New West Bengal Government

High speculation over inclusion in Mamata ministry

High speculations started among local Trinamul Congress leaders and supporters over inclusion of new MLAs from Cooch Behar district in the new Congress-Trinamul Congress alliance led cabinet of ministers. Not only the Trinamul men, others also have engaged in hot discussion over the issue at offices, road crossings, tea joints and other places. After the declaration of the poll result it is the main topic of discussion among almost all people.

In the election, four Trinamul Congress candidates and one Congress candidate came out with flying colours. Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh is one of them. He is the president of the party's Cooch Behar district unit since formation of the party. He contested from Natabari segment for four times and this time became successful. He defeated his main rival, the CPI-M's Mr Tamser Ali. The outgoing MLA Mr Ali won from the segment for two times. Mr Ghosh is known as a staunch follower of Miss Mamata Banerjee. Miss Banerjee also took part in electioneering in favour of him. Now, it is expected that he may get into the ministry as a reward for his long-time dedication.

Mr Arghya Ray Pradhan won from Tufanganj segment. Earlier, in the Lok Sabha election he contested from Cooch Behar constituency. He is personally closed to the party supremo though once he was a leftist. His father Mr Amar Ray Pradhan was the Cooch Behar MP for eight times as a Forward Bloc man. The 'wind of change' helped him to win form Tufanganj that was once a left stronghold. Local political observers believe that he may get a chair in the cabinet as a gift from her beloved 'pishi'.

Mr Binay Krishna Barman enjoys support from all lobbies of the party and won from Mathabhanga by defeating a heavyweight CPI-M leader Mr Ananta Ray. Mr Ray is the forest minister of the outgoing Left Front government. Trinamul activists of Mathabhanga want Mr Barman as a minister.

Mr Hiten Barman won from Sitalkuchi. He was the Cooch Behar MP as a Forward Bloc man. In 2009, his party denied him of nomination in the Lok Sabha election. Later, he joined Trinamul Congress and turned a vice-president. As Cooch Behar was known as a left citadel for a long and the Forward Bloc is the lone leftist party that won four seats from this district, the Trinamul supremo may consider his name during formation of the ministry. She may do it to get the confidence of the grassroot-level FB supporters who are always known as anti-CPI-M.