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Three independents inducted into Maharashtra ministry

With this, the strength of the Democratic Front would go up to 148, three more than what is required for a simple majority in the 288-member state assembly. (One MLA from the coalition is the Speaker)

The Congress-NCP-led front had earlier faced a setback when nine MLAs of the Peasants and Workers Party, Janata Dal (Secular) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) decided to withdraw support to the ruling coalition.

Governor Dr P C Alexander administered the oath of office to Harshwardhan Patil, Vinayak Patil and Shivaji Kardile Karad, they added.

Meanwhile, the leader of opposition in the legislative assembly Narayan Rane demanded that Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh should step down as his government has lost majority.

Rane and BJP leader Gopinath Munde met the governor and urged him to consider the fact that the DF government no longer enjoyed a majority in the state assembly.

The governor informed them that the decision on the issue will be taken only after he ascertained the exact situation.

Rane said the Shiv Sena-BJP would not right away stake claim to form the government but prefer to wait for the collapse of the DF government.

He expressed confidence that if such a situation arose, the BJP-Sena would be able to provide an alternative government.

In the 288-member assembly, the Congress has 74 members, the NCP 61, Shiv Sena 69, BJP 56, Janata Dal (S) two, PWP five, CPM two, Native People's Party one, RPI (Gawai) one, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh three, Gondwana Gantantra Party and SJP one each.

EARLIER REPORT
Eight independents withdraw support to Maharashtra govt

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