New Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan to expand Cabinet

NEW DELHI - Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan will arrive here on Wednesday evening to meet the top Congress leadership to discuss the cabinet formation in the State.

Earlier today, senior Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders met at NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s residence in Mumbai, amid reports that there is a negotiation going on between the ruling alliance partners in Maharashtra over the number of ministerial berths.

It has been reported that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is insisting that out of the 43 seats, the Congress should get 22 seats and NCP 21 seats.

Prithviraj Chavan, however, after the meeting said the Congress ministers will be sworn in on Thursday.

With the name of former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan cropping up in connection with the Adarsh Housing society scam, former Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan was on November 11 sworn-in as the 22nd Chief Minister of Maharashtra, while Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy Chief Minister. (ANI)