Mamata to take oath as CM on May 5

Kolkata:  The new Chief Minister of West Bengal will take oath on May 5 while the newly elected MLAs will take oath the following day, the T...

Kolkata:  The new Chief Minister of West Bengal will take oath on May 5 while the newly elected MLAs will take oath the following day, the TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said on Monday following the Trinamool Congress' legislature party meeting led by Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee.

“It has been decided in the meeting that the oath taking ceremony of the CM is likely to take place on May 5. The next day, the newly elected MLAs will take oath with Subrata Mukherjee as pro-tem speaker on May 6. Later we will propose the name of Biman Banerjee, our former Speaker as the new Speaker of the assembly,” Chatterjee said.  

Asked about Mamata Banerjee’s defeat in Nandigram, Chatterjee said, “The matter is still pending before the Election Commission. However, Mamata Banerjee will become Chief Minister.”

Asked about the strength of the cabinet and the ministers, Partha Chatterjee said, “It will be decided by Mamata Banerjee later.” “We have been told by Mamata Banerjee to work responsible, listen to the grievance of the people, and work for the people in this Covid situation,” he added.  

Mamata Banerjee has said that Covid 19 is her priority now. "Let us fight the Covid battle and after the pandemic gets over, we will celebrate our victory. We have to handle the Covid situation strongly and chalk out the strategy for that with my party’s newly elected MLAs,” the West Bengal CM said, while speaking to the media at her Kalighat residence on Monday.

She thanked Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, actor turned politician Rajinikanth, Bhupinder Hooda, Captain Amarinder Singh, the Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and the Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik for calling to congratulate her. She also said that the PM did not call her after the TMC’s victory in Bengal. 

Banerjee urged the Centre to approve and implement universal vaccination by spending Rs 30,000 crore. “The universal vaccination will help the country, providing free vaccines for all.  We have sought 3 crore vaccine from the Centre, out of which 1 crore will be given to the private sector,” she said.

Banerjee met the governor in the evening to discuss the oath taking ceremony. “We will not celebrate now and the oath taking ceremony will be a very low-key affair,” she said.

Speaking about Nandigram, Banerjee also alleged that she received a message from the returning officer in Nandigram, saying his life was under threat and the EC didn't allow recounting. “We will move the court on this issue. Anyone can demand recounting,” she said, adding that “there were two observers in Nandigram, who tried to prevent my victory. It is sheer use of muscle power.”

“The BJP has received around 75 seats but it is Election Commission’s contribution. They should not got more than 50 seats,” the TMC Supremo alleged.

Refuting the reports of violence, she said, “The BJP is showing old pictures. They have earlier done so, spreading old photographs of riots. I don’t like any violence but we have suffered atrocities by the BJP, CAPF and EC.”

“Bengal is a land of peace. I know the BJP and the central forces have tortured people. But they should not retaliate and instead maintain peace, staying away from violence. If there are any complaints, please inform the police,” she urged party workers.