The Uttar Pradesh Government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath embarked on its first Cabinet expansion during his second term, strategically broadening its representation across regions and castes in anticipation of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The move aims to resonate with a diverse electorate and consolidate support for the ruling party.

On Tuesday, four new Ministers were sworn in, signaling a concerted effort to encompass varied interests. The inductees include Om Prakash Rajbhar, chief of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP); Anil Kumar from the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD); and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Dara Singh Chauhan and Sunil Kumar Sharma.

The swearing-in ceremony, officiated by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, took place at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow.

Expressing his gratitude, SBSP’s Om Prakash Rajbhar remarked on the significance of representation for marginalised communities in governance.

“This appointment is a testament to the acknowledgment of the marginalised society’s aspirations,” he said, indicating a broad spectrum of political approval for his inclusion.

RLD leader Anil Kumar, acknowledging the responsibility bestowed upon him, extended thanks to his party chief Jayant Chaudhary, Yogi, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasised a commitment to honesty in his endeavours and expressed determination towards achieving electoral success for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the State.

This Cabinet expansion marks a strategic move by the BJP to fortify its foothold across various regions of Uttar Pradesh ahead of the impending Lok Sabha polls, slated to be a crucial battleground for electoral dominance.

The recent political developments have seen RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary formalising the party’s alliance with the ruling NDA, underscoring a concerted effort towards coalition building and electoral preparation. RLD has also announced its candidates for the upcoming general elections, reinforcing its commitment to the alliance.

With these strategic appointments, the Uttar Pradesh Government aims to navigate the electoral landscape effectively, catering to the aspirations of a wide-ranging populace as the State gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

After prolonged anticipation and numerous postponements, the much-awaited Cabinet expansion has finally taken place, just ahead of the looming Lok Sabha elections. Speculations had been rife since last year’s Diwali festivities, but it was not until now that the expansion materialised.

The BJP has reportedly aimed to honour its commitments to alliance partners, offering Ministerial positions under the “poll deal”.

One inclusion in the expanded Cabinet is Omprakash Rajbhar, who previously served as a Cabinet Minister during Yogi’s first term in Uttar Pradesh. Rajbhar had defected to the Samajwadi Party (SP) before the 2022 Assembly elections but returned to the BJP fold a few months ago, after falling out with the SP. His re-inclusion in the Cabinet is believed to be part of the pre-election agreement within the alliance.

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Yogi expands UP Cabinet to include diverse voices

The BJP leadership is optimistic that Rajbhar’s return to the Cabinet will help alleviate tensions and foster greater cooperation. Rajbhar had expressed discontent over the denial of a ticket to Rajesh Singh Dayal from the Salempur Lok Sabha seat, openly voicing his grievances during a recent event in Ballia, where he also criticised BJP candidate Ravindra Kushwaha.

Another significant addition to the Cabinet is Dara Singh Chauhan, who also made a comeback to the BJP fold after a stint with the SP. Despite losing the Ghosi seat in a by-election, Chauhan’s stature within the BJP remained intact, leading to his elevation to ministerial status.

Hailing from the Nonia-Chauhan community, which holds sway in the OBC demographics of Azamgarh, Mau, and Varanasi in Purvanchal, Chauhan’s inclusion is seen as a strategic move by the BJP to consolidate support among non-Yadav OBC voters.

With Akhilesh Yadav’s campaign focusing on the PDA (Backward-Dalit-Extremely Exploited) slogan, the BJP aims to counterbalance by leveraging Chauhan’s influence to attract OBC votes in crucial constituencies. The cabinet expansion, therefore, not only signifies a fulfillment of alliance promises but also underscores BJP’s strategic maneuvers ahead of the impending electoral battle. Biswajeet Banerjee n Lucknow

The Uttar Pradesh Government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath embarked on its first Cabinet expansion during his second term, strategically broadening its representation across regions and castes in anticipation of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The move aims to resonate with a diverse electorate and consolidate support for the ruling party.

On Tuesday, four new Ministers were sworn in, signaling a concerted effort to encompass varied interests. The inductees include Om Prakash Rajbhar, chief of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP); Anil Kumar from the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD); and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Dara Singh Chauhan and Sunil Kumar Sharma.

The swearing-in ceremony, officiated by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, took place at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow.

Expressing his gratitude, SBSP’s Om Prakash Rajbhar remarked on the significance of representation for marginalised communities in governance.

“This appointment is a testament to the acknowledgment of the marginalised society’s aspirations,” he said, indicating a broad spectrum of political approval for his inclusion.

RLD leader Anil Kumar, acknowledging the responsibility bestowed upon him, extended thanks to his party chief Jayant Chaudhary, Yogi, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasised a commitment to honesty in his endeavours and expressed determination towards achieving electoral success for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the State.

This Cabinet expansion marks a strategic move by the BJP to fortify its foothold across various regions of Uttar Pradesh ahead of the impending Lok Sabha polls, slated to be a crucial battleground for electoral dominance.

The recent political developments have seen RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary formalising the party’s alliance with the ruling NDA, underscoring a concerted effort towards coalition building and electoral preparation. RLD has also announced its candidates for the upcoming general elections, reinforcing its commitment to the alliance.

With these strategic appointments, the Uttar Pradesh Government aims to navigate the electoral landscape effectively, catering to the aspirations of a wide-ranging populace as the State gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

After prolonged anticipation and numerous postponements, the much-awaited Cabinet expansion has finally taken place, just ahead of the looming Lok Sabha elections. Speculations had been rife since last year’s Diwali festivities, but it was not until now that the expansion materialised.

The BJP has reportedly aimed to honour its commitments to alliance partners, offering Ministerial positions under the “poll deal”.

One inclusion in the expanded Cabinet is Omprakash Rajbhar, who previously served as a Cabinet Minister during Yogi’s first term in Uttar Pradesh. Rajbhar had defected to the Samajwadi Party (SP) before the 2022 Assembly elections but returned to the BJP fold a few months ago, after falling out with the SP. His re-inclusion in the Cabinet is believed to be part of the pre-election agreement within the alliance.

The BJP leadership is optimistic that Rajbhar’s return to the Cabinet will help alleviate tensions and foster greater cooperation. Rajbhar had expressed discontent over the denial of a ticket to Rajesh Singh Dayal from the Salempur Lok Sabha seat, openly voicing his grievances during a recent event in Ballia, where he also criticised BJP candidate Ravindra Kushwaha.

Another significant addition to the Cabinet is Dara Singh Chauhan, who also made a comeback to the BJP fold after a stint with the SP. Despite losing the Ghosi seat in a by-election, Chauhan’s stature within the BJP remained intact, leading to his elevation to ministerial status.

Hailing from the Nonia-Chauhan community, which holds sway in the OBC demographics of Azamgarh, Mau, and Varanasi in Purvanchal, Chauhan’s inclusion is seen as a strategic move by the BJP to consolidate support among non-Yadav OBC voters.

With Akhilesh Yadav’s campaign focusing on the PDA (Backward-Dalit-Extremely Exploited) slogan, the BJP aims to counterbalance by leveraging Chauhan’s influence to attract OBC votes in crucial constituencies. The cabinet expansion, therefore, not only signifies a fulfillment of alliance promises but also underscores BJP’s strategic maneuvers ahead of the impending electoral battle.