Mamata changes cabinet
27 Dec 2013 12:15 AM GMT
Chatterjee will, however, continue to hold Information and Technology (IT) and Parliamentary Affairs portfolios.
With the 2014 general elections round the corner, it is believed that the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wanted to free Chatterjee from a heavy portfolio. Also, Mitra’s proximity to industry captains during his stint as FICCI Secretary-General in New Delhi acted in his favour. On the industrial outlook of the state, Abhirup Sarkar, Chairman, West Bengal Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation(WBIDFC) said, ‘It is not likely that there will be any major investment in the state before the 2014 polls. However, small and medium size industries will invest if the process is transparent and there is no political extortion’.
This apart, those inducted into Banerjee's Cabinet on Thursday were Shashi Panja, MLA of Shyampukur in north Kolkata. Panja is a physician-turned-politician and the daughter-in-law of the former Union Minister, late Ajit Panja. This was an expected move, said party sources. Panja gets Women and Child Welfare.
Vinay Burman, the MLA of Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar district replaced Hiten Burman as the new forest minister. Hiten Burman had apparently tendered his resignation as minister to Banerjee citing health issues.
Swapan Debnath, minister of state for micro and small scale enterprises (MSME) and textiles, was given independent charge. Debnath is a legislator from the Burdwan district. With on Thursday’s reshuffle the number of Bengal ministers including the Chief Minister is now 44. The last Cabinet reshuffle was carried out in November 2012 that saw eight new faces being inducted.
With the 2014 general elections round the corner, it is believed that the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wanted to free Chatterjee from a heavy portfolio. Also, Mitra’s proximity to industry captains during his stint as FICCI Secretary-General in New Delhi acted in his favour. On the industrial outlook of the state, Abhirup Sarkar, Chairman, West Bengal Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation(WBIDFC) said, ‘It is not likely that there will be any major investment in the state before the 2014 polls. However, small and medium size industries will invest if the process is transparent and there is no political extortion’.
This apart, those inducted into Banerjee's Cabinet on Thursday were Shashi Panja, MLA of Shyampukur in north Kolkata. Panja is a physician-turned-politician and the daughter-in-law of the former Union Minister, late Ajit Panja. This was an expected move, said party sources. Panja gets Women and Child Welfare.
Vinay Burman, the MLA of Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar district replaced Hiten Burman as the new forest minister. Hiten Burman had apparently tendered his resignation as minister to Banerjee citing health issues.
Swapan Debnath, minister of state for micro and small scale enterprises (MSME) and textiles, was given independent charge. Debnath is a legislator from the Burdwan district. With on Thursday’s reshuffle the number of Bengal ministers including the Chief Minister is now 44. The last Cabinet reshuffle was carried out in November 2012 that saw eight new faces being inducted.
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