Yogi Cabinet Expansion: 6 New Ministers to Take Oath Today; Full List

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is set for its second cabinet expansion today. Six new ministers are scheduled to take the oath of office at 3:00 PM. The expansion strategically balances caste equations, inducting 1 Brahmin, 3 OBC, and 2 Dalit representatives. The new faces joining the cabinet are Bhupendra Chaudhary, Manoj Pandey, Krishna Paswan, Hansraj Vishwakarma, Kailash Rajput, and Surendra Diler.

Political Stature of Bhupendra Chaudhary and Manoj Pandey

Bhupendra Chaudhary is the former UP BJP State President and a prominent Jat leader from Western Uttar Pradesh. Hailing from Moradabad, the 58-year-old has a strong organizational grip and previously served as the Cabinet Minister for Panchayati Raj. He became an MLC for the first time in 2016 and was re-nominated in 2022. Manoj Pandey, a 58-year-old Brahmin leader, is a three-time MLA from Unchahar (Raebareli), winning in 2012, 2017, and 2022. A former rebel leader from the Samajwadi Party, he served as a cabinet minister and Chief Whip under the Akhilesh government before joining the BJP in 2024.

Krishna Paswan: From Anganwadi Worker to MLA

Krishna Paswan, the BJP MLA from Khaga in Fatehpur, represents the Dalit community. The 63-year-old is a four-time MLA (2002, 2012, 2017, 2022) who rose from being an Anganwadi worker to the state assembly. She's considered a leader with a strong grassroots connection. She recently gained attention for a viral video where she was seen checking the quality of a newly constructed road with a shovel.

Roles of Hansraj Vishwakarma and Kailash Rajput

Hansraj Vishwakarma, 57, represents the OBC (Vishwakarma) community and hails from PM Modi's parliamentary constituency, Varanasi. Currently serving as the Varanasi BJP District President, he has transitioned from a booth-level worker to a cabinet member and is considered close to the Prime Minister. Kailash Rajput, the 67-year-old MLA from Tirwa in Kannauj, belongs to the Lodhi (OBC) community and is considered a key OBC face in Akhilesh Yadav's stronghold.

Surendra Diler: Youngest Face and Political Legacy

The youngest inductee is 31-year-old Surendra Diler from the SC community. He became an MLA for the first time in the 2024 by-election from the Khair seat in Aligarh. He carries a significant political legacy; his grandfather Kishan Lal Diler was a four-time MP and five-time MLA from Hathras, while his father Rajveer Diler also served as an MP from Hathras and MLA from the Khair assembly seat.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will attend the swearing-in ceremony at 3:30 PM today. Following the event, at 4:30 PM, he will watch the film 'Krishnavataram' at Lok Bhavan. The Governor and all cabinet ministers are also expected to attend the film screening.