Former Maharashtra minister Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar is likely to be named executive chairman of the State Planning Board.
Nimbalkar, who hails from Satara in western Maharashtra, was among the six NCP ministers dropped in Tuesday's ministerial reshuffle.
"An announcement regarding the senior NCP leader's appointment is expected soon," government sources told PTI here today.
Nimbalkar is likely to succeed former Assembly Speaker and senior NCP leader Babasaheb Kupekar, who passed away in September last year.
He is also part of the party's core group for forthcoming elections, announced today at a meeting attended by NCP chief Sharad Pawar here.
The other members of the group include former ministers Babanrao Pachpute, Gulabrao Deokar, Laxman Dhoble and Prakash Solanke.
