Lucknow: Seeking to shore up her ranks in the face of growing Opposition unity, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on February 4 kept the doors of her ministry open to rebels from other parties by effecting a ministerial reshuffle inducting four Congress deserters and axing nine belonging to BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party).

The four Akhil Bharatiya Congress Dal (ABCD) MLAs, who joined BSP on February 3, were taken in as ministers of state with independent charge.

Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri administered the oath of office and secrecy to Kazim Ali Khan, son of senior Congress leader Noor Bano, Shyam Narain Tewari, Kamleshwar Upadhyaya and Virendra Singh Bundela as ministers of state with independent charge.

Ahead of the reshuffle, 13 BSP ministers, including one of Cabinet rank, tendered resignations, which were accepted by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. Of them, four ministers of state with independent charge were re-inducted as ministers of state.

The four BSP MLAs who had to give up their independent charge and stage a comeback as just ministers of state are Ram Bhuwal, Ram Achal Rajbhar, Haji Yaqoob and Mahendra Singh.

Speaking to reporters at Raj Bhavan after the swearing-in ceremony, Mayawati, when asked whether the remaining four members of the breakaway Congress group would also be accommodated in the ministry, said "doors are always open for them as well as for others".

She said another reshuffle would be effected "at an appropriate time".

PTI