UP cabinet expansion live updates: Jitin Prasada, 6 others take oath as ministers

With an attempt to set the caste balance right and give more representation to most backwards and schedule castes before the state polls next year, chief minister Yogi Adityanath inducted seven new ministers into his cabinet on Sunday.

Keeping caste equations and regional aspirations in mind, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath expanded his cabinet on Sunday ahead of crucial assembly elections in the state early next year. As many as seven ministers took oath at a ceremony held in Gandhi auditorium at the Raj Bhavan in Lucknow.

Just a few months before ruling BJP goes to assembly polls in early 2022, it has decided to set its house of castes in order. With an aim to woo OBCs and MBCs who have not got adequate share in the government and to keep the upper caste Brahmin community in good humour, the Yogi Adityanath-led government is likely to induct one Brahmin, three OBCs, one ST and two dalits in the ministry. Similarly, three OBCs would be accommodated in the nominated MLCs seat which has been lying vacant since July this year.