| Gandhinagar being the state capital is the seat of government .All major state administrative units are located within the city. At present, the state government is run by Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and the main opposition party is Indian National Congress (INC-I). Political History
 Gujarat politics has revolved around two major political parties, BJP and Congress. The Initial period till 1995 was ruled by Congress party and post 1995 BJP is in power. The first government was formed by the Indian National Congress; Dr. Jivraj Mehta became the first Chief Minister of the State. He was physician by profession and had served as personal doctor to Gandhiji. He joined politics in 1932 and had participated in various freedom movement. After Independence he served in various capacities including finance minister of Bombay state before becoming CM of Gujarat State. He was CM from 1960 -1963.
 Balwantrai Mehta (1899 – 1965) succeeded Dr. Jivaraj Mehta as the next CM of Gujarat. He was also a freedom fighter. He participated in various freedom movements starting from Non-cooperation movement in 1920 till India became Independent in 1947. Mehta had also served at various levels in congress party during this period; he was General Secretary when Pandit Nehru was president of the party. Post Independence, he was twice elected as Member of Parliament and served as chairman of committee on Plan Projects, which paved the way for panchayati raj in India, hence he is also known as the father of the panchayati raj. While serving as the CM of Gujarat in 1965, India-Pakistan war broke out, he went for the kachchh border inspection along with his wife Sarojben, Pilot J.M. Engineer and other crew members, his civilian plane was shot by Pakistani fighter planes. He is probably first ever high level civilian causality of the war since India became Independence.
 Hitendra Desai succeeded as the next Chief Minister of Gujarat after the death of Balwantrai Mehta. Desai, who hails from Surat, was very active in Independence movement and had been to jail during '1942 Quit India Movement'. Post Independence, he served as education minster for the reorganized Bombay State. He also served as Law Minster in Dr. Jivraj Mehta's Ministry. He was CM during 1965-1971 and was the longest serving CM before Narendra Modi. Hitendra Desai also served as president of Parliamentary standing committee and was member of Gujarat University Senate and Advisory committee of All India Radio.  Ghanshyambhai Chotalal Oza (1911 - 2002) served as CM of Gujarat from March 1972 - July 1973. Though, Chimanbhai Patel had majority MLA support, Oza a loyal supporter of Indira Gandhi was chosen as the next CM of Gujarat in 1972 after the assembly election. This didn't go well with Chimanbhai, who revolted in June 1973 forcing the Congress party to remove Oza and make Chimanbhai the next CM of Gujarat. Oza was lawyer by profession (B.A, LLB) and had been part of the politics for two decades before becoming CM. Born at Umrala, Bhavnagar, Oza was active in public life from the young age. He participated in Ranpur and Viramgam satyagrahs, Rajkot Limbdi agitation, and Junagadh Arzi Hukumat struggle before becoming MLA. He first served as MLA for Saurashtra State from 1948 - 1956. He became MLA of Bombay state in 1956 and next year he was elected for the Loksabha (Parliament). He served Loksabha from 1957 to 1967 and later on in 1971-1972. His other notable appointments were Minister of State for Industrial development in Indira Gandhi Ministry in 1971 and special representative to Africa to present Indian point of view on Bangladesh. He also served as member on various committees and was Rajyasabha member from 1978 - 1984.
 Chimanbhai Patel (1929 - 1994) was born at Chikodra village of Vadodra district. He pursued Masters in economics from M.S University. He was the first president of M.S. University student union. Before joining full fledge politics, Patel served as lecturer of various colleges including L.D.Arts and St. Xaviers of Ahmedabad. He was principal of Sardar Vallabhbhai Arts & Commerce College in 1960-61. During his long professional career, he served on various academic committees including the Gujarat University senate and also authored numerous books on economics and economics problem of India. He was first elected MLA from Sankheda constituency in 1967. He joined the Hitendra Desai cabinet in his first term serving as minister for sports, transport, and culture. During his second term as MLA in 1972, he was the frontrunner for the CM post, however he was sidelined by Indira Gandhi and Ghanshyambhai Oza was made the CM. While serving as the minister of Industry, mines, and power, he toppled the Oza government and forced Indira Gandhi to make him as the CM. Ms.Gandhi didn't take Chimanbhai's adventure lightly and constrained him as CM by reducing the central quota to Gujarat. Hardly a year as a CM, Chimanbhai was forced to resign on corruption charges during Navnirman movement in 1974. After being expelled from the Congress party, he joined Janta morcha under the leadership of Babubhai J. Patel. Chimanbhai again became CM of Gujarat in 1990 as the leader of coalition government of Janta party and BJP. When BJP withdraw the support, he got congress support. He again joined congress party while serving as the CM and died in 1994. Though Chimanbhai didn't have any specific political ideology, he was an able leader and had ability to oppose or question the top brass of congress or even Mrs. Gandhi at her height of power.
