The expansion of the Goa cabinet took place on Saturday as atotal of three Congress rebels and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA took oathas ministers at the Raj Bhavan, Panaji, days after ten Congress MLAs switchedsides to join the BJP. The rebels who joined the Cabinet are--ChandrakantKavlekar, Jennifer Monserrate and Filipe Nery Rodrigues, and the lone BJP MLAwho was sworn-in is Michael Lobo. Lobo had resigned as Deputy Speaker of theGoa Legislative Assembly earlier in the day.

Kavlekar, a former leader of Opposition, is likely to beappointed as the deputy chief minister. The development comes after fourministers -- Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte, VinodPaliencar, and Jayesh Salongakar were sacked from the ministry to accommodatethe Congress MLAs who defected to the BJP.

Speaker Rajesh Patnekar said that the Assembly will functionas the per schedule, according to news agency ANI. "Though new ministershave been inducted, the Assembly will go on as per the schedule. The newministers will have to study their portfolios while answering questions on thefloor of the House. As far as I am concerned, there is no rescheduling of theAssembly and the Congress party will have to give the name of Leader ofOpposition by Monday," Patnekar told.