Formula For Maharashtra Cabinet Expansion Sealed; NCP To Have 16 Ministers, Deputy CM: Sources

As for Congress, apart from Speaker of the Assmebly, 13 ministerial berths have been sealed, claimed sources.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray arrives at Vidhan Bhavan for the Assembly session in Mumbai (PTI Photo/Mitesh Bhuvad) (PTI12_1_2019_000027B)

New Delhi: The Uddhav Thackeray led Maharashtra government has already come up with a formula for cabinet expansion among NCP, Sena and and Congress combine, which is likely to take place before the mid of this month. As per sources, the maximum number of ministerial berths, are being given to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The party will have 16 ministers. Ajit Pawar is set to be Uddhav’s deputy, sources have claimed. Apart from the Chief Minister, Shiv Sena will be having 14 ministers in the cabinet. As for Congress, apart from its speaker Nana Patole, 13 ministerial berths have been sealed, claimed sources. Uddhav Thackeray took oath as Maharahstra CM on November 28, putting end to the political conundrum of the state, triggered after a fallout between pre-poll allies BJP and Shiv Sena, over the post of Chief Minister. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered oath to the saffron-clad Thackeray and six ministers at the sprawling Shivaji Park here, venue of the Sena's Dussehra rallies. Thackeray took oath as chief minister over a month after results of the October 21 Maharashtra Assembly elections were declared on October 24 Eknath Shinde, Subhash Desai (both Shiv Sena), Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal (both NCP), Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut (both Congress) were sworn in as ministers with him.