Two new faces join Mamata ministry

KOLKATA: Two new faces were inducted into the 31-month-old Mamata Banerjee ministry and a minister of state was given independent charge in a reshuffle today.

Shashi Panja, MLA of Shyampukur in north Kolkata was inducted into the council of ministers.

Panja is a physician-turned-politician and is the daughter-in-law of former party leader and union minister Ajit Panja.

Binay Burman, the MLA of Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar district replaced Hiten Burman as the forest minister.

According to the TMC website Hiten Burman, the Sitalkuchi MLA had tendered his resignation as minister to Banerjee citing health issues and illness.

Swapan Debnath, minister of state for micro and small-scale enterprises and textiles, was given independent charge. Debnath is the party legislator from Burdwan district.

With today's reshuffle the number of Bengal ministers including the Chief Minister is now 44.

Banerjee had reviewed the performance of all departments and pulled up non-performing ministers and bureaucrats at a meeting here on December 20.

She had last reshuffled the cabinet in November, 2012 and included eight new ministers, including two who had quit Congress and joined TMC.

Governor M K Narayanan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the two new ministers in Raj Bhavan in the presence of the chief minister and members of her cabinet.