Akhilesh to expand his cabinet on Thursday

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will expand his cabinet on Thursday, official sources said. "Preparations for cabinet expansion have started at Raj Bhawan and it will be held on Thursday," a senior official said.

With the dismissal of Raghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiya, and Raja Ram Pandey from the cabinet, four seats are vacant in the cabinet at present. There are presently 56 ministers in the cabinet and this number is now likely to rise up to 60.

While Raja Bhaiya resigned after his name cropped up in Kunda DSP Zia-ul-Haq murder case, Pandey was axed after he allegedly made sexist remarks against a woman officer in Sultanpur district. According to party sources, two state ministers could be elevated to the rank of cabinet minister, while speculations are rife about re-induction of Raja Bhaiya in the cabinet.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party is holding a meeting of its members of legislative assembly, office bearers of the party and Lok Sabha candidates to review poll preparedness and also finalise the names of ministers.