Monsoon session of Maha legislature to be held from July 17 to August 4

Maharashtra legislature's monsoon session will take place from July 17 to August 4. The decision was taken on Friday at a meeting of the Assembly's Business Advisory Committee (BAC).

At the meeting, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who joined the administration on Sunday, were also present.

Sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the expansion of the cabinet was unlikely before the session though the allocation of portfolios to the NCP ministers might happen in the coming days.

A senior BJP leader said the council of ministers might comprise only cabinet ministers and no ministers of state. However, a leader from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena said the cabinet expansion could happen in a day or two.

Both BJP and Shiv Sena members will be accommodated, he said. There has been speculation about restlessness in the Shinde camp after the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction became a part of the ruling alliance.