On Saturday, October 4, 2025, Jagdish Vishwakarma, a prominent minister and OBC leader from Gujarat, was officially appointed as the new president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) state unit. He takes over from Union Minister C.R. Paatil.
The announcement was made by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, who served as the election officer for the state BJP presidential polls. The declaration took place at the party’s ‘Kamalam’ headquarters in Gandhinagar, witnessed by senior state leaders and dedicated party workers.
At 52 years old, Mr. Vishwakarma steps into the shoes of C.R. Paatil, the Union Jal Shakti Minister and Lok Sabha MP from Navsari. Paatil’s three-year term concluded in July 2023, though he had continued in the role until this announcement.
Notably, Mr. Vishwakarma, a three-time MLA representing the Nikol constituency in Ahmedabad, was the sole candidate to submit nomination papers for this significant position on Friday, October 3, 2025.
Currently, Mr. Vishwakarma holds the portfolio of Minister of State for Co-operation, Salt Industries, MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), Cottage, Khadi, and Rural Industries.
His previous experience includes leading the BJP’s Ahmedabad city unit as its president.
Leading up to the official ceremony, Mr. Vishwakarma participated in a vibrant rally alongside a large contingent of party workers, starting from his home in Ahmedabad’s Thakkarbapanagar.
Expressing his deep gratitude, he thanked the party’s top brass for entrusting him with the crucial responsibility of presiding over the Gujarat BJP.
The new president remarked, "The BJP’s vision for our nation, rooted in its cultural nationalist commitment, is shaped by exemplary citizens like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, alongside countless hardworking and dedicated party members."
He further elaborated, "The BJP, recognized as the world’s largest political party, stands for progress, public trust, innovative ideas, national triumphs, and a self-reliant India. Our collective endeavor for a thriving Gujarat and a robust BJP requires unity and collaboration from all workers, enabling us to serve the populace as ‘Team Gujarat BJP’."
Mr. Vishwakarma acknowledged that the profound trust bestowed upon the BJP by the people of Gujarat over the last 25 years significantly amplifies this responsibility, urging all party workers to meet these high expectations.
During the event, outgoing president Mr. Paatil reflected on his tenure, stating that under his guidance, the BJP confidently aimed for all 182 seats in the 2022 assembly election, ultimately securing an impressive 156. In the subsequent 2024 Lok Sabha election, the party achieved a strong victory, winning 25 of the 26 contested seats.
He highlighted that in both these elections, the BJP garnered a lead of over one crore votes, significantly outpacing the opposition parties, which collectively managed a lead of just over three lakh votes.
"The loss of 26 seats in the 2022 assembly election might be attributed to errors by booth-level workers and certain limitations in my leadership as party president," Mr. Paatil conceded. "However, we still successfully gained over 65 seats from the Congress, and notably, we secured victory in six constituencies for the very first time in that election."
He expressed regret over not capturing the remaining three historically unwon seats, but affirmed the party’s strong conviction in winning all 182 seats in upcoming elections.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, speaking at the event, underscored Prime Minister Modi’s emphasis on technology and its vital role in fostering progress.
"Our outgoing president, C.R. Paatil, skillfully integrated technology within the BJP’s operations. Jagdish Vishwakarma, being equally adept with technology, will undoubtedly leverage it effectively to help us achieve our objectives," he added.
He concluded by highlighting the BJP’s strength: "From the government to the organizational level, every member of the BJP has diligently carried out their assigned duties. This collective dedication, particularly exemplified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and J.P. Nadda, has allowed the BJP to flourish into the formidable force it is today."
During the ceremony, Union Minister Yadav also announced the names of 39 National Council members of the BJP who were elected unopposed.
Among those elected unopposed were prominent figures such as Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Mr. Paatil, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and seasoned party leaders like Vaju Vala, Parshottam Rupala, and R.C. Faldu.