In a major political reshuffle, Rivaba Jadeja, the wife of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, was sworn in today as a Minister of State in the new Gujarat cabinet.
She is one of 26 ministers taking oath in the revamped cabinet under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, a move aimed at bringing fresh faces and strategic balance ahead of upcoming elections.
Early Life & Education
Rivaba Ravindrasinh Jadeja was born on 2 November 1990 in Rajkot, Gujarat, to Hardevsinh and Prafullaba Solanki.
She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Atmiya Institute of Technology & Science (under Gujarat Technological University).
Political Journey
Rivaba’s political involvement began with her role as head of the women’s wing of Karni Sena, a Rajput community organization, which drew attention during controversies like the Padmaavat film protests in 2018.
She formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in March 2019.
In the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, Rivaba was fielded from the Jamnagar North constituency. She won the seat and became an MLA, defeating her nearest rival by a substantial margin.
Since her election, she has engaged in social work, especially in women’s empowerment, and led local initiatives such as rural outreach and schemes for girl children.