Pawar hints at Dec 14; CM says date yet to be decided

CABINET EXPANSION DATE | Although both Fadnavis and Pawar had separate meetings with Amit Shah, no clarity is forthcoming on the crucial issue

- Kalpesh Mhamunkar & Prajakta Pol

Exactly a week after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, took their oaths in a grand ceremony at Azad Maidan, the uncertainty surrounding the cabinet expansion refuses to die down.

Even as reports say the impending state cabinet expansion is likely to take place on December 14, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has yet to give a clear word. He has said that the date for cabinet expansion is still to be decided. But Pawar, who was also in Delhi for two days, said the exercise was likely to happen on December 14.

Although both Fadnavis and Pawar had separate meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, no clarity is forthcoming on the crucial issue even as the government will be facing the winter session of the state legislature beginning on Monday in Nagpur.