NEW DELHI: With just a few months to go for the Uttar Pradesh (UP) state assembly elections, chief minister Yogi Adityanath expanded his cabinet today by including former Congress leader and close associate of Rahul Gandhi and a Brahmin face Jitin Prasad as a cabinet minister.

Apart from Prasad other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs who were included as ministers include Chhatrapal Singh, Paltu Ram, Sangita Balwant, Sanjeev Kumar, Dinesh Khatik, and Dharmvir Singh

Along with the ministers, six Ministers of State (MoS) were also administrated oaths, these include - Sangeeta Balwant, Dinesh Khatik, Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, Paltu Ram, Sanjeev Kumar Gaur and Dharmaveer Singh.

Talking about his cabinet expansion, CM Adityanath said that the party has given an opportunity to those at the lower strata of society and gives representation to all sections, has been done with the feeling of social balance, and carries the message of harmony.

Commenting on the cabinet expansion, Samajwadi Party leader and former CM Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, "The cabinet expansion of the BJP government of UP is a hoax. Today a drama is being created to represent those who (did not) get their due for four-and-a-half years. Before the ink on their nameplates (at their new offices) dries, the Model Code of Conduct will kick in."