BJP readies Uttar Pradesh cabinet reshuffle ahead of polls

With a cabinet reshuffle in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh is next in line, with both states headed for Assembly elections next year and internal discussions in the BJP gathering pace.

On Friday, a UP BJP core group meeting was held at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence. The presence of RSS joint general secretary Arun Kumar lent significance to the meeting. Along with Adityanath, deputy chief ministers Keshav Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, state president Bhupendra Choudhary and state general secretary (organisation) Dharampal were present.

Around six cabinet berths remain vacant in UP, and a reshuffle is expected ahead of the polls. With about nine months to go, the party is keen to give new ministers sufficient time to establish themselves.


Several names are in contention. Former state president Bhupendra Choudhary is being considered for induction, on the lines of Madan Kaushik in Uttarakhand. There are also discussions on accommodating an MLA from the Samajwadi Party who recently joined the BJP. Increasing women's representation in the cabinet is also under consideration.

Sources said the reshuffle, along with organisational appointments at the district level, is likely after Ram Navami. Appointments to corporations and government boards are also expected to be finalised in the same phase.