Ajit Pawar Maharashtra’s new finance minister

MUMBAI - Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will be the new state finance and energy minister, while R.R. Patil will continue as the home minister, officials said Friday.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) portfolios were allocated here Friday afternoon, shortly after the swearing-in of the newly expanded state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan of the Congress party.

Former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal will now handle the Public Works Department and tourism, while former finance minister Sunil Tatkare will be the new irrigation minister. Jayant Patil will be the new minister for rural development, the portfolio earlier held by Ajit Pawar.

Rajesh Tope will be the new higher and technical education minister, Hasan Mushrif has been allocated the labour ministry and Babanrao Pachpute will handle tribal development. Anil Deshmukh has been named the food and civil supplies minister, Vijaykumar Gavit has been given charge of medical education, while Laxmanrao Dhoble is to handle water supply and sanitation.