Months ahead of the crucial Assembly polls, chief minister Yogi Adityanath opted for a crucial Uttar Pradesh cabinet expansion on Sunday. Chhatarpal Gangwar, Dharamveer Prajapati, Sanjeev Kumar Gaur, Dinesh Khatik, Sangeeta Balwant and Paltu Ram among new Ministers of State administered oath in UP.

Former Congress leader Jitin Prasada, who switched from the Congress to the BJP was among several new faces that were inducted into the Yogi-led cabinet. He also took oath with the other six new faces of the Modi cabinet.

The expansion of the council of ministers has taken place as the BJP prepares for the assembly elections in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh early next year.

The oath was administered by Governor Anandiben Patel at a function in the Gandhi auditorium in the Raj Bhavan in the presence of the chief minister.

The new MOS are Paltu Ram, Chhatarpal Gangwar, Sangeeta Balwant Bind, Dharamveer Prajapati, Sanjeev Kumar Gaur and Dinesh Khatik.

With the expansion, the upper limit of 60 of the ministry has been reached.

The maximum strength of the ministry can be 15 percent of the total strength of the Assembly. The Uttar Pradesh Assembly has 403 seats.