Yogi Cabinet's likely reshuffle to set 2027 momentum with some big exits, entries

Party's top leaders complete the groundwork, BJP likely to increase representation of Dalits, OBCs in the ministry

- Rajesh Kumar Singh [e-mail]

LUCKNOW: With the budget session of the state assembly having concluded, the Yogi Adityanath 2.0 cabinet is likely to witness a second expansion and a rejig of the BJP state unit organisation soon as the party plans to set the tone for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly election.

The party's top leaders have completed the groundwork for the rejig, according to BJP leaders familiar with the development. With discussions in final stages, the cabinet expansion is likely to take place around Holi.

The move is also part of the BJP's plan to counter the PDA (Pichada or backwards, Dalits and Alpsahkhyaks or Muslims formula) of the Samajwadi Party, its main political rival in the state. Riding the PDA formula, the SP bagged 37 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 general election. The BJP suffered a setback, winning just 33 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2024 as against 62 in 2019.

At present, the UP Council of ministers has a strength of 54 against the permissible 60. The council of ministers has 21 cabinet ministers, 14 ministers of state (independent charge) and 19 ministers of state.