Maharashtra CM likely to expand Cabinet today, reinstate Narayan Rane

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan is likely to expand his Cabinet at a simple ceremony at 5.30 pm on Thursday. A spokesperson for the government confirmed this though the governor's office refused to comment.

Sources said Mr Chavan was all set to take back into the Cabinet Narayan Rane who had rebelled against the party after he was denied the chief minister's post in December last. The Congress party revoked Mr Rane's suspension two days back.

In addition, Mr Chavan could include three more names from the Congress in the Cabinet including senior leader and former minister Govindrao Adik, sources said.

Kurla legislator Nasim Khan and former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's younger brother Dilip Deshmukh are also likely to get ministerial positions, it is learnt.

The cabinet expansion assumes significance in the wake of growing bonhomie between the NCP and Shiv Sena. Amidst speculations of an alliance between NCP and Sena, the Congress has tried to deflate attention from the issue.