Mamata Banerjee reshuffles West Bengal cabinet after Lok Sabha poll debacle

Disappointed with the unexpected outcome of Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday reshuffled the state cabinet. Mamata Banerjee changed the portfolios of three MLAs and made them ministers.

According to the ANI, Suvendu Adhikary has now become Irrigation and Transport minister, while Somen Mahapatra is now Public Health, Engineering and Environment minister. The third change in state cabinet arrived was of Rajib Banerjee who has been given the responsibility of Tribal development ministry.

Cabinet reshuffle in West Bengal Government including Suvendu Adhikary now Irrigation and Transport minister, Somen Mahapatra now Public Health, Engineering and Environment minister and Rajib Banerjee now Tribal development minister

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2019

 

The reshuffle comes in the TMC-led West Bengal government after the Lok Sabha poll results went into the favour of BJP. In West Bengal, the TMC managed to win only 22 seats of 42. On the other hand, BJP won 18 seats. It gained 14 seats as compared to 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Mukul Roy, once considered to be the second-in-command of the Trinamool Congress, is being credited for the stellar show of the BJP in Bengal in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections. He joined BJP in November 2017.

Earlier, in the day, at least two TMC MLAs and one CPM lawmaker and more than 50 councillors from West Bengal joined the BJP at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Suspended TMC MLA Subhrangshu Roy was among MLAs who joined the BJP. It is to be noted that Subhrangshu, the TMC legislator from Bijpur, is the son of BJP leader Mukul Roy. The other MLAs are Tusharkanti Bhattacharjee from the TMC and Devendra Roy from the CPM.

In last few days, the reports emerged that miffed with party performance, Mamata has sent a list to the state secretariat on the possible reshuffle of her cabinet. Reportedly, 8-10 names of ministers are on the list of either losing their portfolios or transferred to less important ministry. Panchayat and Water Resources Development Minister Subroto Mukherjee, Labour minister Moloy Ghatak, Education Minister Parth Chatterjee, Panchayat and Village Development Minister Shymal Santra are among prime individuals who are on the brink of losing their ministry.