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Anticipation Grows for Cabinet Expansion in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: The excitement among legislators in Uttar Pradesh is palpable as they await the announcement of new ministers. The expansion of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's cabinet is set to take place today. On Saturday evening, the Chief Minister met with the Governor, and the swearing-in ceremony for the new ministers is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 3 PM. According to sources, six new ministers may be appointed in this cabinet expansion, which could allow for a total of 60 ministers based on the number of legislators in UP.

Following the Lok Sabha elections, former cabinet minister Jitin Prasada and minister of state Anoop Pradhan have transitioned to become MPs. Currently, the cabinet comprises 54 members, including the Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers, with 21 cabinet ministers, 14 ministers of independent charge, and 19 ministers of state. Thus, the Yogi cabinet can accommodate six more ministers.

Initially, party leadership considered removing some ministers, but it is now reported that only six legislators will be inducted into the cabinet. Speculation is rife about who will be appointed as ministers.

Names of Pooja Pal and Manoj Pandey Surface

In the recent Rajya Sabha elections, seven legislators from the Samajwadi Party cross-voted for the BJP. It is believed that two of them, Manoj Pandey and Pooja Pal, may be appointed as ministers. Manoj Pandey belongs to the Brahmin community, while Pooja Pal is from the OBC category.

Pooja Pal's Cross Voting in Rajya Sabha

Pooja Pal is the wife of former MLA Raju Pal from Allahabad. Notorious mafia figure Ateeq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were the main accused in Raju Pal's murder. Pooja Pal contested the 2022 assembly elections on a Samajwadi Party ticket but cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha elections and made statements against Akhilesh Yadav in the assembly, leading to her expulsion from the party last year.

Bhupendra Chaudhary Also Expected to Be Appointed

Additionally, former UP BJP president Bhupendra Chaudhary is also expected to be appointed as a minister. Other names in consideration include Krishna Paswan and Ashok Kataria, along with Surendra Diler. The names of Hansraj Vishwakarma and Asha Maurya are also circulating for ministerial positions. Sources indicate that there may also be some reshuffling of departments among existing ministers.

Yogi Adityanath assumed office as Chief Minister for his second term in 2022. The first cabinet expansion occurred in March 2024. With the assembly elections scheduled for 2027, it is anticipated that regional and caste dynamics will play a significant role in this cabinet expansion.