Chhagan Bhujbal, Jayant Patil, Thorat likely to take oath as ministers today

Mumbai, November 28

NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil and Maharashtra Congress unit chief Balasaheb Thorat are likely to take oath as state ministers on Thursday, sources in the two parties said.

The deputy chief minister’s post might go to NCP MLA Ajit Pawar, they said.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will be sworn in as chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening at a ceremony to be held at the Shivaji Park in Dadar area here.

NCP leader Praful Patel on Wednesday said one or two MLAs each from his party, the Shiv Sena and the Congress would be sworn in as ministers at the ceremony.

“Bhujbal and Patil are expected to be sworn in as ministers from the NCP. Ajit dada is likely to be the deputy CM. But, he is unlikely to take oath on Thursday,” a source in the NCP said.

“Thorat is also expected to take oath on Thursday,” a Congress source said.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan could be the second leader from the Congress to be sworn in as minister on Thursday. “But, a decision on this will be taken in a few hours,” the source said.

Names of Ashok Chavan and another former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan are doing the rounds for the post of Assembly Speaker. PTI