Bengal to have record representation in Union Cabinet

KOLKATA: West Bengal will have a record representation in the Union Council of ministers this time. Apart from Ms Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress is likely to have 6 more and Congress three, totalling 10 ministers from the state.

In 32 years of Marxist rule, the highest representation from the state was 3 in 1991, during Narsimha Rao���s government. The state then had Pranab Mukherjee, Mamata Banerjee and Debi Pal.

Different Congress leaders from the state had at various times become ministers in the Union government like Ghani Khan Choudhary, Pranab Mukherjee, Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, Ajit Panja and Ashok Sen. Indrajit Gupta, became the first communist to become a minister when he was sworn in home minister in Deve Gowda���s Cabinet.

This time, Pranab Mukherjee and Mamata Banerjee are all set to get finance and railways. Five more Trinamool MPs are already known to be in the reckoning for ministers of state. Speculation is that a sixth, C M Jatua, may also make it. From the Congress side, apart from Mr Mukherjee, at least two more, Ms Mausam Benazir Noor and Dipa Das Munshi, are slated to be inducted.

For West Bengal, this is of immense significance, not only in terms of bolstering of Opposition forces in the state but also for development of the state in case the selected ministers are given relevant portfolios.
Obviously, with the state elections due in 2011, the Trinamool Congress-Congress combine will try its level best to bring about changes across the state in terms of actual development. In case they do so, it will also help the Left Front government to finish some pending projects.

With Ms Banerjee���s second innings as railway minister, West Bengal can expect more railway projects in her budget. This will also help Mamata to bolster her votebank, something which she needs to do if she has set her mind on Writers��� Buildings. With her in the railways, and her gangmen in various ministries of state, the lady from Trinamool will be very well equipped to make life difficult for the Left Front government.

Although the portfolios have not yet been announced, information Trinamool sources say Sultan Ahmed may get independent charge of minority affairs department as minister of state. This, if it happens, will also be of great significance to the state.

���I know the problems of the minority population in West Bengal and I will try my best to improve their conditions not only in West Bengal, but also the entire country,��� Mr Ahmed told ET from Delhi over telephone.

Predominant minorities in West Bengal have this time largely voted against CPM. Having Mr Ahmed strategically in that department will undoubtedly increase Mamata���s chances of retaining the huge minority vote base till assembly elections. If he works hard in the coming years, it will be very difficult for CPM to win back the minority vote.
Mr Ahmed has been elected from Uluberia. He was twice elected to the state assembly, in 1987 and 1996. He was also elected to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation in 1985.