Yogi Adityanath is expected to carry out a major expansion of the Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Sunday evening in a move widely viewed as a political and social balancing exercise ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place at 3.30 pm in Lucknow after Adityanath met Governor Anandiben Patel at Lok Bhavan before the proposed reshuffle and induction exercise.
According to sources, six new ministers are likely to be inducted into the council of ministers, while portfolios of several existing ministers may also be reshuffled. The expansion is being planned at a politically crucial time for the BJP as it attempts to strengthen caste representation and regional outreach following setbacks faced during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Among the prominent names likely to be inducted is Bhupendra Chaudhary, a Jat OBC leader from Moradabad and current Member of the Legislative Council. Another likely entrant is Manoj Pandey, a Brahmin leader from Rae Bareli who had rebelled against the Samajwadi Party before moving closer to the BJP camp.
Sources also indicated that Pooja Pal, an OBC leader from the Pal community, may be inducted into the cabinet. Other likely names include Ashok Kataria, a Gurjar OBC leader, along with SC leaders Krishna Paswan and Suresh Pasi from the Pasi community.
The proposed expansion is being interpreted as part of the BJP’s broader strategy to reinforce support among OBC, Dalit, and upper-caste groups before the next Assembly polls. Sources further said that one Minister of State with independent charge may also be elevated to Cabinet rank as part of the restructuring exercise aimed at improving political representation across regions and communities.
At present, the Uttar Pradesh government has 54 ministers, while the constitutional limit permits a maximum strength of 60 ministers. The BJP currently holds 255 seats in the 403-member Assembly, while allies including the Apna Dal (Sonelal) and Nishad Party help the NDA maintain a comfortable majority in the state.
