Mamata all set to fete Kolkata Knight Riders

Even as West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s  newly elected MPs flew to the capital for the swearing in ceremony in Parliament scheduled for 5 June, the state government geared up to fete the champs of IPL 7, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), in a grand ceremony on Tuesday morning. 

All roads will lead up to the Eden Gardens, KKR’s home venue, and entry will be free for the fans to join the felicitation programme, CAB sources said. ‘Eden Gardens gates will be open from 11.30 am to 3.30 pm and everybody is welcome to join in the grand victory march. We have all plans to make the victory doubly memorable,’ said a CAB official. The Kolkata Police was also making the requisite arrangements. 

Earlier, the West Bengal chief minister had congratulated Kolkata Knight Riders and its co-owner Shah Rukh Khan for their second IPL triumph, last night in Bangalore.’Congratulations… KKR; Congratulations… Shah Rukh,’ Mamata posted on her official Facebook page after Piyush Chawla hit the winning boundary to seal a victory against Kings XI Punjab in a pulsating  final. The state Government  had come under criticism after showering KKR with gold medals and gold chains in an extravagant felicitation after their maiden IPL triumph in season five, two years ago.

Meanwhile, thousands of KKR fans waving purple-gold flags, and screaming team slogan ‘Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo Re!’ poured into the streets of Kolkata on Sunday night while firecrackers lit up the skyline after the team won their second IPL title, something that had earlier achieved by Chennai Super Kings.

Mamata had earlier conveyed her best wishes to Shah Rukh who is also the brand ambassador of West Bengal as the Bollywood heart throb had called on the CM at her residence after their team sailed into the final with a win over the same KXIP in the first qualifier 28 May .