Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday expanded his Council of Ministers, inducting six Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and promoting two Ministers of State to independent charge. With the latest reshuffle, the Yogi Cabinet has reached its constitutionally permitted maximum strength of 60 ministers in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at Jan Bhavan in Lucknow, where Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed ministers. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, along with senior BJP leaders, legislators and government officials, attended the event.

Two Leaders Join Cabinet Rank

Among the prominent appointments, former BJP Uttar Pradesh President Bhupendra Chaudhary and senior party leader Manoj Pandey were inducted as Cabinet Ministers. Their inclusion is being viewed as a significant political move aimed at strengthening the party's organisational and governance structure in the state.

Both leaders bring considerable political and administrative experience and are expected to play key roles in the government's functioning.

Two Ministers Elevated

The Cabinet expansion also included the promotion of Ajit Pal Singh and Somendra Tomar, who were serving as Ministers of State. Both have now been elevated and assigned independent charge, giving them greater administrative responsibilities.

The promotions reflect the government's effort to reward performance while ensuring balanced representation within the Council of Ministers.

Four New Ministers of State Inducted

The expansion also saw the induction of four BJP leaders as Ministers of State:

• Krishna Paswan
• Surendra Diler
• Hansraj Vishwakarma
• Kailash Rajput

Their inclusion is expected to enhance regional and social representation in the Uttar Pradesh government while strengthening the BJP's outreach across different communities.

Cabinet Reaches Constitutional Limit

Following the latest expansion, the Uttar Pradesh Council of Ministers now comprises 60 members, which is the maximum strength allowed under constitutional provisions for a 403-member Assembly.

The expansion fills all available vacancies in the state Cabinet and is expected to improve administrative efficiency as the government enters the next phase of its tenure.

Political observers believe the appointments also reflect the BJP's strategy of maintaining organisational balance, rewarding experienced leaders and ensuring broader representation ahead of future electoral challenges.

The allocation of portfolios to the newly inducted and promoted ministers is expected to be announced separately by the Chief Minister's Office.