New Delhi: Bhupendra Patel has taken over as the chief minister of Gujarat after the BJP made a resounding return to power.
The BJP ministry has the distinction of coming to power for the seventh consecutive time, that too with a record-setting 156 seats.
Bhupendra Patel took charge of Gujarat on Monday in the presence of top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, party chief JP Nadda and several chief ministers were present. This is Patel's second term in the top post.
The function in Gandhinagar saw total of 16 ministers of Bhupendra Patel's cabinet taking oath.
The new Gujarat cabinet is leaner alongside having only one woman in the 17-member cabinet.
Bhupendra Patel, who replaced Vijay Rupani ahead of the polls, became the 18th chief minister of Gujarat.
There were reports yesterday of some of AAP MLAs being in touch with the BJP leadership ahead of the swearing-in ceremony. However AAP refuted the charge.
The state's major opposition, the Congress, failed to put up an impressive show, after being reduced to 17 seats.
AAP won five seats while making good in several constituencies, giving sings of becoming a strong presence in the BJP bastion.