Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor to chair Guj assembly panels for 2026-27

Gujarat assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary has announced key committee appointments, including BJP MLA Hardik Patel as Subordinate Legislation Committee chairman.

BJP MLA Hardik Patel and party leader Alpesh Thakor were on Wednesday appointed chairpersons of two key committees of the Gujarat assembly for the year 2026-27.

Speaker Shankar Chaudhary has announced the formation of various financial and legislative committees.

Patel was appointed chairman of the Subordinate Legislation Committee, while OBC leader and party MLA Alpesh Thakor was named chairman of the Committee for the Welfare of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes.

Both Patel and Thakor emerged from the quota agitation a decade ago and were eventually elected as MLAs.

Among other major appointments, C J Chavda was named chairman of the Estimates Committee and former chief whip and senior BJP MLA Pankaj Desai was appointed chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.

The Public Undertakings Committee will be headed by former Speaker Ramanlal Vora, while Rajkot MLA Uday Kangad was named chairman of the Panchayati Raj Committee.

According to the notification issued by the Assembly Secretariat, Arjunsinh Chauhan will head the Committee on Private Members' Business, while the Rules Committee and the Library Committee will continue to be chaired by the Speaker.

The Committee on Government Assurances will be headed by Amit Shah, while Mohanbhai Dhodiya was appointed chairman of the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Tribes.

Vinod Moradiya was named chairman of the Committee on Absence of Members from the Sittings of the House, while Sangitaben Patil will head the Members' Accommodation Committee.

The Committee on Papers Laid on the Table of the House will be chaired by Meghjibhai Chavda, while the Committee on Applications will be chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Purnesh Modi.

MLA Keshubhai Patel was appointed chairman of the Privileges Committee, and Mukeshbhai Patel will head the Committee on Rules regarding Members' Allowances.

The Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes will be chaired by Malti Maheshwari.