Lucknow, August 20: Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal resigned from his post citing age-limit policy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday. Rajesh Agarwal is 76. The BJP often follows an unstated age-restriction rule under which leaders above 75 years of age are not considered for ministerial birth or poll candidature.

"Following the policy of my organisation, I have tendered my resignation from the state cabinet as I have touched 75 years of age. Now it is upto the party to accept it. I'll carry out whatever responsibility will be given to me," Agarwal said. His resignation comes ahead of much-awaited cabinet reshuffle of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh. Fuel Price Hike in Uttar Pradesh as Yogi Adityanath Govt Increases VAT.

Yogi Adityanath took over the reins of the state in March 2017, and this will be the first expansion of his cabinet. Four seats have fallen vacant in the last few months, especially after some ministers entered the electoral foray during the Lok Sabha elections. Three UP ministers were elected to Parliament in the recent Lok Sabha polls, while one was sacked. Ram Temple Priests and Staff to Get Hike in Allowances Soon, Announces Yogi Adityanath Govt.

The three ministers, who successfully contested the parliamentary polls, are SP Singh Baghel from Agra, Rita Bahuguna Joshi from Allahabad and Satyadev Pachauri from Kanpur. Disgruntled minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) leader O P Rajbhar was sacked by the chief minister for his outburst against the BJP.

State minister Swatantra Dev Singh was appointed as the new state unit chief of the ruling BJP in July and according to the BJP’s “one person-one post” principle, Singh cannot simultaneously hold the positions of a minister and the state party chief. He is currently the minister of state (independent charge) for transport and protocol.

Last week, Adityanath met UP Governor Anandiben Patel after he apparently discussed the issue of expanding cabinet during his meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah. Uttar Pradesh has a total of 43 ministers, including the chief minister. There are 18 cabinet ministers, nine ministers of state with independent charge and 13 ministers of state, in addition to two deputy chief ministers — Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma.

The maximum strength of the council of ministers can be 15 per cent of the assembly’s total strength. The Uttar Pradesh Assembly has 403 seats and hence, the state can have a maximum of 61 ministers, including the chief minister.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2019 04:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).