Speculation surrounding a potential expansion of the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet gained significant momentum on Monday, as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held crucial meetings with the Bharatiya Janata Party's top leadership in the national capital. The high-profile discussions, which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have set political circles abuzz about imminent changes in the state's ministerial team.
High-Stakes Delhi Meetings Fuel Expansion Talks
Chief Minister Adityanath's day-long visit to New Delhi on January 6, 2026, was marked by a series of strategic engagements. Beyond his meetings with PM Modi and Home Minister Shah, he also conferred with BJP national president JP Nadda and the party's working president, Nitin Nabin. Adding to the significance of the day, Uttar Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister, Brajesh Pathak, was also present in Delhi and held separate discussions with Nadda and Nabin.
Sources within the party indicate that the expansion of the UP Council of Ministers has been a pending matter since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP's performance in the state was overshadowed by the Samajwadi Party. While state BJP leaders have acknowledged that a cabinet reshuffle is "inevitable," the process was delayed, ostensibly to await the appointment of a new state party president.
With the crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections less than two years away, the BJP recently appointed Maharajganj MP and Union Minister Pankaj Chaudhary, a prominent OBC leader, as the new state unit chief. This move is seen as a precursor to the cabinet expansion. Party insiders suggest that the outgoing state president, Bhupendra Chaudhary, who served as a cabinet minister in Adityanath's first term, is a strong contender for a ministerial berth in the new lineup.
However, a senior BJP leader sought to temper immediate expectations, stating, "The discussion over Cabinet expansion is yet to reach a concluding state, and many more sittings are required. Today's meetings of the UP CM with top party leadership were to discuss important government and policy-related issues." The leader also emphasized that the Chief Minister's visit was "not planned" solely for this purpose.
A Symbolic Gift: Ram Temple Replica in Gulabi Meenakari
Amid the political deliberations, a moment of cultural and religious significance unfolded. Chief Minister Adityanath presented Prime Minister Modi with an exquisitely crafted replica of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, made in the famed Gulabi Meenakari style of Varanasi.
This intricate artifact, created by master craftsman Kunj Bihari Singh to mark the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Temple, is a testament to Indian artistry. The replica was fashioned using 2 kilograms of silver and gold, with diamonds embedded into its structure. Notably, the entire piece is composed of 108 individual parts and took precisely 108 days to complete.
An official statement revealed that "throughout its creation, continuous chanting of Ram Dhun was carried out for all 108 days." The design is rich with symbolism: a golden depiction of Lord Ram, lotus motifs, a bow and arrow, diamonds on the four spires, and an internal lighting system. These elements collectively highlight the spiritual importance of the number 108 in the Sanatan tradition.
This is not the first time Gulabi Meenakari has been used in diplomatic gifting by PM Modi. In 2021, during a visit to the United States, he presented a chess set made in the same art form to then US Vice President Kamala Harris.
Current Composition and the Road Ahead
As of now, the Uttar Pradesh government comprises 21 Cabinet ministers (including the Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers), 14 Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 19 Ministers of State. Any expansion or reshuffle will aim to balance caste equations, regional representation, and reward party loyalists, all while strengthening the government's position ahead of the 2027 electoral battle.
The meetings in Delhi, therefore, represent a critical juncture for the BJP's strategy in India's most populous state. While the immediate focus is on fine-tuning the state's administration through a cabinet expansion, the broader objective is to consolidate the party's base and present a united front for the upcoming state polls.
