Meet KP Maurya & Brajesh Pathak — Two Deputy CMs Of UP In Yogi Adityanath's Cabinet 2.0

The two deputies were among 52 ministers who took oath on Friday along with Adityanath in the presence of BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Lucknow: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yogi Adityanath took oath as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for the second consecutive term on Friday in a mega event organised at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Just like his last term, CM Adityanath will have two deputies - Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak. 

The two deputies were among 52 ministers who took oath on Friday along with Adityanath in the presence of BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and other stalwarts of the saffron party. 

The decision of selecting two Deputy Chief Ministers for Adityanath ended after weeks-long marathon meetings between the top leadership of the BJP in Delhi and Adityanath.

Meet The Two Deputy Chief Ministers In Yogi Adityanath's Cabinet 2.0

Keshav Prasad Maurya

Despite losing his seat in the recently-concluded Assembly elections, Keshav Prasad Maurya managed to retain his Deputy CM post. Political experts believe that it is his popularity and hold over the backward classes that the party reposed faith in him as his crucial support was instrumental in the BJP retaining power in the state.

The 52-year-old leader lost from Sirathu by nearly 7,000 votes. Maurya comes from a humble background and his political career started during the Ram temple movement under the guidance of Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Ashok Singhal.

During BJP's slew of meetings in UP and Delhi, a major bone of contention was the inclusion of Maurya as the Deputy CM of UP. Though Maurya lost the elections, his lobby is insistent on his continuing in the post.

BJP insiders told news agency PTI that during his initial days, Maurya helped his parents in agricultural work, ran a tea shop and also sold newspapers.

He was also the "pracharak" of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal for 18 years.

In 2012, Maurya won from Sirathu seat as a BJP candidate. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he was fielded by the party from Phulpur and won the seat with a record number of votes.

Brajesh Pathak

A popular Brahmin leader Brajesh Pathak was Law Minister in Yogi Adityanath's first government. Pathak was earlier a Lok Sabha MP from Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). He joined BJP in 2017.

The 57-year-old politician contested UP elections from Lucknow Cantt seat and defeated his nearest rival Surendra Singh Gandhi of the Samajwadi Party with a margin of around 40,000 votes.

During Adityanath's first term, Pathak also handled rural engineering services.

Lawyer by profession, Pathak was BSP Lok Sabha MP from Unnao between 2004-2009. He has replaced Dinesh Sharma, another Brahmin leader, as the Deputy CM of UP. Sharma did not content UP Assembly polls this time.