The Hemant Soren-led government in Jharkhand is set to expand cabinet on December 5 with the Raj Bhavan formally being requested to schedule the swearing-in ceremony for new ministers at noon on that day. 

Although an official notification is awaited, a total of 11 ministers are expected to take the oath - six from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), four from Congress, and one from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). 

In the list of MLAs to take oath as Ministers in the Hemant Soren government,the name of Kalpana Soren is not mentioned, is is learnt.

This means CM Hemant Soren has preferred not to include her in the Cabinet,putting an end to speculation on her entry into his new Cabinet.

Also, Basant Soren, the CM Soren’s younger brother, who was minister in the Champai Soren government does not figure in the probable list, said a source. 

Reports suggest that the Cabinet expansion will introduce six to seven new faces.  

Among the likely ministers from the JMM are Deepak Birua (Chaibasa MLA), Ramdas Soren (Ghatsila MLA), Hafizul Hasan (Madhupur MLA), Anant Pratap Deo (Bhawanathpur MLA), Louis Marandi (Jama MLA), and Mathura Prasad Mahato (Tundi MLA).

Incidentally Louis Marandi had quit the BJP and joined the JMM just before the Assembly polls in October. 

However, the names of Sabita Mahato (Ichagarh MLA) and MT Raja (Rajmahal MLA) are also being considered, it is learned. Probable Congress Ministers include Rameshwar Oraon (Lohardaga MLA), Irfan Ansari (Jamtara MLA), Deepika Pandey Singh (Mahagama MLA), Pradeep Yadav (Poraiyahat MLA), and Naman Vikas Kongadi (Kolebira MLA).

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