March 27: Chief minister Arjun Munda will expand his cabinet on Tuesday.

Munda made the announcement soon after a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) late tonight.

The swearing-in of the six ministers will take place at Raj Bhavan at 5.30 pm, after the Assembly session ends.

Besides Munda, the cabinet at present has five members: Chandra Prakash Choudhary and Sudesh Mahto (both All Jharkhand Students? Union), Enos Ekka (Jharkhand Party) and Independents Madhu Koda and Harinarayan Rai. The five were sworn in along with Munda on March 12, a day after Shibu Soren was forced to resign.

Controversial Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator Kamlesh Singh, who was present at this evening?s meeting held at the chief minister?s residence, will be sworn in as a minister in the Munda government on Tuesday.

Singh, who was sworn in along with Soren in the UPA government, but did a disappearing act thereafter, not even turning up to take oath in the Assembly, today said he would join the Munda cabinet on Tuesday.

Asked if he would take oath in the Assembly on Tuesday, Singh said: ?I was ill. Now I am recovering gradually. Give me a little time to breathe. You will come to know of everything soon.?

Munda said apart from Singh, three MLAs from the BJP and two from the Janata Dal (United) would join the ministry, which can have a maximum of 12 members. While he remained non-committal on the issue of deputy chief minister, sources close to the chief minister said no one is likely to get the post ?as of now?. Significantly, Ajsu?s Mahto, who is reportedly keen to get the deputy?s post, was not seen at the NDA meeting. Several other legislators too were missing.

Munda sought to play down the absence of the MLAs, saying the meeting was convened hurriedly and hence many legislators, who were away from the capital, could not make it. The chief minister will have to do a deft balancing act as many legislators are eyeing the five berths that remain to be occupied. From the BJP, state unit president Raghubar Das, Upendra Singh and Ravindra Rai are said to be the front-runners for the three ministerial berths the party is likely to get, while Ramesh Singh Munda and Jaleshwar Mahto are tipped to make it from the JD(U).

Munda brushed aside suggestions of a rift and said allocation of portfolios would be a ?smooth affair?. ?My aim is to see that my government begins to function smoothly from April 1. For this all necessary preparations have been completed,? he said.