India, June 18 -- Former Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, former NCP leader Jaydutt Kshirsagar, and RPI leader Avinash Mahatekar have been allotted cabinet ministerial berth in the Fadnavis-led BJP government in Maharashtra. The state government has undertaken the cabinet expansion a day prior to the commencement of the legislature's monsoon session and four months ahead of the assembly polls. A petition has been filed by Advocate Satish Talekar in the Bombay High Court against the induction of these leaders as they are not the members of the legislative assembly or the legislative council.

When AV spoke to BJP spokesperson Avdhut Wagh, he said, "There is no provision as per the law that it is mandatory to be an MLA or MLC to be...