UP gets four new ministers

Lucknow, June 27 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday inducted two cabinet ministers and two ministers of state. The new cabinet members are Narad Rai and Balram Yadav.

At a function at Raj Bhawan, Governor Ram Naik also read out the oath of office and secrecy to Ministers of State Ravidas Mehrotra and Sharda Pratap Shukla.

Balram Yadav was earlier the Secondary Education Minister when he was removed by the Chief Minister last week following his role in the merger of Mukhtaar Ansari's Quami Ekta Dal in the ruling Samajwadi Party.

Narad Rai also made a comeback into the ministry after seven months. 

Mohammad Ziyauddin Rizvi, who was to be sworn in as a Minister of State, did not take oath as he is visiting Saudi Arabia. 

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was present at the swearing-in. Cabinet ministers Mohd Azam Khan and Shivpal Singh Yadav were conspicuous by their absence.