As Prime Minister Nadrendra Modi-led NDA government is gearing up for a cabinet expansion on Sunday, Uttar Pradesh is likely to see its representation dwindle at the Centre.
According to sources, party high command has made up its mind to ‘relieve’ four ministers from UP and will pick only two new faces in their place. Currently, there are 15 ministers from the state in Modi’s council of ministers.
Party sources claim that Union ministers Kalraj Mishra, Uma Bharti and Sanjeev Baliyan have handed over their resignations to the prime minister, while a fourth minister Mahendra Nath Pandey has been given the charge of UP. Members of Parliament from UP, who are likely to be promoted to the council of ministers in Sunday's expansion, include Satyapal Singh (Baghpat MP), Harish Dwivedi (Basti MP), Virendra Singh (Bhadohi MP), Sharad Tripathi (Sant Kabir Nagar MP), Bhartendu Singh (Bijnor MP) and Shiv Pratap Shukla (Rajya Sabha).
The decision to reduce the number of ministers from UP has been taken keeping in mind the upcoming polls in other states. Sources say the move will not have any adverse effect because Home Minister Rajnath Singh, President of India Ram Nath Kovind and many others who hold important positions belong to the state.
Speculations are ripe that Union minister Kalraj Mishra, who resigned today, is likely to become the Bihar governor. Party sources claim a number of ministers from Bihar, too, will be cut down but the loss will be compensated by inducting new faces from the JD (U).
Since Uma Bharti and Nirmala Sitaraman are likely to quit from the Union council of ministers, there are speculations that they might be replaced with other women MPs itself to balance women’s representation. The probables include Barabanki MP Priyanka Rawat, Lalgunj MP Neelam Sonkar and Behriach MP Savitri Bai Phule.
