Maharashtra Cabinet offers to resign

In keeping with the new law that prescribes limiting the size of state Cabinet, the Cong-NCP ministers today offered to resign from Govt.

In keeping with the new legislation that prescribes limiting the size of the state Cabinet before the July 07 deadline, the Congress-NCP ministers in Maharashtra on Wednesday offered to resign from the DF Government.

"The Congress ministers in the DF Government on Wednesday offered to resign from the state Cabinet in view of downsizing the state Cabinet before July 07," Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said in Mumbai.

"The Congress ministers took the decision in a meeting held on Wednesday morning and conveyed it to me in the weekly Cabinet meeting held at Mantralaya in Mumbai, he added.

He said the Congress ministers have decided to submit their resignations to him along with giving all the powers to take a decision on downsizing of the state Cabinet.

However, a decision on this issue will be taken later, Shinde added.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Home Minister and state NCP chief RR Patil said the NCP ministers were also prepared to offer their resignation from the DF Government in view of the downsizing of the state Cabinet.

"The NCP ministers would submit their resignations to party chief Sharad Pawar whenever they are demanded," Patil said.

The DF Government comprises of 67 ministers with 28 each from Congress and NCP and the rest eleven ministers of the other alliance partners including independents.