Lucknow:, May 11 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday expanded his ministry and inducted six new ministers, including two of cabinet rank and four ministers of state, besides elevating two ministers of state to minister of state (independent charge). The move is seen as a bid to fine-tune socio-political equations in the BJP's favour ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections when the party will seek a third successive term in the state.

Those inducted include a Brahmin, three OBCs and two Dalit leaders. The new cabinet ministers are former UP BJP president Bhupendra Chaudhary and former Samajwadi Party minister Manoj Pandey. The new ministers of state are Krishna Paswan, Kailash Rajput, Surendra Diler and Hansraj Vishwaka...