File photo of CM Yogi.
Dharmendra Chandel, Noida. There have been speculations about the expansion of the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet for a long time. If sources are to be believed, this wait may end next week. It is believed that the cabinet expansion will take place before February 26. Six ministerial posts are vacant in Yogi cabinet. Some ministers may be on leave and many new faces may join the cabinet. Keeping caste equations in mind, MLAs will be given preference in the cabinet.
Noida MLA Pankaj Singh and Dadri MLA Tejpal Nagar are also considered to be in the race to become minister from Gautam Buddha Nagar. Pankaj Singh's name was at the forefront even during the last cabinet expansion. If sources are to be believed, he can get a place in the cabinet this time on the basis of his young face, popularity among the public and the work done by him for the organization. The second name running from the district is that of Dadri MLA Tejpal Nagar.
Noida MLA Pankaj Singh and Dadri MLA Tejpal Nagar. Jagran Archive
Search for a new face to help the Gurjars
According to sources, the BJP high command is also worried about the way SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has been making inroads among the Gurjars for some time. Jats and Gurjars are in large numbers in western Uttar Pradesh. The numbers of both are almost equal. There are three ministers in the Yogi government from the Jat community, but there is only one Minister of State from the Gurjar community.
In the past, there were four ministers from the Gurjar community in the Kalyan Singh government and three in the Rajnath Singh government. There were four ministers in the BSP government, but in the Yogi government, only Meerut MLA Somendra Tomar was made the Minister of State. Gurjars did not get a place according to their population in the BJP district presidents announced recently.
Only one from Western Uttar Pradesh was made the District President. Due to this, there is resentment among Gujjars towards BJP. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is trying to take advantage of this. He is organizing Gurjar conferences at various places. The command of these conferences is in the hands of Meerut's Sardhana MLA Atul Pradhan, party's national spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati and Pradeep Bhati.
Akhilesh is coming to Dadri in March for the Gurjar conference. Dadri is called the capital of Gurjars. From here the message of Gurjars' decision goes to the entire state and country. It is said that former BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhary is sure to get a place in the cabinet. In such a situation, the number of Jat ministers will increase to four. This may further increase resentment among Gujjars towards BJP.
Ashok Kataria was the minister of independent department in the previous Yogi government.
In view of this and the increasing influence of Akhilesh Yadav among the Gurjars, the BJP high command has decided to include a Gurjar leader in the cabinet. The names of Dadri MLA Tejpal Nagar and Legislative Council member Ashok Kataria are being said to be in the race to become ministers.
Ashok Kataria was also the minister of independent department in the previous Yogi government. Due to health reasons, he could not get a place in the cabinet during the second term of Yogi government. People from the Sangh and organizations from the eastern region are engaged in lobbying for them. Who will win the game will be known only during the expansion of the cabinet, but there is a lot of stir in the political circles regarding this. The question on everyone's mind is which leader will get a place in the cabinet.