UP Cabinet expansion? Why CM Yogi’s Delhi meeting with PM Modi, Amit Shah has set off buzz
The expansion of the UP Cabinet has been on the cards since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the BJP won fewer seats than the Opposition Samajwadi Party.
Speculation over a possible expansion of Uttar Pradesh Cabinet intensified on Monday as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met top BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in New Delhi.
Adityanath also met BJP national president JP Nadda and working president Nitin Nabin.
Notably, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak was also in Delhi, and he met Nadda and Nabin separately during the day.
The expansion of the UP Cabinet has been on the cards since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the BJP won fewer seats than the Opposition Samajwadi Party.
While state BJP leadership stated that the Cabinet expansion was “inevitable”, it justified the delay, saying it would take place after the election of the state unit president.
With Assembly elections in the state less than two years away, the BJP last month anointed Maharajganj MP and Union minister Pankaj Chaudhary, an OBC, as the state BJP chief. Outgoing state unit president Bhupendra Chaudhary, who was a cabinet minister in the first term of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is a frontrunner for a cabinet post, sources in the party said.
“The discussion over Cabinet expansion is yet to reach a concluding state, and many more sittings are required. Today’s meetings of the UP CM with top party leadership were to discuss important government and policy-related issues,” a senior BJP leader said, adding the CM’s visit to Delhi was “not planned”.
Story continues below this ad
At present, there are 21 Cabinet ministers, including the CM and two deputy CMs, 14 Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 19 Ministers of State.
Yogi gifts Modi a Ram Temple replica in Gulabi Meenakari
Chief Minister Adityanath on Monday presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a replica of Ram’s temple crafted in Gulabi Meenakari. The replica, prepared by craftsman Kunj Bihari Singh on the occasion of the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, has been created using 2 kilos of silver and gold, with diamonds embedded in the structure. The replica consists of 108 individual parts and was completed over a period of 108 days. “Throughout its creation, continuous chanting of Ram Dhun was carried out for all 108 days,” the government said.
“The symbolic design elements include a golden depiction of Shri Ram, lotus motifs and the bow and arrow, diamonds embedded on the four spires, and an internal lighting arrangement. Together, these elements vividly reflect the spiritual significance of the number 108 in the Sanatan tradition,” an official said
Story continues below this ad
During his visit to the United States in 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had presented a Gulabi Meenakari chess set to the then US Vice President Kamala Harris. —ENS
Bhupendra Pandey is the Resident Editor of the Lucknow edition of The Indian Express. With decades of experience in the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s journalistic landscape, he oversees the bureau’s coverage of India’s most politically significant state. His expertise lies in navigating the complex intersections of state governance, legislative policy, and grassroots social movements. From tracking high-stakes assembly elections to analyzing administrative shifts in the Hindi heartland, Bhupendra’s reportage provides a definitive lens on the region's evolution.
Authoritativeness He leads a team of seasoned reporters and investigators, ensuring that The Indian Express’ signature "Journalism of Courage" is reflected in every regional story. His leadership is central to the Lucknow bureau’s reputation for breaking stories that hold the powerful to account, making him a trusted figure for policy analysts, political scholars, and the general public seeking to understand the nuances of UP’s complex landscape.
Trustworthiness & Accountability Under his stewardship, the Lucknow edition adheres to the strictest standards of factual verification and non-partisan reporting. He serves as a bridge between the local populace and the national discourse, ensuring that regional issues are elevated with accuracy and context. By prioritizing primary-source reporting and on-the-ground verification, he upholds the trust that readers have placed in the Express brand for nearly a century. ... Read More
