BSP's Brahmin mascot joins Mayawati's Cabinet

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati inducted Satish Chandra Misra, the Brahmin face of the Bahujan Samaj Party, into her Cabinet in a special swearing in ceremony on Wednesday evening even as a minister resigned to become the Speaker of the new assembly.

Misra, who had earlier not shown his inclination to be a part of the government, was sworn in as Cabinet minister at 7 pm on Wednesday.

Govenor T V Rajeshwar administered the oath of office and secrecy at a special ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow.

The news of Misra's induction into the Cabinet took everyone by surprise as he was stated to have expressed his keenness to keep himself free for a larger role in the party at the national level.

Fifty-five-year-old Misra had earlier served Mayawati as state advocate general during her last chief ministerial stint.

He is credited with the entire Brahmin support that the essentially Dalit outfit received throughout the state, taking BSP to unprecedented heights and atop the power pedestal in Uttar Pradesh.