Rane reshuffles portfolios

More, Nandgaonkar and Shinde were administered the oath of office at a brief ceremony at Raj Bhavan by Governor P C Alexander.

Anna Dange, who was Minister for Rural Development, will now be at the helm of affairs of Social Welfare, Women and Child Welfare departments held by former Minister Babanrao Gholap. In addition, Dange will continue to look after the departments of Water Supply and Welfare of Other Backward Classes.

Cooperation Minister Diwakar Raote has been allocated the additional departments of Marketing, Textiles and Trade and Commerce, while Jaiprakash Mundhada will be Minister for Rehabilitation, Sports and YouthWelfare.

The Environment and Forests Department, which was held by Chief Minister Narayan Rane, has been again given to Chandrakant Khaire, who held charge of this department in the erstwhile Manohar Joshi Government.

Kalidas Kolambkar, who was Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies, will the new Minister of State for Urban Development, while Manisha Nimkar, Minister of State for Tourism, has been given additional charge of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies. Uttam Khandare will be the new Minister of State for Sports, Textiles and Youth Welfare.