MP Council of Ministers likely to be expanded on Aug 25

Bhopal, Aug 23 (UNI) The much-awaited expansion of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Council of Ministers is likely to take place on Saturday, Bharatiya Janata Party sources said.

The Council has 26 members, including the Chief Minister, and that leaves room for the induction of nine members in consonance with the rule regarding the maximum number of members permissable being 15 per cent of the 230-member Assembly.

It is understood that no minister would be axed and seven new faces inducted as Mr Chouhan wished to keep two berths vacant for ''strategic'' reasons. The two seats could be filled in future keeping political equations in view.

The list of new ministers was finalised yesterday during Mr Chouhan's visit to Delhi where he met BJP President Rajnath Singh, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani and state incharge Ananth Kumar.

As per the official procedure, time would soon be sought for Chief Minister's meeting with Governor Balram Jakhar.

UNI