CM Yogi Adityanath meets PM Narendra Modi amid talks of reshuffle in UP govt

New Delhi: Amid intense speculations of expansion of the Uttar Pradesh cabinet ahead of the crucial state assembly elections next year, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Friday.

CM Yogi, who is on a two-day visit to Delhi, will also meet BJP National President JP Nadda later today.

The Chief Minister arrived at the 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence of the PM around 11 AM to discuss issues related to cabinet expansion and the upcoming state assembly elections, the sources said.

Adityanath had arrived in the national capital on Thursday and met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence. Ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, there is speculation that the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh will reshuffle its cabinet soon.

With elections due next year, the BJP has decided to strengthen the party in the state by seeking feedback from its leaders in the wake of the outcome of panchayat polls and the murmurs from some sections over govt’s handling of the COVID-19 situation.

The party has also decided to prepare a strategy based on feedback received from its state leaders and ministers in the Yogi Adityanath government, strengthen the image of the state government and resolve the issues in the state.

These efforts are also aimed at improving the coordination between the party and the government, BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh arrived in Lucknow earlier this week and held one-on-one meetings with some of the ministers and leaders in the poll-bound state.

Santhosh was accompanied by Radha Mohan Singh. Many of these leaders had flagged issues like COVID-19 handling, disenchantment among people and lack of coordination between government and party leaders, among others.

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party`s Central leadership has thrown its weight behind Yogi Adityanath, putting a stop to murmurs against the state government months ahead of the Assembly polls.

The Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are scheduled to take place in 2022. BJP had registered a landslide victory in the 2017 Assembly polls winning over 300 seats.
In the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly, among the major parties, BJP has 309 legislators, SP 49, BSP 18, and Congress 7.