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Congress forces Parikh to put off ministry expansion

The one-month-old Rashtriya Janata Party government, headed by Chief Minister Dilip Parikh, did not expand its council of ministers on Thursday as Governor Krishnapal Singh, who is in Delhi, could not return in time.

That was the official information given to the press late Wednesday night.

The reality, however, is different: Congress, which is supporting Parikh's minority ministry, has taken strong exception to the proposed expansion. And most of its legislators, including former chief minister Chhabildas Mehta, have been pressing the Congress to share power.

Meanwhile, state Congress chief C D Patel and Congress legislature party leader Amarsinh Chaudhary have air dashed to Delhi for consultation with the party high command about power-sharing.

The 16-member Parikh ministry was sworn in on October 28, after the Congress withdrew its support to Shankersinh Vaghela.

UNI

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