Rivaba Ravindrasinh Jadeja, MLA from Gujarat’s Jamnagar North and wife of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, is the richest minister by total declared assets ₹97.35 crore, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The report, based on affidavits submitted by all 26 ministers, including the chief minister, highlights that 23 of them (88%) have assets exceeding ₹1 crore.
The average value of assets among ministers is at the level ₹11.12 crore, with Rivaba Jadeja topping the list by a considerable margin, ADR reported.
Who is Rivaba Jadeja?
Newly inducted into the Gujarat cabinet, Rivaba Jadeja was born on 2 November 1990 in Rajkot. She hails from a Rajput family with royal roots and is related to veteran Congress leader Hari Singh Solanki.
Rivaba holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad. Apart from politics, she is known for her social work and founded the Shree Matrushakti Charitable Trust, an NGO dedicated to the welfare and empowerment of women.
Her elevation in the Gujarat cabinet comes amid a major reshuffle with Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi being sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister, a move widely seen as strategic ahead of the upcoming local body elections and assembly polls in 2027.
Who has the lowest assets?
According to the ADR report based on the affidavits of 26 Gujarat ministers, Jayrambhai Chemabhai Gamit of Nizar (ST) declared the lowest assets valued at ₹46.96 crores.
In terms of liabilities, 18 ministers reported outstanding dues, with Parshottambhai O. Solanki of Bhavnagar Rural reporting the highest liabilities. ₹8.93 million crowns.
Criminal charges
The report also sheds light on the criminal past of some members of the government. It shows that 5 ministers (19%) have criminal proceedings against them, with one of them facing serious criminal charges.
Educational qualifications of ministers
The educational qualifications of ministers vary widely. While 16 ministers (62%) have attained a postgraduate degree or higher, 6 ministers (23%) have only studied up to 8th or 12th standard and 4 ministers are diploma holders.
The age distribution in the cabinet shows that 10 ministers (38%) are between the ages of 31 and 50, while 15 ministers (58%) are in the 51–70 age group. One minister is 71 years old.
The report also states that only 3 out of 26 ministers (12%) in the cabinet are women.
(With input from ADR, agencies)
