A Maharashtra Cabinet expansion would take place on December 30 at 1 p.m., Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna said on Tuesday.
Six Ministers, two from the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) each, had taken oath along with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in November. They were allocated portfolios only recently, and even then it was announced that the final allocation would be decided later.
During the recent Assembly session, NCP leaders said a Cabinet expansion would happen soon after the session was over, that is, after December 21. There was intense speculation on Monday of a possible expansion on Tuesday. Mr. Thackeray held a meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday but sources said the Congress had still not finalised names.
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Saamna on Tuesday, in a short, front page article, said both the Sena and the NCP would have 13 new Ministers each, including 10 Cabinet Ministers and three junior Ministers. The Congress would have 10 Ministers.
“The Shiv Sena and the NCP’s lists are ready. Since the Congress has not finalised its names yet, the Cabinet expansion is slightly delayed. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is likely to finalise the names in a day or two,” said the article.
