Portfolios in Maha announced

MUMBAI: Senior Congress leader Patangrao Kadam will be the new Revenue Minister in the Ashok Chavan-led ministry, the portfolio earlier handled by suspended rebel Congress leader Narayan Rane. Kadam was also given the additional charge of school education.

Portfolios of Congress ministers were announced after an eight-hour long meeting, which ended around midnight last night. Party sources attributed the delay in declaring portfolios to lobbying within the party for certain key posts.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan will hold the Urban Development, Industry, Law and Judiciary, Information and Public Relations and Housing portfolios.

Harshavardhan Patil, the independent Legislator from Indapur in Pune district, would be the new Cooperation Minister, the portfolio handled by Kadam earlier. Patil would also look after Cultural Affairs earlier handled by Chavan.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP, Congress alliance partner, was the first to declare its portfolios earlier yesterday. Jayant Patil has been appointed the new Home Minister in place of R R Patil who quit after Mumbai terror attacks.
Surupsingh Naik (Congress) will look after Transport and Nomadic Tribes Development.

Balasaheb Thorat has been entrusted with Agriculture, the portfolio he held earlier. He would also handle Irrigation. There were reports that Chavan wanted to make Thorat in charge of Revenue but Kadam got that charge, the sources said.

Anees Ahmed would look after Textiles and Minority Development while Raviseth Patil would handle Dairy Development and Ports and Chandrakant Handore, Congress Legislator from Mumbai, will continue as Social Justice Minister.