Prithviraj Chavan may opt for almost 50% new faces in the ministry

Technocrat-politician and Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, is likely to have many new faces in the ministry, with the Congress sources today pegging their number at as many as 50%.
   
"Going by his reputation and his announcement of having a team with clean image, there are indications that several of the 23 Congress ministers in the Ashok Chavan regime will be dropped," sources said.

Congress had 23 ministers and ally NCP 20 members in the outgoing 43-member ministry. Ten NCP ministers, including deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, were sworn in along with Chavan yesterday.

However, no other Congress minister took oath, leading to speculations about a major overhaul of the ministry.

Chavan is expected to leave for Delhi tonight and hold discussions about formation of the Congress ministerial list, the sources said.

That the former union minister of state for science and technology, chose not to include even stalwarts like Narayan Rane and Patangrao Kadam in yesterday's ceremony is an indication that the Congress list, which may include these two leaders, may throw many a surprise, the sources said.

The sources said inclusion of more ministers and also portfolio allocation would be completed in the next couple of days.