Speculation is mounting regarding a potential cabinet expansion in Uttar Pradesh, with changes likely to occur after Makar Sankranti on January 14-15, 2026. This buzz follows the appointment of Pankaj Chaudhary as the new Uttar Pradesh BJP chief. A meeting of the BJP core committee at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence on December 30, 2025, further fueled these speculations. The meeting included Adityanath, his deputies Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brijesh Pathak, Pankaj Chaudhary, and senior RSS functionaries.
With the state council of ministers currently having 54 members against a maximum permissible strength of 60, there are six vacancies to fill. This expansion is expected to be the last major one before the 2027 elections. Consequently, the focus is on achieving regional balance, rationalizing portfolios, and addressing caste equations within the cabinet.
Given that both the Chief Minister and the state party president hail from the Gorakhpur division, providing greater representation to western Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand is a key consideration. Names circulating as potential inductees include outgoing state BJP president Bhupendra Chaudhary and influential Gurjar community leader Ashok Kataria. The party is also considering increasing the representation of Scheduled Castes, as the current leadership profile is perceived to lean heavily towards upper castes and OBCs. Noida MLA Pankaj Singh is another name being discussed.
The selection of ministers will likely focus on electoral and caste equations. The BJP will also likely consider the upcoming panchayat polls in early 2027 and the assembly polls later that year.
In addition to the cabinet expansion, changes to the party's organizational structure are also expected. This includes potential overhauls of positions such as vice presidents, general secretaries, state secretaries, and regional presidents. New faces are expected to be inducted into the party organization, which is headed by Pankaj Chaudhary. The process of political appointments in commissions, boards, and councils is also expected to commence soon.
Akash Saxena, the Rampur Sadar MLA, is a probable frontrunner for a ministerial berth. Saxena's victory in a bypoll, where he became the first Hindu to win the Rampur Sadar assembly seat with its majority Muslim voters, has garnered attention.
