Ministry Expansion in sight: Deshmukh

Mumbai, Aug 27 (UNI) Stating that coalition partner NCP was not in a hurry to fill its quota of berths in the ministry without waiting for the Congress, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said the ''expansion of the ministry is in sight''.

Talking to newspersons here, he said, ''We will expand the state cabinet very soon''.

Reacting to the defeat of the Congress nominee in the Maharashtra State Coopertive Housing Finance Corportion by the NCP, he said ''the NCP should follow Aghadi-Dharma''. In the election of the office bearers of the co-operative corporation, Nilesh Parvekar of the Congress got only 11 votes for the post of vice-president while Datatray Vader of NCP was elected with 28 votes. Subhash Jambad of the NCP was elected unopposed as the Chairman.

Mr Deshmukh was speaking to the media at the main entrance of Mantralaya after inaugurating a mobile book vending van called Grathayan.

On the MNS agitation, the Chief Minister said police have been alerted against anybody taking law into their hands. Although by rule, establishments should display name plates in Marathi, he said the Municipal Corporation would act against the rule breakers.

He said Ratnagiri Power and Gas Company, erstwhile Dabhol, will receive a loan assistance of Rs 300 cr from State Government.

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