Harsh Sanghavi
Harsh Sanghavi | |
|---|---|
 Sanghavi in 2023 | |
| 6th Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat | |
| Assumed office 17 October 2025 | |
| Chief Minister | Bhupendrabhai Patel |
| Minister of Home Affair, Law and Justice, Tourism, Industries, MSME & Civil Aviation | 17 October 2025 - Incumbent |
| Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs & Cultural Activities & Transport | 16 September 2021 - Incumbent |
| Minister of Excise & Prohibition | 16 September 2021 - Incumbent |
| Minister of Border Security & Prisons | 16 September 2021 - Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Nitinbhai Patel (2021) |
| Member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly | |
| Assumed office November 2012 | |
| Preceded by | constituency created |
| Constituency | Majura |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 January 1985 Surat, Gujarat, India |
| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | Prachi Sanghavi |
| Website | www |
Harsh Sanghavi (born 8 January 1985)[1] is an Indian politician from Gujarat serving as incumbent deputy chief minister of Gujarat from 2025. He is a three time member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly representing Majura Assembly constituency representing the Bharatiya Janata Party.[2][3] He is also a minister of state with independent charge of different ministries since September 2021.
Early life and education
[edit]Born in a Jain family, Sanghavi, is a youth leader who did social service including medical initiatives to combat ailments like sickle cell anemia which were prevalent in tribal regions of Songarh, Uchchal, Vyara, and Tapi districts.[4]He completed his education in Gujarat and was associated with business activities prior to entering politics.[5] Harsh is married to Prachi Sanghavi, and the couple has children.[6]
Career
[edit]Sanghavi first became an MLA winning the 2012 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election. In 2012, he was the youngest MLA to be elected to the Gujarat Assembly.[4][7] He retained the seat for the BJP in the 2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election and won for a third time in the 2022 Assembly election, also from Majura Assembly constituency defeating PVS Sharma of the Aam Aadmi Party by a margin of 116,675 votes.[8][7][9]
Sanghavi is minister of state for Sports, Youth Service, Co-ordination of voluntary organization, Non-resident Gujaratis' Division, Transport, Gruh Rakshak Dal and Gram Rakshak Dal, Civil Defence, Jail, Border Security (All Independent Charge), Home and Police Housing, Industries, Cultural Activities (State Minister) in the Gujarat chief minister Bhupendrabhai Patel's cabinet.[10]
He was also National Vice President of BJP Yuva Morcha.
Ministerial Tenure
[edit]As Minister of State for Home in Gujarat, Sanghavi has been associated with several policing and public-safety initiatives. In June 2024, he stated that Gujarat Police had seized more than 87,000 kilograms of drugs worth over ₹9,600 crore in four years, with 2,600 arrests, while speaking at an anti-drugs campaign organised by Gujarat Police.[11]
In July 2023, Sanghavi launched Cyber Sanjivani 2.0, a Surat Police campaign against cybercrime. The campaign included two mobile vans and a web portal intended to spread cyber-safety awareness in police-station areas, industrial zones, schools, colleges, public places and residential societies.[12]
In September 2025, Sanghavi informed the Gujarat Legislative Assembly that under the Tera Tujhko Arpan initiative, launched in 2022, police had organised 9,081 programmes over three years and returned stolen or lost valuables worth more than ₹500 crore to 40,811 beneficiaries.[13]
Sanghavi has also referred to the use of forensic technology in criminal investigations. In September 2025, he told the Assembly that Gujarat's Forensic Science Laboratory had Internet of Things forensic tools for vehicle devices, wearable and medical devices, and embedded devices, and said such technology had been used in a hit-and-run investigation in Ahmedabad.[13]
In December 2025, after becoming Deputy Chief Minister, Sanghavi chaired a review meeting on Operation Mule Hunt, an initiative of the Cyber Centre of Excellence aimed at identifying mule-account operators and wider cybercrime networks. According to an official statement cited by The Times of India, the drive was based on analysis of cybercrime trends and included instructions that innocent account holders should not be harassed during verification.[14]
