NCP leader Ajit Pawar may return as Maharashtra deputy CM in cabinet expansion today, say reports

More than a
month after taking oath as Maharashtra chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray is
likely to expand his Cabinet of ministers on Monday. Ajit Pawar may also return
as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in the long-overdue expansion of
the state Cabinet.

Nationalist
Congress Party’s Nawab Malik and Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief
Minister Ashok Chavan are likely to take oath as ministers in the Maharashtra
Cabinet on Monday.

The
oath-taking ceremony of the Maharashtra Cabinet ministers is likely to begin at
1 pm at Vidhan Bhavan on Monday.

Around 36
ministers will be sworn in, 10 from the Congress, with former chief minister
Ashok Chavan likely to get the public works department portfolio and nothing
for Prithviraj Chavan, sources told.

According to
a report, the Shiv Sena and NCP and the Congress agreed that the Sena would
have 16 ministers, apart from Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the NCP would
get 14 ministers, including the post of deputy chief minister, and the Congress
would receive posts for 12 ministers.

Ajit Pawar
on Friday said his party’s leadership would decide on his inclusion in the
government, speaking to reporters after inaugurating a sports event at Balewadi
stadium, Ajit said cabinet expansion would take place in the state on 30
December.

Asking on
his chances of taking oath on 30 December, Ajit said, “I have clarified my
stand on this issue. I will follow the directives of the party
leadership.”