In the wake of his return from New Delhi on the morning of Friday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath promptly convened with Governor Anandiben Patel at Lucknow’s Raj Bhavan. This rendezvous has ignited speculation regarding the imminent expansion of the Uttar Pradesh council of ministers.
The anticipated augmentation of the ministry in Uttar Pradesh, aimed at accommodating BJP allies in preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, has lingered unresolved for several months.
Despite being officially labeled as a courtesy call by a spokesperson, the meeting assumed political gravity due to the Chief Minister’s swift visit to Raj Bhavan upon his return from the national capital.
During his stay in New Delhi, Yogi Adityanath participated in a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The agenda encompassed discussions on the prevailing political landscape and the potential candidates of the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The New Delhi deliberations, commencing on Thursday evening, extended into the late hours of the night, according to those privy to the unfolding events.
The existing 52-member Uttar Pradesh council of ministers harbors eight vacancies, yet its maximum allowable strength stands at 60 members. Presently, the ministry comprises 18 cabinet ministers (including the Chief Minister), 14 ministers of state (independent charge), and 20 ministers of state.
Apart from accommodating Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar and BJP MLC Dara Singh Chauhan, the Chief Minister contemplates the induction of one or two nominees from the Rashtriya Lok Dal.
Rajbhar had ardently canvassed for Chauhan during the Ghosi assembly by-election on September 5, 2023. Although Chauhan faced defeat in the by-poll, the BJP subsequently accommodated him as an MLC.
Notably, the Rashtriya Lok Dal MLAs lent their support to the BJP candidates in the Rajya Sabha election on February 27. An official announcement regarding the integration of RLD into the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is anticipated soon. Additionally, one or two more nominees from the BJP quota, alongside Chauhan, may find a place in the expanded ministry.