Mah cabinet expansion likely in couple of days

Karad (Satara district), Nov 25 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh will be going in for a Cabinet expansion within a few days.

Mr Deshmukh hinted to mediapersons here today that Cabinet expansion is likely 'very soon'.

The state coalition partner NCP's chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had reportedly said recently that he has asked Mr Deshmukh to let new NCP Ministers take oath, if Congress is not ready to fill its own quota.

Both parties have three slots each vacant in the state Cabinet.

From the NCP side, ex-minister Nawab Malik and Subhash Thakare are waiting for the call, while Jalgaon MLA Santosh Chaudhari is also likely to be inducted.

Meanwhile, Minister of State Rajesh Tope is likely to be promoted to Cabinet rank.

Political circles expect the Chief Minister to drop a few Ministers.

As the governor Dr S C Jamir is out of town, the expansion will only happen on or after November 27, sources said.

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