THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Dec 4: Chief Minister Hemant Soren will expand his cabinet tomorrow.
The oath-taking ceremony has been scheduled at the Raj Bhavan at 12.30 pm.
According to sources, a total of 10 ministers, including two women MLAs, are likely to be inducted. The remaining berth on the Council of Ministers is likely to be left vacant for the time being.
JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said the new Cabinet would have a mix of “urja aur anubhav (energy and experience)” in addition to being inclusive. “Each of our five administrative divisions and sections of society will be represented. Hemant Babu will progress with a skilled team dedicated towards the delivery of the promises we have made,” Bhattacharya added.
The Cabinet is likely to be constituted according to the previously agreed-upon “one cabinet berth per four MLAs” formula.
The CPI (ML) has already announced that it will support the JMM-majority government but not stake claim to a ministerial berth.
Congress legislature party chief will not get a ministerial berth
Meanwhile, Congress state president Keshav Mahato Kamlesh, who reached Ranchi from New Delhi, told media persons at the Ranchi airport, that all sections have been taken care of for the ministerial post.
The leader of the party’s legislative party will not get the ministerial post. The departments that the ministers of Congress Quota had in the previous government will be retained.
Who are the frontrunners?
From the Congress quota, Deepika Pandey Singh, Naman Vikas Kongadi, Dr Irfan Ansari, Anup Singh or Suresh Baitha can become a minister. From the RJD quota, Suresh Paswan’s name is leading. From the JMM, Mathura Mahto, Sameer Mohanty, Hafizul Hasan, Deepak Birua or Ramdas Soren, Louis Marandi and Sudivya Sonu are the front-runners.
Notably, while the JMM won 34 of the 81 Assembly seats in the state, the BJP won 21, the Congress 16, the RJD four and the CPI (ML) two.
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) Party and JD(U) as well as others such as the Jairam Mahto-led Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha got one seat each.
