After the successful conclusion of the election process in five states, steps have been initiated to form new governments. In Kolkata, Trinamool Congress chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met the West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and staked claim to form the new government.
Earlier, Banerjee was unanimously elected as the leader of Trinamool Congress legislature party at its meeting. Her deputy in the party, Mukul Roy and TMC general secretary, Partha Chatterjee proposed her name which was seconded by all the newly-elected MLAs of the party. Banerjee will take fresh oath as the Chief Minister on next Friday amid a huge public gathering at Red Road in Central Kolkata. Some of her cabinet colleagues are also likely to be sworn-in by the Governor. TMC has announced to celebrate the massive victory through cultural functions across the State. The celebrations would continue till May 30.
In Kerala, the CPI(M) leadership decided to have party Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan as Chief Minister. The CPI(M) State Secretariat took the formal decision to nominate Vijayan as Chief Minister in the presence of party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and Politburo member Prakash Karat and others at the party’s State Committee meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. Briefing the media, Yechuri described the party veteran V S Achudanandan as Kerala’s Fidel Castro and said Achudanandan will act as a philosopher and guide to the party. Earlier, Yechuri and Karat had held a brief consultation with party veteran.
Union Minister Sarbanand Sonowal will take oath as Chief Minister of Assam on May 24 in Guwahati. Talking to media this afternoon, party leader Himanta Biswa Sharma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah, and Chief Ministers of NDA ruled states are expected to attend the swearing in ceremony. It will be followed by a public meeting at Khanapara, Sarma told the media.
Meanwhile, Tarun Gogoi submitted his resignation as Chief Minister to Assam governor P B Acharya on Friday. Talking to media, Congress leader Rockybul Hussain said party will play the role of constructive opposition.
In Chennai, AIADMK leader and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was elected as the leader of party and the Chief Minister for the fourth time by all MLAs at a meeting held at the AIADMK headquarters on Friday. The letter was formally handed over to her by the Party’s top officials at her residence. She will stake claim to form the Government and hand over the letter to Governor D Rosaiah. Jayalalithaa paid respects to the scions of Dravidian movement on Friday. Party sources said that the swearing in ceremony was likely to be held on Monday.