Fadnavis, Uddhav meet to discuss Maha cabinet expansion
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray late Friday night to discuss the proposed cabinet expansion in the state.
In the last few days, both Fadnavis and finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar have said the ministry will be expanded.
In a tweet, Fadnavis said, "I met shiv sena president uddhav thackeray at his residence Matoshri and discussed in detail cabinet expansion."
Earlier in the day, when asked about a cabinet expansion, Thackeray had said, "I don't know when the cabinet expansion is happening. I don't have a 'panchang' (almanac)."
There is speculation in political circles that the expansion could take place on Sunday, a day before the three week monsoon session of the state legislature begins.
Fadnavis earlier met Governor C Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan.
Currently, there are 37 ministers including the chief minister, and Fadnavis can accommodate another five.
A vacancy was created due to the death of BJP leader Pandurang Fundkar, then agriculture minister, in 2018. The portfolio is now being handled by revenue minister Chandrakant Patil.
Deepak Sawant, then health minister, resigned earlier this year and the department is being looked after by Eknath Shinde, who is also the PWD minister.
Parliamentary Affairs and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat resigned after being elected to the Lok Sabha from Pune. His portfolios are being shared by Education Minister Vinod Tawde and Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal.
While the BJP has 16 cabinet ministers and seven ministers of state (MoS), its main all Shiv Sena has five cabinet ministers and only one MoS.
Smaller allies have one cabinet and MoS post each.
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Hassan: Driver of tipper suffers electric shock, dies on spot as truck touches wire
Hassan: The driver of a tipper reportedly died in Nettekere village of Belur taluk after suffering an electric shock when the vehicle came in contact with electric wire while emptying the sand transported in it.
The deceased driver, Dileep (33) of Hanumanahalli in Holenarasipura taluk, is said to have failed to notice the wire above the vehicle while tipping the sand in the truck. Immediately as the wire touched the tipper, however, Dileep suffered a shock and is said to have died on the spot.
Belur Police, who were informed of the incident, visited the spot and are learned to have held an inspection.
