Akhilesh allocates portfolios to 21 newly-inducted ministers

Ending four days of agonising wait, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav tonight allocated portfolios to 21 newly-inducted ministers and reshuffled departments of 12 others, while retaining Health, Finance and Home departments with him.
A Raj Bhawan communique said the Governor approved the portfolios recommended by the chief minister, who expanded his cabinet on Saturday inducting 21 ministers, including 12 new faces, with an eye on the 2017 assembly elections.
Among 15 cabinet ministers, former Shiromani Akali Dal leader Balwant Singh Ramoowalia has been allocated Prison department, whereas Ahmad Hasan has been given charge of Basic Education.
Arvind Singh Gope, who was elevated as cabinet minister, has been allocated Rural Development. Balram Yadav has been given Secondary Education department and Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya has been allocated Stamp and Registration.

Vinod Kumar Singh alias Pandit Singh has been allocated Agriculture and the Forest Department has been given to Durga Prasad Yadav.
Awadhesh Prasad has been given Home Guard Department, whereas Paras Nath Yadav has been given Rural Engineering Services.

Ram Govind Chuadhary has been given Social Welfare, whereas Brahm Shanker Tripathi has been allocated Khadi and Village Industries.
Iqbal Mehmood has been allocated Food and Drug Administration, whereas Mehboob Ali has been given Sericulture and Textiles.
Kamal Akhtar has been given Food and Civil Supplies and Sahab Singh Saini Backward Welfare department.