'Rockstar' Jaddu's Wife Starts New Innings; Selected As Minister In Gujarat Govt

Ahmedabad: Swashbuckling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja may have been left out of India’s ODI squad that is currently touring Australia, but his wife Rivaba is set to start a new innings as a minister in the Gujarat government.

Rivaba’s name featured in the list of 26 ministers released by the BJP government in the state on Friday. The portfolios have not yet been announced.

A major reshuffle in the Gujarat cabinet took place recently, with all ministers, except chief minister Bhupendra Patel resigning.

Rivaba is an MLA from the Jamnagar North constituency. She entered politics in 2019 when she joined the BJP and went on to win the 2022 Gujarat Assembly Election. Her growing popularity and active involvement in constituency work have now earned her a place in the cabinet.

She was born in 1990 to businessman Hardev Singh Solanki and former railway employee Prafullaba Solanki. Originally from Rajkot, Rivaba holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Atmiya Institute of Technology and Science in that city.

Ravindra and Rivaba got married in 2016, and their daughter Nidhyana was born in June 2017. The two share a strong bond that often draws media attention. Despite being the wife of a celebrity cricketer, Rivaba has built an independent identity as a dedicated public representative and now as a state minister.

According to election affidavits, Rivaba declared movable assets worth Rs 64.3 crore, including Rs 57.6 lakh in her own name. Her husband Ravindra Jadeja’s total assets are estimated at Rs 70.48 crore, which includes Rs 33.05 crore worth of immovable properties such as commercial spaces and shops in Rajkot, Jamnagar, and Ahmedabad. The couple also jointly owns a 50% stake in Jaddu’s Food Field, a popular restaurant in Gujarat.