Buzz over UP cabinet rejig grows as Shah meets Yogi, Nadda

LUCKNOW: Speculation over a possible Cabinet expansion and announcement of four MLC (member of legislative council) candidates gained momentum after Union home minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda late on Thursday.

“The suspense would now surely be over. Which way the decision would go isn’t known but the suspense would soon be over for sure,” a BJP leader familiar with the developments said on condition of anonymity.

State party chief Swatantra Dev Singh and state general secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal were also present at the meeting which took place at Shah’s residence and lasted for more than three hours, according to news agency ANI.

There are also speculations within the state unit that the MLC picks could become ministers in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet which has around seven vacancies. Party leaders, however, cautioned that until an official announcement was made, nothing was sure.

“A discussion in this regard was held in the presence of BJP chief JP Nadda as well but as of now, nothing is known beyond it. I have a feeling that the expansion is happening. I am saying expansion because the likelihood of any ministers being axed so close to the elections doesn’t seem likely,” a second BJP leader said, preferring anonymity.

A third party leader who did not wish to be identified said that with elections a little over six months away, the constitutional provision of becoming a member of either house of the state legislature after becoming a minister may not matter. “So in a way, one can be made a minister even without being made a member of the legislative council,” the leader said.

Former Union minister Jitin Prasada, who quit the Congress to join the BJP in June, and former state unit chief Laxmikanth Bajpai are among the four possible contenders for the MLC posts.

“Both are Brahmin leaders and if one is made MLC, the other would surely contest the 2022 elections. I guess the dilemma could be on whether to make Prasada an MLC or get him to contest the 2022 elections,” a fourth BJP leader said.

Sanjay Nishad of Nishad is also expecting that his party would bag one of these nominations. “There is also a woman and a party functionary in contention,” the leader added.

“In any case, we are expecting the names to be declared anytime now. Talks have been held and a final decision has been reached and I guess should be made public in a couple of days,” a BJP leader said.

PARTY LEADERS CAUTIONED THAT UNTIL AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, NOTHING WAS SURE.