UP Cabinet Expansion Likely Today, New Ministers Expected To Take Oath Ahead Of 2027 Polls

Last Updated:May 10, 2026, 10:36 IST

The Yogi Adityanath government is likely to undergo a cabinet expansion on Sunday, with new ministers expected to take oath at Jan Bhavan in Lucknow at 3 pm.

The much-awaited expansion of the Uttar Pradesh cabinet is likely to take place on Sunday, with sources telling news agency PTI that new ministers are expected to take oath at Jan Bhavan in Lucknow at 3 pm.

The development comes a day after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Governor Anandiben Patel at Jan Bhavan, further intensifying speculation around a long-pending reshuffle and expansion of the state ministry.

According to PTI, sources confirmed that the expansion of the Yogi Adityanath government has been scheduled for Sunday, though there has been no official confirmation from the Uttar Pradesh government so far.

A senior BJP leader also indicated that the exercise was likely to take place on Sunday.

“It is likely tomorrow (Sunday)," the leader told PTI without elaborating further.

The meeting between Adityanath and the governor on Saturday has assumed political significance as discussions around a cabinet expansion have been circulating for several weeks.

Political circles have been abuzz with speculation that the exercise could take place either on Sunday or Monday.

YOGI MEETS GOVERNOR AT JAN BHAVAN

According to an official statement, Adityanath called on the governor at Jan Bhavan and presented her with a copy of the book “Bhartiya Gyan Parampara Avadharna," written by Lalchand Ram.

While the official statement did not mention the cabinet expansion, the timing of the meeting has added fuel to the ongoing speculation over changes in the state government ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Sources indicated that several names are under consideration for induction into the ministry.

These include experienced BJP leaders as well as leaders from opposition camps who have recently moved closer to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

SIX VACANCIES IN THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

In the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly, the council of ministers can have a maximum strength of 60 members.

At present, six berths in the ministry are vacant, providing room for expansion.

Political observers believe that any reshuffle or expansion ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections is likely to factor in caste and regional equations.

The BJP leadership is expected to use the exercise to strengthen its social and political outreach in key regions of the state.

The speculation around the cabinet expansion has also gained momentum following the BJP’s strong performance in the recently concluded Assembly elections in five states, including West Bengal and Assam.

A senior Uttar Pradesh minister, reacting to the heightened political buzz around the likely expansion, said, “I think it is much anticipated anyway."

COMPARISONS WITH UTTARAKHAND CABINET EXPANSION

The proposed exercise in Uttar Pradesh is being seen on the lines of the recent cabinet expansion in neighbouring Uttarakhand, where five ministers were inducted in March, taking the strength of the ministry to its full quota of 12.

Sources said the BJP leadership is considering multiple political and organisational factors before finalising the names for induction.

The possible inclusion of leaders from opposition parties is also being viewed as part of the BJP’s broader strategy ahead of future electoral contests.

Even though no official list of probable ministers has been released, the intense political activity in Lucknow has kept speculation alive over who could find a place in the expanded council of ministers.

AKHILESH YADAV TARGETS BJP OVER EXPANSION BUZZ

Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav took a swipe at the BJP-led government over the speculation surrounding the cabinet expansion.

In a post on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister questioned whether the state leadership was functioning independently.

“Has the slip arrived from Delhi? I hear that a cabinet expansion is underway in UP, or, to put it another way, the Chief Minister’s authority is undergoing a process of ‘pruning and trimming,’" Yadav said.

The Samajwadi Party chief also demanded reservation for women in the proposed cabinet expansion.

“Surely, someone ought to at least consult the very person whose cabinet this is. We demand that women be accorded a reservation in this expansion of the UP cabinet," he said.

In an apparent dig at Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Yadav remarked, “‘Agal-bagal’ ki jodi ka kuchh hala-bhala hoga ya phir woh ‘agle-bagle’ hi jhaankte rah jayenge ya sirf reel banate."

His comments came days after a social media reel featuring the two deputy chief ministers during Buddha Purnima celebrations in Kushinagar triggered political sparring between BJP leaders and the Samajwadi Party online.

With the swearing-in ceremony expected later on Sunday, all eyes are now on Lucknow as the BJP prepares for what could be a politically significant cabinet expansion ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

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