Cabinet to be expanded as Kharmas ending in two days

Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren likely to expand the cabinet as the inauspicious Kharmas month will end in two days.

He is in New Delhi to attend the non-BJP Chief Ministers meeting with Sonia Gandhi. He is likely to hold talks with Congress working president Sonia Gandhi and senior leaders of Congress on cabinet expansion. He will return back to Ranchi on Tuesday.

Hemant Soren had taken oath along with three ministers on December 29 last year. Two from Congress and one RJD had taken the oath of the Minister. No one from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was administered the oath of Minister along with Heman Soren swearing-in. The portfolios have not been allocated to any minister as the oath-taking ceremony has passed more than 14 days.

The Chief Minister seems to have not made up his mind on portfolio distribution among the cabinet colleagues. Sources in JMM, say that Congress wants five berths in the cabinet. JMM, however, is willing to give four. Congress wants important ministries like Health, Education, Rural Development and others.

“The detail discussion is likely to take place with senior Congress leaders on cabinet expansion and portfolio distributions,” said sources in JMM to IANS.

Till now the cabinet expansion was put on hold in name of Kharmas month.

The first challenges before Hemant Soren to cabinet expansion and second is portfolio distribution. He has to deal with Congress demand and fulfill the aspirations of the party legislators.

He has to make a balance of the regions of the state with caste factor. There are more than half a dozen legislators who have won the assembly election for more than four to five times.

Considering the cabinet expansion, Congress legislative party leader and Minister in Hemant Soren cabinet are also in New Delhi. Sources in Congress say all the 16 legislators are camping in Delhi and involved in lobbying to get cabinet berth. Those who have taken oath are lobbying for good ministry.

The JMM leaders on record saying there would be no problem in cabinet expansion and ministry allocation. JMM, Congress and RJD alliance had won 30,16 and one seats respectively the assembly poll.