UP Cabinet rejig, political appointments to corporations, boards soon

New Delhi: After last week's meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, political circles are abuzz with the talk of an imminent Cabinet rejig in the state.

Also under consideration are political appointments to over 50 boards and corporations in Uttar Pradesh to place various leaders from various castes and regions who have not yet been accommodated for their services in the Assembly polls earlier this year.

By making these appointments at the earliest, the Bharatiya Janata Party also hopes to stem any thoughts of rebellion or discontentment amongst its ranks. The move is also expected to quell any attempts by the opposition parties to woo the saffron unit's leaders.

Sources stated that the UP cabinet currently has 53 ministers and as per Constitutional norms this number can be increased to 60. This has been necessitated as the BJP hopes to accommodate various communities and castes which have so far not received a place in the Uttar Pradesh council of ministers.

While the BJP was able to secure over 250 seats in the 403-member UP Legislative Assembly, it is yet to use its full quota of ministers. The party feels that it is now time to expand and put in place more of its leaders in the council of ministers to fulfil regional and caste aspirations.

Sources stated that this exercise will also be used to drop ministers, who are considered to be non-performers. It is understood that UP CM Adityanath had in a meeting with PM Modi apprised him of these issues and sought a go-ahead for the same. 

Yogi is also known to have informed the Prime Minister of the friction with his deputy Brajesh Pathak’s working style. 

NewsDrum had earlier reported that all was not apparently well in the Uttar Pradesh unit of the BJP and trouble seemed to be brewing between the two top leaders. The Chief Minister's Office has apparently expressed its displeasure over the issue known to the party's central leadership earlier as well.

With PM Modi himself representing Varanasi, a Lok Sabha constituency in UP, he is also understood to be keen that there should not be any political friction in the most important state in the nation’s electoral polity. Hence the need to be abreast of all developments and keen involvement in appointments to top positions in the state, sources said.

Appointments to UP’s boards, corporations

Ever since the formation of the Yogi Adityanath government earlier this year, the government has been putting off appointments to the various boards and corporations that function under the state government.

By placing its mid-ranked and regional leaders in these important posts the saffron unit wants to send out a clear message that the party was willing to accommodate workers and leaders that had helped ensure its victory in the Assembly polls in March this year. This would also ensure the loyalty of these leaders and their continued support ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha polls, sources added.

By appointing political leaders, legislators or BJP members, to these boards and corporations, the party would also ensure that it fulfils the aspirations of various castes, communities and regions across the vast state.

The heads of these boards and corporations are ranked equivalent to Minister of State and make these leaders entitled to certain benefits which sends across the message that the party has not abandoned them after securing a win. Appointments to these posts are considered to be morale boosters for the leaders and cadre that work tirelessly for the party, sources said.  

The move would also be significant as Uttar Pradesh had sent the most number of BJP MPs to the Lok Sabha in 2014 and 2019. The saffron unit hopes that the state electorate continues to back the party as PM Modi is set to seek his third term in 2024.