Jharkhand cabinet to be expanded Oct 8

RANCHI - Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda will expand his cabinet Oct 8 after the inauspicious ‘Pitrapaksh’ period ends Oct 7, Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren said here Tuesday.

“The chief minister has sought time at 11.35 a.m. Oct 8 to expand the cabinet,” Soren told reporters at the airport on his return from New Delhi, adding: “Everything has been finalised”.

Munda had gone New Delhi with Soren, the son of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren and the other Deputy Chief Minister, Sudesh Mahto of the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), five days ago. While Soren and Mahto returned to Ranchi Tuesday, Munda is likely to return on Wednesday.

“The cabinet expansion is being delayed due to inauspicious month Bhado and Pitrapaksh. The cabinet will be expanded after Pitrapaksh,” Munda told reporters in New Delhi Monday.

Munda became the eighth chief minister of Jharkhand Sep 11 with support of the JMM, the AJSU, the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and two independents. He proved his majority on floor of the house Sep 14.

Initially, the expansion was to take place after the trust vote but was delayed due to settling the ruling parties’ share in the cabinet and key departments. The state can have a maximum of 12 ministers including the chief minister.