Uddhav’s state govt set to expand cabinet today

NCP’S Ajit Pawar is expected to return as deputy CM

MUMBAI: Just over a month after he took over the reins of Maharashtra in a dramatic turn of events, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday will expand the cabinet of the threeparty Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

Currently, there are six ministers in Thackeray’s cabinet. The council of ministers can have up to 42 ministers and a chief minister. With 36 berths available, more than 30 MLAS of the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress are expected to take oath. The parties may keep a couple of spots vacant to be filled later. Allocation of portfolios is also expected soon.

Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar is expected to be inducted into the cabinet and could return as the deputy chief minister, party insiders said. Apart from Pawar, his party colleagues Dilip Walse Patil, Dhananjay Munde and Nawab Malik are expected to be inducted into Thackeray’s council of ministers.

The Congress is likely to induct senior leaders former CM Ashok Chavan, Vijay Wadettiwar and KC Padvi, among others. However, Congress may leave

another former CM Prithviraj Chavan out. There is speculation that he may be given responsibility of the party’s state unit.

The Sena, headed by Thackeray, is expected to retain some of its ministers in the previous government with the Bharatiya Janata

Party (BJP). It will also induct some fresh faces. Party insiders said Thackeray was not keen on giving ministerial berths to senior leaders Diwakar Raote and Ramdas Kadam, who were ministers in the previous government.

Thackeray scion and Worli

MLA Aaditya is unlikely to be inducted. He is expected to focus on party work and gain an understanding of government functioning before being made a minister at a later stage.