Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Even as speculations are rife that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath might expand his cabinet soon, one name that is doing rounds is Nishad Party chief Dr. Sanjay Nishad, who's most likely to be accommodated in the new cabinet. Other potential names would be decided within the next 15 days.
Recently, Nishad had met Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Delhi. According to sources, Nishad might be given an MLC seat under the nominated quota. Apart from this, the top BJP leadership also promised to leave 10 seats aside for the Nishad Party in the upcoming assembly elections.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will finalize the portfolio allocation and send it to the high command for final approval. Five new ministers are also likely to be inducted into the Yogi cabinet and their names are being decided keeping in mind the regional, social and caste balance. It is known that President Ram Nath Kovind had given his assent to the 105th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2021 under which state governments have been given the power to identify and specify Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBCs). As a result, the Yogi government may include 39 castes in the list of Other Backward Castes (OBC) in the state.
Also read: Nishad Party demands deputy CM post from BJP if alliance wins 2022 UP Assembly polls
Dr Nishad during his meeting with the BJP's top leaders had raised the issue of reservation for the fishermen community in the state and also demanded the withdrawal of cases which were lodged against them by the previous government. Several cases were registered against Nishads in Agra, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur and Ghazipur in connection with the political agitation held earlier.
Sanjay Nishad had expressed displeasure over his son not getting a place in the expansion of the Modi cabinet last month. Also, in an interview with ETV Bharat, Nishad had claimed that his party has a stronghold on more than 160 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. He further said that in 70 seats, more than 70,000 vote banks belong to the Nishad community.
