Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Thursday said his ministry would be expanded on January 25.
Talking to reporters after a two-hour meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he said the expansion will take place on Friday morning as he had to 'send his ministers to various districts for flag hoisting ceremonies on Republic Day'.
Shinde, who will meet Gandhi for the third time on Friday, dodged questions on whether he planned to expand the ministry in phases.
Asked whether the Pradesh Congress Committee President Govindrao Adik was being accommodated in the ministry, All India Congress Committee general secretary Vayalar Ravi, who was also present in the discussions, said, "We will let you know tomorrow", indicating it may be a possibility.
Denying that there were any difficulties in finalising the list of ministers, Ravi said the exercise had got delayed as the party wanted to ensure regional and social balance so that there were no complaints.
Shinde who had a 90-minute meeting with Gandhi on Wednesday night, held detailed discussions with Ravi on the issue on Thursday. He has already dismissed reports of downsizing the ministry.
