State ministry to be expanded after CM returns -- Pachpute
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NASHIK, JULY 2: Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh would expand the state cabinet after a discussion with the coordination committee on his return from the foreign tour, according to Nationalist Congress Party state unit chief Babanrao Pachpute.

Talking to reporters here last evening, Pachpute said NCP, a partner in the Congress-led Democratic Front (DF) government, has given permission for ministry-expansion and the Chief Minister would discuss the matter with the coordination committee and then take a policy-decision on the issue.

``Though Deshmukh will have the right to decide on how many ministers will be taken, fifty per cent ministers will be inducted from our party,'' he added.

To a question, Pachpute asserted that there was no problem in the DF government over appointments of corporations or governmental committees.

``Half of the posts are yet to be filled,'' he added.

He said Shirish Kotwal, NCP MLA from Chandvad, who was recently appointed as chairman of the Nasik Divisional Board of MHADA, had no interest in the post as he was involved in social activities in the rural sector of Nashik.

Speaking about the controversy over shifting of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) from Nashik, Pachpute replied, ``Some people are unnecessarily politicising the issue.''

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