The cabinet expansion of the Hemant Soren government is expected to take place next week.

The chief minister returned Ranchi on Wednesday after three days in Delhi, where he met senior Congress leaders including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

Congress leader Alamgir Alam, who was among the three ministers sworn-in with Hemant on December 29, denied speculation that there was a tussle between the Congress and the JMM over berths. “Right from the beginning the Congress has claimed five berths. We had said the cabinet expansion will take place after January 15,” said Alam, the MLA from Pakur.

Sources in the Congress central leadership in Delhi also said there was no dispute over ministerial berths, and that talks were on over things such as policy direction.

Another Congress MLA claimed the expanison will take place after January 19. “Sonia Gandhi has invited all elected MLAs of the Congress for a meeting in Delhi on January 17. It is likely that cabinet expansion will take place after January 19,” the MLA said. “The Congress needs to accommodate at least one woman in the ministry,” he added.

The total strength of the Jharkhand cabinet is usually 12, including the chief minister. Apart from Alam, the Congress’s Rameshwar Oraon and RJD MLA Satyanand Bhokta have already been sworn-in.