CM Yogi Adityanath to hold his first cabinet meeting today

Lucknow, Mar 25: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday held the first meeting of the council of ministers in the state just after the completion of swearing-in-ceremony in Lucknow on Friday.

Adityanath will address his first cabinet meeting with additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and all top officials on Saturday at 11:30 am in Yojana Bhawan, Lucknow. He will also attend the swearing-in ceremony of protem speaker at Raj Bhawan at 11 am.

"In this introductory meeting, the chief minister thanked the people of the state for reposing their faith in nationalism, safety, good governance and development," the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement. He also said that serving the people is the most pious work, and discharging duties with commitment and loyalty provides satisfaction.

Observing that honesty and transparency are extremely important in public life, the chief minister said the focus should be on performance-based work. The ministers should also keep a special watch on their private staff. They should visit their districts as in-charge ministers, do physical verification of development work and also take feedback from the people, Adityanath said.

Yogi Adityanath on Friday took oath as the Uttar Pradesh chief minister for a second term at a ceremony where 52 others were sworn in as ministers, as PM Narendra Modi watched the proceedings marking the BJP's triumphant return to power in the state.

Keshav Prasad Maurya, who failed to win his seat in the assembly polls, is a deputy CM again. Brajesh Pathak too is a deputy chief minister, replacing Dinesh Sharma in the outgoing Adityanath cabinet. The ceremony at a Lucknow stadium that can hold 50,000 people was designed to be a mega event, attended by top Union ministers, chief ministers from BJP-run states and dignitaries from the world of industry and entertainment.

A festive atmosphere prevailed at Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana stadium. Enthusiastic BJP supporters chanted "Modi, Modi" during event.

Apart from the chief minister, 18 cabinet ministers -- including the two deputy CMs -- 14 ministers of state (independent charge) and 20 other ministers of state were administered the oath by Governor Anandiben Patel.

The BJP-led alliance had won 273 of 403 seats in the UP Assembly polls. While the BJP got 255 seats, its allies Nishad Party and the Apna Dal (S) bagged 18. This is the first time in over three decades that a party has won the assembly elections twice in a row in the crucial state, a feat that BJP leaders feel brightens the chances of its return to power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well.

There can be a maximum of 60 ministers including the chief minister in Uttar Pradesh under the constitutional provisions.