From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 10:03 PM IST

Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) Fauzia Khan, a Muslim, and Congress party's Varsha Gaekwad, a Dalit, have found place in the new Maharashtra council of ministers sworn in Saturday.

Both Fauzia, a Member of Legislative Council (the upper house) from Parbhani, and Gaekwad, who became a giant killer after defeating former Lok Sabha speaker and Shiv Sena strong man Manohar Joshi in Dharavi, have been inducted as ministers of state.

The convent-educated Fauzia is considered close to NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

Fauzia, in her mid-40s, heads the Federation of All Maharashtra Minority Education Organisation and runs several educational institutions in Parabhani.

Gaekwad, in her mid-30s, is the daughter of Congress MP from Mumbai North-Central Eknath Gaekwad.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)