UP Cabinet Expansion: Bhupendra Chaudhary, Manoj Pandey among six sworn in
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday, 11 May 2025, expanded his Council of Ministers in Uttar Pradesh, inducting six new ministers and elevating two Ministers of State in a calculated move widely seen as social engineering ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath of office and secrecy at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, Lucknow.
Who Was Sworn In
Former Uttar Pradesh BJP president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary was the first to take oath as a Cabinet minister, underscoring his rising stature within the party — particularly in western Uttar Pradesh. He was followed by Manoj Pandey, a prominent Brahmin leader and former Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA who recently crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The remaining four inductees were Surendra Diler, Krishna Paswan, Hansraj Vishwakarma, and Kailash Rajput. Additionally, Ministers of State Ajit Pal and Somendra Tomar were elevated, reflecting the BJP's effort to maintain administrative and regional balance within the government.
Caste and Community Arithmetic
Of the six newly inducted ministers, one belongs to the Brahmin community, three are from Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and two are Dalit leaders. Political analysts view the inclusion of Manoj Pandey as a deliberate outreach to Brahmin voters, while the induction of Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary is expected to consolidate the party's hold among Jat voters in western UP.
Analysts also see the expansion as an attempt to reinforce social representation, regional inclusivity, and coordination with allies before the high-stakes 2027 polls.
What the New Ministers Said
Speaking after taking the oath, Krishna Paswan said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath would
