New Delhi: Yogi Adityanath expanded his cabinet for the second time on Sunday, inducting six new members into the Uttar Pradesh government.
The expansion included two cabinet ministers and four ministers of state, while two existing ministers of state were promoted to ministers of state with independent charge.
The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Raj Bhavan, where former BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhary took oath first, followed by Samajwadi Party rebel MLA Manoj Pandey. Both were inducted as cabinet ministers.
Two ministers promoted with independent charge
MLAs Ajit Pal and Somendra Tomar took oath next. Both were earlier ministers of state and have now been elevated as ministers of state with independent charge.
After them, Krishna Paswan, Kailash Rajput, Surendra Diler and Hansraj Vishwakarma took oath as ministers of state.
Krishna Paswan, a four-time MLA, previously worked as an anganwadi worker before entering politics.
Ministers touch feet of Governor and CM after oath
Following the ceremony, Ajit Pal, Somendra Tomar, Krishna Paswan, Kailash Rajput, Surendra Diler and Hansraj Vishwakarma touched the feet of the Governor and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Among the newly inducted ministers, one belongs to the Brahmin community, three are from OBC communities and two are from Dalit communities.
Total number of ministers rises to 60
With the latest expansion, the total strength of the Uttar Pradesh government, including the chief minister, has risen to 60 ministers.
The first expansion of the Yogi cabinet took place on March 5, 2024, just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
