Overview

• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav formally announced Vishwakarma as state chief at the BJP headquarters in Gandhinagar, where he succeeded C R Patil after Patil’s extended tenure.
• He was the only candidate to file papers and was declared elected at a ceremony attended by senior leaders, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
• A three-time MLA from Ahmedabad’s Nikol, Vishwakarma serves as Minister of State across multiple portfolios and is recognized as an OBC leader with long organisational experience.
• The elevation is framed as part of the BJP’s social calculus as Congress has also installed OBC leader Amit Chavda, while the move consolidates Ahmedabad’s influence over both government and party.
• Local reporting notes speculation about a cabinet reshuffle that could affect his roles, which remains unconfirmed by the party.