Row in UP govt over portfolios; Yogi meets Modi in Delhi

A power tussle has emerged in the Uttar Pradesh government on Day 2 of its tenure, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya both intent on taking the Home portfolio.

Meanwhile, the other Deputy CM, Dinesh Singh, wants the Finance portfolio, NDTV reports said.

To resolve the crisis, Adityanath has reached Parliament in Delhi and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Yogi Adityanath also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed with him various issues concerning the state.

During the 20-minute meeting, the Chief Minister briefed the Home Minister about various aspects of the state government, of which he was sworn in as head on Sunday, official sources said.

The Home Minister conveyed his best wishes to the new government and assured all help from the central government. Singh himself is a former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and represents Lucknow in Lok Sabha.

He will also meet BJP President Amit Shah and will call upon President Pranab Mukherjee.

Adityanath is expected to also hold key ministries like education and health, said the report.

All 47 ministers in the UP government are to be allocated portfolios after consultations with Modi and Shah, said the report.

Controversial Hindutva icon Adityanath was sworn in as the 21st CM of UP on Sunday, leading to condemnation of BJP by Opposition parties.

The BJP won a massive 312 out of 403 seats in the just-held UP elections, while its allies won 13 seats.