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In a major Cabinet reshuffle here in West Bengal, Partha Chatterjee lost the Industry Ministry portfolio.
Chatterjee will be replaced by Amit Mitra, incumbent Finance Minister.
Chatterjee will, however, continue to hold Information and Technology (IT) and Parliamentary Affairs portfolios.
Rumours of Amit Mitra being the new Commerce and Industry Minister had been doing the rounds for sometime in political circles.
Mitra’s proximity to industry captains during his stint as FICCI Secretary-General, and Chatterjee’s failure to draw in big ticket investments into the State are being touted as reasons for the change.
During a recent review meeting of all the Ministers and senior bureaucrats, the Chief Minister, Mamata Banejree is said to have expressed her displeasure over the performance of the Commerce and Industry department of the State.
New Faces
This apart, two new faces were inducted into the 31-month-old Mamata Banerjee ministry. 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 the daughter-in-law of former Union Minister Ajit Panja.
Vinay Burman, the MLA of Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar district replaced Hiten Burman as the new 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 (MSME) and textiles, was given independent charge. Debnath is the legislator from Burdwan district.
With today’s reshuffle the number of Bengal ministers including the Chief Minister is now 44.
The last Cabinet reshuffle was carried out in November 2012 that saw eight new faces being inducted. Among the eight, there were two who had quit the Congress to join Trinamool Congress.
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