2 new faces, 2 elevated in Akhilesh ministry

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav today inducted two new faces into his ministry and elevated two ministers of state, executing the third reshuffle in his 16-month-old government.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday inducted two new faces into his ministry and elevated two ministers of state, executing the third reshuffle in his 16-month-old government.

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Narad Rai and Kailash Yadav were sworn in as cabinet ministers, while minister of state Rammurti Verma was promoted as cabinet minister.

The ruling Samajwadi Party’s masterstroke, however, was seen to be minister of state Gayatri Prasad Prajapati’s elevation as minister of state with independent charge.

Prajapati is the MLA from Amethi assembly seat in the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya, the independent legislator from Kunda, however, could not make a comeback despite the strong buzz that emerged from his loyalists.

Raja Bhaiyya had quit in March following allegations of involvement in the murder of deputy superintendent of police Zia-ul-Haq.

Governor BL Joshi administered the oath of office and secrecy to the ministers at the Raj Bhawan.

The SP government now has 21 cabinet ministers including the CM, six state ministers with independent charge and 31 state ministers.