Ashok Chavan-led Cong-NCP Minsitry in place at last

Mumbai, Nov 7 : Ending a 17-day impasse over ministry formation and berth sharing, a 38-member Ministry headed by Ashok Chavan was sworn in Maharashtra today by Governor S C Jamir at an impressive ceremony at the Raj Bhavan, heralding a third successive term for the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance.

Governor Jamir administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and 25 Cabinet Ministers, besides 11 Ministers of State.

While the NCP completed its quota of 20 ministers -- 15 cabinet and five minsiters of state, the Congress inducted only 18 ministers (12 cabinet and six ministers of state). Mr Chavan had indicated earlier that the Congress ministers would be sworn in two phases and it has five more ministers to be inducted.

Amidst several dignitaries, who were present at the swearing in ceremony, were former Union Minsiter Shivraj Patil and BJP legislature party leader Eknath Khadse. Union Ministers from the State, Sharad Pawar, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushilkumar Shinde were conspicuous by their absence.

Among those who were sworn in were two women (both ministers of state) Varsha Gaekwad of the Congress and Faujia Khan of the NCP.

Prominent ministers of the previous ministry to find their place in the new government included Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil, Narayan Rane, Harshvardhan Patil and Ganesh Naik. R R Patil, who relinquished as Deputy Chief Minister after the November 27 terrorist attack last year, is back in the Ministry.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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