By TCN Staff Reporter,
Kolkata: Regions and religions are well represented in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet even though five seats in the cabinet of Congress quota are yet to be filled. This Friday Mamata took oath as chief minister along with 37 members of the cabinet (35-Trinamool and 2-Congress). Mamata has included in her cabinet the sections and areas that she has been wooing.
As of now the 38-member cabinet (including Mamata) has six Muslim ministers – all cabinet rankers. The shift of the community’s vote from Left to Trinamool Congress-led alliance was instrumental in the massive win of the alliance. They are Firhad Hakim, Javed Ahmed Khan, Abdul Karim Chowdhury, H.A. Safwi and Justice Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury – all from Trinamool – and Abu Hena of Congress.
Besides, her council of ministers will have representation from all areas of the state. In fact, each district has got at least one minister. In her election campaign, Mamata had promised an all-inclusive cabinet.
North 24-Parganas, which has the highest number of Assembly seats, has got seven ministers, more than any other district. The minority concentration district North 24-Parganas is followed by other MCDs is followed by South 24-Parganas and Calcutta – both have got four each.
North Bengal has given Mamata massive result. Her tally of just one in 2006 elections has jumped to 16 seats in 2011. So North Bengal districts Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Malda have got ministers.
Murshidabad has also got a minister as district Trinamool president Subrata Saha has been inducted in the cabinet.
Besides, Jungle Mahal, which gave Mamata seven of the 14 MLAs in the area, has got two ministers.
Jalpaiguri district is expected to be represented by a Congress minister.
One can hope that this will help the districts improve their socio-economic and educational condition besides infrastructural development like road, railways and water system.