Chandrima to be part of TMC Cabinet now: Mamata Banerjee

Berhampore: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that her newly elected MLA from Kanthi Dakshin Chandrima Bhattacharyya will be inducted in her cabinet.

“Chandrima will soon be a part of our cabinet ministers. She will be reinstated in the month of Baisakh - the beginning of the Bengali new year. A few others may also be included,” Ms Banerjee said following Ms Bhattacharyya’s victory in the Kanthi Daskhin bypolls.  

Ms Bhattacharyya had been made the minister of state for health, law and judicial affairs after TMC won the Assembly election in 2011 from Dum Dum North seat. However, she lost the seat in 2016 Assembly election to CPM’s Tanmoy Bhattacharya.

“I have been missing a few of my cabinet ministers. Chandrima, Manish da (Manish Gupta ) were among them. Both of them worked very well. I also miss Sankar da.(Sankar Chakraborty). Manish da has become a member of the Rajya Sabha. Chandrima will also be given an important portfolio,” Ms Banerjee said.

Sankar Chakraborty was the minister of public works department (PWD) in the first term of Mamata Banerjee’s government but had lost in 2016.

When questioned about the BJP emerging second in the Kanthi Dakshin bypolls, the Trinamul supremo said, “There could be a nexus between CPM and BJP. Sometimes opposition votes get transferred among opposition parties. CPM, Congress and BJP transfer votes among each other. We do not do it and we are not bothered about them. I had said it a few days back: BJP er kole CPM dole ( the CPM sits in BJP’s lap).”

She expressed her gratitude to the people for supporting the TMC.”This huge support will make us humble and help us work for the development of the people, ” she added.