Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday said that CM Uddhav Thackeray has decided to keep Nawab Malik in his cabinet. Pawar, who addressed a media conference after the customary tea party and cabinet meeting, on Wednesday, said, "The CM is the head of the government and he decides on resignations. However, I don't know what will happen tomorrow when the matter comes up for debate in the house and in the Bombay High Court, which will decide whether Malik's arrest by the ED was legal. The two other ministers were asked to resign in the past because the reasons were different."

Pawar said Malik has moved the high court, arguing that his arrest itself was illegal.  "Our seniors have taken a decision of not asking Malik to resign after much thinking," he said, adding that the sitting ministers in West Bengal were arrested but did not resign. "After all, the reasons for which the minister (Malik) was arrested is important (for not asking him to go)." Pawar said the CM, who skipped the previous session because of health issues, will attend the budget session from March 3 and 25.