Mamata greeted with flower petals at Nabanna

Employees in the state secretariat were glued to the television sets to watch the swearing-in ceremony. Almost everyone left their work and their attention was on the television sets at their respective offices as soon as the Governor reached the venue. They stood up when the Kolkata Police band started playing the National Anthem. 

The scene at Nabanna at that particular time was quite similar to that of the moment when the entire nation stands up together praying for a common cause. On Friday the common cause for the people at Nabanna could be nothing apart from further development of the state. They remained standing when Banerjee was taking the oath for the second term. 

There was a pin drop silence with everyone was listening Banerjee taking oath. Everyone cheered and clapped celebrating the moment of success. The entire new secretariat was decorated with flowers.

The wait for Banerjee’s arrival at Nabanna began as soon as the swearing-in ceremony ended on Red Road. The employees started gathering outside the cordoned off area on the ground floor.

Banerjee entered Nabanna at 2.27 pm. Chief Secretary Basudeb Banerjee welcomed her with a bouquet of flowers.

The memories of the swearing-in day of 2011 became fresh once again with thousands of common people standing on both sides of the road from toll plaza to Nabanna. They threw flowers when Banerjee’s car passed through the area. 

Banerjee was given guard of honour in Nabanna. DGP GMP Reddy and Commissioner of Police Rajiv Kumar were accompanying her when the team of Kolkata Police headed by ASP Swati Bhangalia gave the Guard of Honour. 

Women officials blew conch shells and small children welcomed Banerjee by throwing flowers at her when she walked into the state secretariat. The employees standing on both sides leading to the main entrance shouted slogans to welcome her.

Many were found throwing flowers from sixth and eighth floors of Nabanna when she walked in. 

Bhangalia, who led the team that gave guard of honour, said: “She is the icon of West Bengal and it is my privilege to give her the guard of honour.”