Wait ends as Agra, Mainpuri MLAs get berths in ministry

THE BJP HAD WON ALL NINE ASSEMBLY SEATS IN AGRA IN 2017 BUT NO MLA FROM THE DISTRICT WAS SWORN IN WHEN YOGI ADITYANATH TOOK OATH AS CHIEF MINISTER ON MARCH 19, 2017

AGRA: Agra and Mainpuri districts found representation in the Yogi Adityanath ministry for the first time since 2017 with the induction of Girraj Singh Dharmesh, Chaudhary Uday Bhan Singh and Ram Naresh Agnihotri on Wednesday.

Dharmesh represents the Agra Cantonment assembly constituency. Chaudhary Uday Bhan Singh was elected to the assembly from Fatehpur Sikri (also in Agra district).

Agnihotri won the Bhongaon assembly seat for the BJP for the first time in the Samajwadi Party stronghold of Mainpuri in 2017.

People distributed sweets in Mainpuri on Wednesday following Agnihotri’s induction in the cabinet. Known for his clean political image, Agnihotri owns rice mills in Mainpuri.

There was good news for Agra too as Dalit leader Girraj Singh Dharmesh and Jat leader Chaudhary Uday Bhan Singh were sworn in as ministers of state.

The BJP had won all nine assembly seats in Agra in 2017 but no MLA from the district was sworn in when Yogi Adityanath took oath as chief minister on March 19, 2017.

Dharnesh won the Agra Cantt assembly seat for the first time in the 2017 assembly election after losing as a BJP candidate in 2012.

Chaudhary Uday Bhan Singh had represented the Dayalbagh assembly constituency (now Agra Rural) in the past for the BJP.

In 2017, he won the Jat dominated Fatehpur Sikri assembly seat riding the Modi wave. The Bahujan Samaj Party had won the same seat in 2007 and 2012.

Welcoming the induction of Dharmesh and Uday Bhan Singh, a tourism industry representative said he hoped that the state government would now sharpen its focus on tourism in Agra.

“Taj Mahal falls within the constituency of GS Dharmesh, the MLA from Agra Cantonment. Chaudhary Uday Bhan Singh is from Fatehpur Sikri, the site of another world heritage monument. The tourism sector has reason to be optimistic today and believes that Agra, which was missing the state government’s focus, might now get its due,” said Sandeep Arora, president of the Agra Tourism Development Foundation.

“It would be advisable if either of these Agra MLAs is given the tourism ministry, being held by the chief minister after the then tourism minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi was elected an MP. This will pave the way for proper tourism promotion, much needed for boosting Agra’s economic status,” said Arora.