No Uttar Pradesh dalit MP in Narendra Modi's cabinet

LUCKNOW: The BJP won all 17 reserved constituencies in Uttar Pradesh as it rode to power with 71 seats from the state. But no Scheduled Caste (SC) MP has been included in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ministry.

Dalit leader Sangh Priya Gautam was a minister of state in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's ministry. SCs account for nearly 21% of Uttar Pradesh's population. A majority of them have been with the BSP for over two decades as the BJP lacked strong leadership from the community. The BSP was routed and could not even manage to win even a single seat.

BJP's ally, Apna Dal, has been left out of the ministry as well. Apna Dal leader Anupriya Patel name was being considered for induction into the Modi cabinet.