The Uttarakhand government, led by Pushkar Singh Dhami, has added five new MLAs as ministers to its cabinet. The newly inducted members, including Mandan Kaushik, Khajan Dass, Pradeep Batra, Ram Singh Kaira, and Bharat Singh Chaudhary, represent a blend of experienced and young leaders. The oath of office was administered by Uttarakhand Governor Gurmit Singh to the new cabinet members.
Madan Kaushik, a seasoned leader and party veteran, is among those elevated to cabinet minister positions. With a history of decades in public service, he has held various significant roles within the party, including serving as the Uttarakhand BJP president and being a member of the party’s National Executive Council. Kaushik, who started his political career in student politics, has a strong electoral track record, having won the Haridwar constituency in multiple elections.
Khajan Dass, representing the Rajpur Road constituency of Dehradun, is known for his principled approach to politics. Hailing from the Scheduled Caste community, Dass has gained recognition for his outspoken nature, even when criticizing his own party’s government on certain issues. Pradeep Batra, a first-time entrant in the Dhami cabinet from Roorkee constituency, has a background as a three-time legislator and a business owner in Uttarakhand.
The cabinet expansion, which includes Ram Singh Kaira from Bhimtal and Bharat Singh Chaudhary from Rudraprayag as new ministers, is viewed as a strategic move by the ruling party ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. This step is seen as an effort to address regional and caste considerations, which hold significance in the state’s political landscape.