As Sports Minister, Sanghavi was involved in Gujarat's engagement with international sporting bodies. The Indian Express reported that he was the face of the state government in meetings with international sports bodies, and that these efforts preceded Ahmedabad being recommended as host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The report also noted that Gujarat hosted the 2022 National Games and the 2025 Asian Aquatics Championships during his tenure.[15]
After assuming charge of tourism-related responsibilities, Sanghavi was associated with initiatives to promote Gujarat as a destination for events and weddings. In February 2026, The Indian Express reported that the Wed in Gujarat campaign was an initiative of Sanghavi and aimed at curating and marketing locations in the state for destination weddings.[16]
In April 2026, Sanghavi said the Gujarat government was preparing policies for concerts and expos while developing infrastructure linked to Ahmedabad's preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and longer-term sporting ambitions.[17]
Ideology
[edit]Sanghavi is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is often described by political analysts as aligned with Hindu nationalist ideology.[18]
In his role as a state minister, Sanghavi has been involved in law enforcement actions and public statements related to maintaining public order, including cases involving religious tensions and online content regulation. These actions have at times been viewed by opposition leaders and commentators within broader political and ideological debates in India.[19]
Awards and recognition
[edit]In March 2026, Sanghavi was honoured with the Guardian of Youth Award at the Water Transversality Global Awards and Conclave, organised by the India Water Foundation in New Delhi. The award recognised his role in leading anti-drug initiatives in Gujarat aimed at preventing substance abuse and promoting awareness among youth.[20]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Harsh Sanghavi, BJP MLA from Majura - Our Neta". Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ↑ "Gujarat Lokshabha Sabha - Members". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
- ↑ "Surat Election Result: BJP's Harsh Sanghvi wins Majura seat with wide margin". India Today. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- 1 2 SHANKER (19 September 2021). "Who is Harsh Sanghavi, the BJP leader who holds 9 portfolios in new Gujarat CM cabinet". ThePrint.
- ↑ "Harsh Sanghavi Profile". ADR India. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ "Harsh Sanghavi affidavit details". ADR India. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Majura Election Result 2022 LIVE: BJP's Harsh Ramesh Sanghvi wins by massive 1.17 lakh margin - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ↑ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ↑ "Gujarat results: Sanghavi, Moradiya, 2 other ministers win with huge margins in Surat". The Indian Express. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
- ↑ "Gujarat: PM Modi's Madison Square program successor Harsh Sanghavi gets 9 portfolios in Bhupendra Patel cabinet". The New Indian Express.
- ↑ "'Gujarat safest,' says Sanghavi; slams Opp over criticism against drug seizures". The Indian Express. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ "Putting an end to cybercrime is everybody's collective responsibility, says Sanghavi". The Times of India. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Stolen, lost valuables worth Rs 500 crore returned to people under Tera Tujhko Arpan initiative: Minister in Gujarat Assembly". The Indian Express. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ "Gujarat deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi holds review meeting on 'Operation Mule Hunt'". The Times of India. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ "Newsmaker: Given keys to Home, why new Gujarat Dy CM Harsh Sanghavi is man to watch". The Indian Express. 18 October 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ "'Wed in Gujarat' campaign: Taking cue from Rajasthan, Gujarat to promote destination weddings in state". The Indian Express. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ "As Ahmedabad races to host 2030 Commonwealth, policy for expos, concerts, new hotels in the works: Gujarat Deputy CM". The Indian Express. 21 April 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ "BJP and Hindu nationalism explained". BBC News. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ "FIRs against 14 for posting anti-national content: Gujarat government". The Times of India. 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- ↑ "Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi honoured with 'Guardian of Youth Award' at Water Transversality Global Awards & Conclave 2026". Ahmedabad Mirror. 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.