The final decision on the new cabinet will be taken by Mamata Banerjee, after she takes oath on Wednesday as the chief minister for the third consecutive time. The low-key event is scheduled for 10.45 am at the Raj Bhawan. She will also be given a guard of honour by Kolkata Police.
“Many new faces are likely to be inducted in the new cabinet. Women and MLAs from the minority and SC/ST communities will be given priority. The names of the ministers for the new cabinet will be finalised by Didi,” a senior TMC leader said.
The decision on the new council of ministers is generally taken at TMC’s core committee. Banerjee will chair its meeting after taking oath on Wednesday or Thursday.
Prominent and new female legislators from the TMC this time are Shashi Panja, Nayana Bandyopadhyay, Ratna Chatterjee, June Maliah and Lovely Moitra.
It is also learnt that party veterans like Subrata Mukherjee and Firhad Hakim will hold important ministries as usual.
On Monday, Banerjee went to the Raj Bhawan at 7 pm and submitted her resignation as chief minister to governor Jagdeep Dhankhar. She also staked claim to form the new government.
The governor tweeted that keeping in mind the Covid-19 situation, the function would be held with “limited audience”.
Banerjee will be the only person to be sworn in at the Raj Bhawan on Wednesday. MLA Biman Banerjee, who was the speaker in the last assembly, will take oath as the new speaker in the presence of protem speaker Subrata Mukherjee on Thursday. Other MLAs will take oath later on Thursday and Friday.Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the West Bengal chief secretary, director general of police and the Kolkata police commissioner held a meeting at Banerjee’s residence to discuss post-poll violence.