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Nagpur: The much-awaited Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti govt's cabinet expansion is likely to happen at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur on Sunday afternoon — a day before the winter session of the state legislature begins. The swearing-in ceremony, expected to commence at 3pm, marks a rare occasion when cabinet expansion will be held in Nagpur highlighting Vidarbha's growing domination in Maharashtra's corridors of power, BJP sources said. The last such ceremony in Nagpur happened in 1991, when the then Governor C Subramaniam administered oath to Chhagan Bhujbal and other ministers. As winter session of Maharashtra legislature begins on December 16, ministers will have just one day to settle into their roles before the session kicks off. The session is expected to address critical issues such as farmer distress, unemployment, and infrastructure development. The cabinet expansion was finalised after three weeks of hectic negotiations among Mahayuti partners over key portfolios. Despite BJP's dominant position with 132 assembly seats in the 288-member House, it faced challenges in balancing power with Shiv Sena and NCP factions, both eager to secure influential roles in the govt. Though Fadnavis is certain to carry out the expansion on Sunday, an NCP leader claimed that BJP's list hasn't yet got clearance from BJP leadership, but NCP's key demands were accepted long back and concerns raised by Eknath Shinde resolved too. The Maharashtra cabinet can have 43 ministers as per NCP sources BJP will get 21 berths, Shiv Sena 12 and NCP 10. Sources said BJP will retain key departments such as home and revenue while urban development, public health, public works and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation will be with Shiv Sena and NCP(Ajit) will get finance apart from portfolios it held in the last govt. A Sena functionary said that deputy CM Shinde had prepared a list of 12 nominees wherein he has replaced at least six cabinet members from the previous one with new faces and forwarded the same for CM's approval. Cabinet expansion was delayed due to Shinde's insistence on home portfolio, a demand that was rejected by Fadnavis, sources added. Vidarbha, a BJP stronghold, is likely to figure prominently in the cabinet. Some names doing the rounds for inclusion in Fadnavis cabinet include state BJP president and Kamptee MLA Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Ballapur BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar, Ramtek Shiv Sena MLA Ashish Jaiswal and Aheri NCP MLA Dharmarao Atram. The local administration has been directed to make elaborate arrangements, including seating for approximately 1,000 guests at Raj Bhavan. The local administration faces a tight timeline to ensure smooth proceedings for swearing-in and logistical requirements for the new ministers. Departments like general administration, revenue, and public works have been tasked with providing transport, accommodation, and office facilities for the expanded cabinet. The decision to hold swearing-in in Nagpur underscores the strategic importance of Vidarbha in Maharashtra's politics. This event also marks a rare departure from tradition, reflecting the BJP's effort to assert its dominance and cater to its core support base in the region. The ceremony is expected to set the tone for Mahayuti govt's legislative agenda and provide a fresh impetus to its governance goals. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
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By LOLITA BALDOR and FATIMA HUSSEIN WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has chosen Keith Kellogg, a highly decorated retired three-star general, to serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, who is one of the architects of a staunchly conservative policy book that lays out an “America First” national security agenda for the incoming administration, will come into the role as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its third year in February. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social account, and said “He was with me right from the beginning! Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!” Kellogg, an 80 year-old retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence , was chief of staff of the National Security Council and then stepped in as an acting security adviser for Trump after Michael Flynn resigned. As special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg will have to navigate an increasingly untenable war between the two nations. The Biden administration has begun urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of troops as young as 18. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in less than months. Trump has criticized the billions that the Biden administration has poured into Ukraine. Washington has recently stepped up weapons shipments and has forgiven billions in loans provided to Kyiv. The incoming Republican president has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. As a co-chairman of the American First Policy Institute’s Center for American Security, Kellogg wrote several of the chapters in the group’s policy book. The book, like the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025,” is a move to lay out a Trump national security agenda and avoid the mistakes of 2016 when he entered the White House largely unprepared. Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” Trump’s proposed national security advisor U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) tweeted Wednesday that “Keith has dedicated his life to defending our great country and is committed to bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution.” Kellogg was a character in multiple Trump investigations dating to his first term. He was among the administration officials who listened in on the July 2019 call between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump prodded his Ukrainian counterpart to pursue investigations into the Bidens. The call, which Kellogg would later say did not raise any concerns on his end, was at the center of the first of two House impeachment cases against Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate both times. On Jan. 6, 2021, hours before pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Kellogg, who was then Pence’s national security adviser, listened in on a heated call in which Trump told his vice president to object or delay the certification in Congress of President Joe Biden ’s victory. He later told House investigators that he recalled Trump saying to Pence words to the effect of: “You’re not tough enough to make the call.” Baldor reported from Washington. AP writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.Soccer-PSV stage dramatic comeback with three late goals to beat Shakhtar
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