The swearing-in ceremony took place at Jan Bhavan in Lucknow, where Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath to the new ministers.
Former Uttar Pradesh BJP president Bhupendra Chaudhary and Samajwadi Party defector Manoj Pandey were inaugurated as cabinet ministers.
Ajit Pal Singh and Somendra Tomar were promoted to ministers of state with independent charge.
Additionally, four new ministers of state—Krishna Paswan, Surendra Diler, Hansraj Vishwakarma, and Kailash Rajput—also took the oath.
This expansion brings the Uttar Pradesh council of ministers to its authorized capacity of 60 members as outlined by constitutional provisions. The cabinet now comprises 23 cabinet ministers, 16 ministers of state with independent charge, and 21 ministers of state.
Strategic Political Balancing Before Elections
This expansion occurs at a politically crucial moment, with Assembly elections slated for early next year. The reshuffle is perceived as an effort by the BJP to bolster caste and regional representation across vital areas of Uttar Pradesh.
Bhupendra Chaudhary’s appointment is seen as an effort to engage the Jat community in western Uttar Pradesh. He has previously held the position of BJP state president and was part of the earlier Yogi Adityanath cabinet.
Manoj Pandey, a three-time MLA from Raebareli’s Unchahar constituency, initially associated with the Samajwadi Party, later distanced himself from them and showed support for BJP leaders during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign.
Emphasis on Social Representation
Somendra Tomar’s promotion is regarded as an initiative to enhance caste representation, especially among the Gurjar community in western Uttar Pradesh. He represents Meerut South and has previously managed the energy portfolio.
The appointments of Krishna Paswan and Surendra Diler underscore the BJP’s persistent focus on Dalit representation.
Krishna Paswan, a four-time MLA from the Khaga constituency in Fatehpur, is part of the Pasi community and has held significant organizational positions within the party.
Surendra Diler, an MLA from Khair in Aligarh, hails from a politically prominent Valmiki community family, with both his grandfather and father having held MLA and MP roles.
Hansraj Vishwakarma, a veteran BJP organizational leader from Varanasi, and Kailash Rajput, a senior MLA from Tirwa in Kannauj, were also appointed as ministers of state.
Festivities Across Uttar Pradesh
Celebrations erupted in numerous districts, including Aligarh, Meerut, Kannauj, and Raebareli following the oath ceremony.
In Aligarh, supporters gathered outside Surendra Diler’s home to distribute sweets. In Meerut, celebrators of Somendra Tomar expressed their joy with drum beats and slogans.
Kailash Rajput’s induction also sparked celebrations in Kannauj, with party workers asserting that his inclusion would bolster the BJP’s position in the region.
Ministers Express Gratitude to Leadership
After taking their oaths, the newly appointed ministers expressed their thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya stated that the expanded cabinet would focus on the welfare of Uttar Pradesh’s 25 crore residents.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak mentioned that this expansion would accelerate development in the state.
BJP leaders also indicated that a full-strength ministry would enable the party to better prepare for the upcoming Assembly elections.
(With inputs from agencies)