 Babubhai J. Patel (1911) twice had privilege to serve Gujarat as CM. He became CM during the turbulent times of Nav-Nirman and emergency. Post Chimanbhai's government, the state was under president rule. Janta morcha was formed by The Congress (O), Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Samyukta Socialist Party, and the Swatantra Party under the leadership of Jayprakash narayan and Morarji Desai to oppose Congress and then PM Indira Gandhi. The 1975 election in Gujarat voted Janta morcha into power. Babubhai, an ex-congressman and freedom fighter was the leader of Janta Morcha in Gujarat. The PM Indira Gandhi imposed nationwide emergency after her election victory was invalidated by Allahabad high court. Patel’s government was cut short and president rule was imposed in Gujarat. Post emergency, Janta party won the election under the leadership of Babubhai Patel. He again became CM and his term lasted close to 3 years. Patel was born in Nadiad, Kheda and at the age of 19 participated in Satyagrah movement; he was imprisoned for four months. He was very active in independence movement and held posts like manager, secretary, treasurer for Indian National Congress. He was also president of Kheda jilla and Nadiad taluka congress and later became member of Bombay Assembly in 1940-41. Post Independence, he served as parliamentary secretary to CM, deputy minister of pwd, transport and home, and minister of planning, power, and housing for the Mumbai State. After the formation of Gujarat state, he became Minister in Gujarat government in 1967 and 1971. He also held Vice-chancellor post of Sardar Patel University
 Madhavsinh Solanki (1927) had privilege to become Chief Minister of Gujarat for four different time period. He first became CM during emergency era in 1976-1977. The 2nd time he became Chief Minister in 1980 and completed full term as CM in 1985. Born at Piludra, Bharuch, Madhavsinh started his career as a journalist; he later served as publicity office for Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. In 1957, he first got elected as MLA for the Bombay Legislative Assembly. He continuously got elected as MLA since the inception of Gujarat state. The fourth and the last time he became CM in 1989- 90, which lasted just three months. He can be considered the last CM of Congress party if the Congress merger with Jantadal and Rashtriya Janta Party is excluded. Before becoming CM, He had served as Minister in various Congress state governments. He also served on various state and national committees during his six decades of political career. In 1993, he became External Affairs Minister of India in Narhsima Rao government but abruptly had to resign owing to Bofors controversy.
 Amarsinh Choudhari (1941 - 2004) was civil engineer by profession. He joined politics while he was the state government employee. A native of Vyara Surat, Amarsinh was the first tribal politician, who left his mark on political spectrum of Gujarat. He was first elected as MLA in 1972, during his first term itself he served as minister in Ghanshyambhai Oza's government. Thereafter, he served in every congress government as a Minister till he became Chief Minister in 1985. He completed full term as CM in 1989. During his three decades of political career, he served as president of district Congress committees, secretary of Pradesh Congress committee, president of Gujarat Pradesh Congress committee, leader of opposition, Congress legislative party leader, and president of Gujarat Pradesh Congress. Amarsinh Choudhari passed out in 2004 while he was serving as opposition leader.
 Chhabildas Mehta (1925 - 2008) became Chief Minister after the sudden demise of Chimanbhai Patel in 1994. He served as CM from February 1994 to March 1995. Mehta's political career began in 1942 when he left studies to participate in freedom movement. Mehta's initial public activities were within his hometown Mahuva taluka. He was vice-president of Mahuva yuvak sangh from 1944-1949. Post independence he was elected as member of Mahuva municipality, where he became president of the development committee that he held till 1968. He was one the leading voice of 1951 anti-sales tax agitation, during socialist era; he joined the praja socialist party and was secretary of the party from 1952 to 1957. He got first elected as MLA in 1958 for the Bombay Legislative council. An active participant of Maha-Gujarat movement, Chhabildas, with few exceptions, got elected as MLA in every election after formation of the Gujarat state. He held various posts during his 6 decades of political career, the notable among them were finance minister of the state (1990-1994), Minister of public works, irrigation, roads, buildings, and ports(1973-74), chief whip of congress legislative assembly (1975), president of Bhavnagar District Congress, secretary of Gujarat Janta party, and president of educational institute council. He was awarded "Jawaharlal Nehru excellence award" by the Institute of Economic studies in 1992-1993. Post 1995 as the Congress party lost political power and the party's relevance got reduced in Gujarat politics, Mehta again changed the party and joined Nationalist congress party in 2001. He passed out in 2008 due to prostate complications.
 Keshubhai Patel (born 1930) became the first BJP Chief Minister of the state in 1995. His first term didn't last long and he was forced to vacant his position when the party man Shankarsinh Vaghela rebelled against the government. Keshubhai started his public career as "Swayam Sevak (volunteer)" of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS). A farmer by profession, Keshubhai first came into limelight when he became minister in Janta dal government in 1975. Since 1975 Keshubhai got continuously elected as MLA from vishavadar constituency. During his long political career, Keshubhai participated in various movements including Nav-Nirman, Goa Satyagrah, Anti price-rise agitation, and Cow slaughter ban. In 1977-80 he became minister in the Janta dal government, where he held portfolios like public works, Narmada, and water resources. The rise of BJP in Gujarat can also be partially attributed to Keshubhai, who was the vice-president and president of Jansangh (BJP's previous avatar) during its early days. The decade of 90s brought him into forefront of politics and he again became minister in Chimanbhai Patel’s government after BJP and Jantadal both won the election together. However the BJP and Jantadal engagement didn't last long, both the party separated within 6 months of the government formation. Keshubhai became opposition leader and remained in opposition till 1995. He again became CM in 1998 when BJP came into power. He remained CM for the next two years before he was forced to resign by party high command in the wake of earthquake relief fund mismanagement allegation and poor show of the BJP in assembly by-election. Incidentally both the time when he was forced to resign, he was on the foreign tour. Post 2001, he remained more or less inactive in the politics and held Rajyasabha MP post for a while. Unhappy the way the BJP dealt with him during his CM tenure and afterwards, he provided tacit support to the rebel BJP group and congress in 2007 assembly election. Nonetheless, barring such exception he remained loyal to BJP during his long political career
| | Member of Parlament (MP) 
L K ADVANI (BJP), Since 1995 ---------------------------------------------- MLA SHAMBHUJI CHELAJI THAKOR (BJP), Since 2007 | |