Yogi Adityanath took oath as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on 25 March. Along with Yogi Adityanath, 52 ministers also took oath as ministers. On the late evening of 28 March (Monday), CM Yogi also distributed their respective departments to all the ministers of his cabinet. CM Yogi has kept 34 departments including Home, Civil Aviation from himself. Jitin Prasad, who came from Congress, was also included in CM Yogi’s cabinet. While former IAS Arvind Sharma, who was close to PM Modi, has also been made a cabinet minister.
Jitin Prasad, Minister of Public Works Department: Jitin Prasada has been given the Public Works Department by CM Yogi. In the first term of Yogi Adityanath, this department was with Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. About 10 months ago, in June 2021, Jitin Prasad left the Congress and joined the BJP. In September 2021, Jitin Prasada was made a cabinet minister in the Yogi government. Jitin Prasada was inducted into the BJP as a Brahmin leader and Jitin Prasada is also a member of the Legislative Council.
Jitin Prasada was considered a strong leader of Congress and close to Rahul Gandhi. In 2004, Jitin Prasad contested the Lok Sabha elections from Shahjahanpur on a Congress ticket and won. After that in 2008, he was made a Union Minister of State. Then in 2009, Jitin Prasad contested from Dhaurahara Lok Sabha constituency and won. Jitin Prasada was also made a Union Minister of State in UPA-2. In 2014 also Jitin Prasad contested the Lok Sabha elections but he was defeated.
When the discussion started on the atrocities on Brahmins in the Yogi government, Jitin Prasad created an organization called Brahmin Chetna Parishad and through this organization raised the voice of Brahmins. However, Jitin Prasada later joined BJP. An attempt has been made to take advantage of Jitin Prasada’s experience by giving him important ministry and a message has also been given to give due preference to Brahmins.
Arvind Kumar Sharma, Energy and Urban Development Minister: Arvind Sharma, a close aide of PM Modi, has been appointed as the Minister of Energy and Urban Development. Arvind Sharma is a 1988 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre. Sharma has been working with PM Modi since last 20 years and stayed with PM Modi from Gujarat to Delhi. In January 2021, Sharma took VRS from IAS job and joined BJP. In January 2021 itself, BJP made Arvind Sharma a member of the UP Legislative Council.
There was also talk of Arvind Sharma becoming the Deputy Chief Minister. However, in the second term of Yogi Adityanath, he has been made a cabinet minister and given very important portfolios. CM Yogi Adityanath hopes that the benefit of Arvind Sharma’s experience will prove beneficial for the government.