Maharashtra ministry to be sworn in today

Mumbai, Nov 7 (ANI): The swearing in of the new Congress -NCP ministry in Maharashtra will take place today.

The Congress will have 23 ministers and the NCP have 20. While all NCP ministers are expected to take oath today, the Congress ministers would be sworn in two phases.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan accompanied by NCP legislature party leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who will be the Deputy Chief Minister, met Governor S.C. Jamir on Friday and handed over the letters of support to stake claim.

The Congress-NCP alliance has a combined strength of 144 in the 288-member House.

The delay in staking claim was due to the NCP making a strong demand for sticking to the 1999 formula, under which the Congress will get Chief Minister ship but the NCP will get key portfolios like Home, Finance, Power and PWD. (ANI)