The Congress and the NCP on Thursday completed the shortlisting of candidates for cabinet ministers thus setting the stage for the swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan on Friday morning.
While chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has made some changes, the NCP has not gone for much change. Senior cabinet ministers from Congress are Narayan Rane, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Patangrao Kadam, Balasaheb Thorat, Hussain Dalwai, Nitin Raut, Madhukar Chavan, Suresh Shetty, Harshvardhan Patil, Nassem Khan.
The Congress has a mix of candidates from the assembly and the council.
After finalising the list, Chavan said, “With this, I am moving to Mumbai, and begin my work in the state in right earnest. I want to thank all of you for the support and cooperation you have extended to me over the years.” He was speaking a press conference in Maharashtra Sadan, Delhi.
He said there would be some vacancies and an attempt at striking regional and social balances. “But then it is not always possible to have optimal solutions.”
Last Thursday, the NCP had administered the oath of office to 10 senior ministers and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. The remaining nine — Ramraje Nimbalkar, Babanrao Panchpute, Rajesh Tope, Hassan Mushriff, Bhaskar Jadhav, Sachin Ahir, Faujiya Khan, Prakash Salunkhe, and Anil Deshmukh — will be sworn in on Friday.
Patil likely to retain home:
Late night reports indicated that the NCP is not keen on disturbing RR Patil who is the party’s Mr Clean. Chhagan Bhujbal, who had to give up the deputy chief minister’s post, is likely to retain the Public Works Department along with additional public undertakings (MSRDC).
Major changes in portfolios are expected in the Congress. “Narayan Rane may not get revenue,” a source said. “It might go to Harshvardhan Patil. Rane is tipped to get industries.” Former industries minister Rajendra Darda has been dropped from the cabinet.
