC) became Parliamentary Secretary for Water Supply and Salt Industry. Tribal MlA of Jetpur Pavi constituency in Central Gujarat, Jayanti Rathva would look after Forest and Tribal Development.

Ranchhod Desai who is  elected from Patan constituency in North Gujarat was given responsibly of Panchayat, Animal Husbandry and Pilgrimage Development. Another North Gujarat MlA Bharat Dabhi representing Kheralu constituency will look after Water Resources and Rural Development. Both are OBC representative. 

Chotila MlA Shamji Chauhan and Kodinar MlA Jethabhai Solanki both from Saurashtra region will take care of Civil Supply & Consumer Affairs and Social Welfare respectively. Chauhan is OBC while Solanki is coming from Schedule Caste background. Rupani picked only one PRS from powerful Patidar community — Babu Jamna Patel, MlA of Daskroi. Already Patidars have been given 33 per cent representation in Rupani’s Council of Ministers as of the 25 members Council there are eight Patel Ministers. All the PRS took oath at ‘Swarnim Sankul – 1’ building which also houses Chief Minister’s office.

Parliamentary Secretaries are de facto Ministers and enjoy rank of Deputy Minister. Hence PRS too given departments like any other junior Minister and they assist senior Ministers in their work. like other Ministers, they entitle to get Government cars with red beacon atop coupled with official other packages. Abiding the rule, Rupani cannot exceed limit of 27 Ministers — 15 per cent of total elected MlAs. It means the Gujarat Chief Minister has two more berth in his Council of Ministers.