SP MLA’s death puts off UP cabinet expansion

Lucknow: The proposed expansion of Akhilesh Yadav ministry was on Friday put off following the death of Samajwadi Party legislator Raja Ram Pandey.
Pandey, 58, died Thursday night following a heart attack. According to official sources, Pandey was taken to a Civil hospital after he complained of uneasiness. He was later referred to the Lari Cardiology centre, where he died during treatment.
After a gap of three months, the Chief Minister was expected to expand his council of ministers on Friday, but it has been cancelled, an official told PTI. This was the fifth cabinet expansion since Yadav took over as Chief Minister in the SP-led government in March last year.
In the previous expansion exercise, on October 11, Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya was reinducted in the state cabinet after CBI awarded him clean chit in the murder case of Deputy SP Zia-ul-Haq in Kunda.
At present there are 22 cabinet ministers including the chief minister, six state minister with independent charge and 31 state ministers. With total of 59 ministers, one cabinet berth is still vacant. The party has not disclosed the name of the person who would be administered oath. (PTI)