Mamata raj 3.0: Who are the likely candidates in new Bengal cabinet?

Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday took oath as chief minister of West Bengal for the third consecutive term. But unlike 2011 and 2016, there was no Cabinet to swear in as the Trinamool Congress supremo wanted to avoid a lengthy programme due to the Covid situation. Party insiders, however, say this will give her more time to decide upon a Cabinet as she is likely to make some changes.

Sources close to Mamata say she is eager to infuse fresh faces in the new Cabinet. All eyes, however, will be on the Big 4 Home, health, finance and industry. Like earlier, the CM would want to keep home and health with herself, but appoint a junior minister for smooth functioning of these ministries.

Finance minister Amit Mitra did not contest the election due to his failing health and it is unlikely that he will be reinstated for the post. Instead, veterans such as Subrata Mukherjee or Partha Chatterjee might be brought in to take over the finance and industry portfolios. While Chatterjee was the education minister in the earlier Mamata government, Mukherjee has many a feather in his cap.

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Once the mayor of Kolkata, Mukherjee has handled public works, rural development and other important portfolios. It is likely that Mamata might want to use his experience in one of the bigger ministries. He might also be given urban development, presently handled by Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim. Cricketer Manoj Tiwary or former footballer Bidesh Bose, who scored victories for the Trinamool, may get the sports ministry.

Mamata may include some of her MLAs from Howrah and Kolkata in her Cabinet, given that the BJP failed to win a single seat in these two districts. Arup Roy from Howrah and Sovandeb Chattopadhyay and Arup Biswas from Kolkata are likely to retain their places in the Cabinet.

With the just-concluded elections largely focusing on caste equations, it is also imperative for Mamata to maintain a balance on community and regional fronts. So apart from Muslims, the new Cabinet is likely to have Matua, Rajbongshi and tribal representation too. Vivek Gupta, who won from Jorasanko in Kolkata, might represent the Hindi-speaking population.

With tourism minister Gautam Deb defeated in Jalpaiguri district, and the BJP performing well in North Bengal, Mamata is likely to induct a minister from that region. The Hills present a peculiar situation as two of the three seats were won by BJP, and the third by an Independent supported by Trinamool.

Jangal Mahal and East Midnapore also feature in her scheme of things, especially to control the clout of Suvendu Adhikari in that region. In such a situation, Manas Bhuiyan, who won from Sabang in West Midnapore district, is a frontrunner to be incorporated in the new Cabinet. Becharam Manna, who won from Singur, defeating Trinamool turncoat Rabindranath Bhattacharya, might also be rewarded.

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Trinamool insiders say Mamata is keen to retain Prashant Kishor and seek his guidance not only over Cabinet formation, but also during the Kolkata Municipal Corporation election, likely to be held in June or July. There are speculations he and Amit Mitra may be given Rajya Sabha tickets in place of Dinesh Trivedi, who quit Trinamool to join BJP in March, and Manas Bhuiyan, who is now an MLA. Not just Kishor, but Mamata’s niece Abhishek Banerjee is also likely to play a key role in formation of the new Cabinet.

If sources are to be believed, the Cabinet will get into shape on May 9, which will be symbolic because it is also the birthday of Rabindranath Tagore.

(The author is a senior journalist based out of Kolkata)

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WATCH: Mamata Banerjee sworn-in as Bengal CM for third time, takes oath in Bengali