LUCKNOW, Sept 18: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his two deputies — Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma — and two ministers– Swatantra Deo Singh and Mohsin Raza– today took oath as members of the Legislative Council.
The CM along with the ministers took the oath just before the completion of their six-month tenure as ministers without being a member of any House of the State Legislature.
Legislative Council Chairman Ramesh Yadav, in the presence of several state ministers and BJP leaders, administered the oath to the five new members at Tilak Hall in the Assembly premises.
UP Assembly Speaker Hridya Narain Dikshit was also present during the oath taking function.
All the five leaders were elected unopposed to the state Legislative Council early this month.
While the Chief Minister, his two deputies and Minister of State (Independent Charge), Transport and Protocol Swatantra Deo Singh were elected on September 8, Mohsin Raza was declared elected on September 11.
The Chief Minister was elected on the seat vacated by SP member Yashwant Singh, while Mr Maurya replaced Bhukkal Nawab of the party. The term of both the seats will expire on July 8, 2022.
Mr Sharma contested for the seat vacated by Ashok Bajpai and Swatantra Deo Singh by Sarojni Agarwal. Term of both the seats will expire on January 30, 2021.
Mr Raza, the only Muslim minister in the Yogi Ministry, was elected from the seat left by BSP member Thakur Jaiveer Singh. But the term of the seat is only for eight months as will end on May 5, 2018. Mr Adityanath is presently a Lok Sabha member from Gorakhpur and Mr Maurya from Phulpur seat in Allahabad. However, both the MPs have resigned from the Lok Sabha seat. (UNI)