Mumbai: Twenty-five Cabinet Ministers, including former Deputy Chief Ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) leader Ajit Pawar, Congress leaders Ashok Chavan and Patangrao Kadam, were inducted into the Vilasrao Deshmukh-led DF (Democratic Front) Ministry in Maharashtra at a function held at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai today (Nov 9, 2004).

Out of the 25 Cabinet Ministers, 14 were from NCP, eight from Congress and three independents who had allied with Congress-NCP. The lone woman Cabinet Minister to be sworn-in was the NCP leader from Kaij, Vimal Mundada.

Four Ministers of State in the previous DF Ministry, who were elevated to the Cabinet, include Balasaheb Thorat (Cong) and the three NCP leaders Vijay Gavit, Sunil Tatkare, and Ramraje Nimbalkar.

The four new faces to be inducted this time were Ganesh Naik (NCP), Chandrakant Handore (Cong) and two independents, Babanrao Pachpute and Vinay Khore.

Bhujbal, who had resigned as Deputy Chief Minister from the previous DF Ministry following an attack on representatives of a leading media organisation, was the first to be sworn-in as a Cabinet Minister today.

NCP leader Vijaysinh-Mohite Patil who was replaced by R R Patil of the party as Deputy Chief Minister in the new ministry, was also administered the oath of office by the Governor Mohammed Fazal.

Those administered the oath of minister-of-state included Suresh Shetty, Dharmarao Atram, Sunil Deshmukh, Rajendra Shingane, Siddharam Mhetre, Hassan Mushriff, Ravi Patil, Rajesh Tope and Baba Siddiqui.

RPI-A (Republican Party of India-Athawale) leader Dayanand Mhaske was also administered the oath of office today.

Ranjit Kamble, Jayprakash Dandegaonkar and Rana Jagatsingh Padamsinh Patil were also inducted into the Ministry this afternoon.