Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was sworn in as the first woman Chief Minister of West Bengal here on Friday.
Governor M.K. Narayanan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Ms. Banerjee and 37 Ministers of the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance government, which assumed power after more than 34 years of Left Front rule. The Cabinet includes four Ministers of State.
Attired in a white cotton saree with blue border, Ms. Banerjee took the oath in Bengali.
The swearing-in was held under a sprawling green-and-white shamiana in the Raj Bhavan compounds at 1.01 p.m. Hundreds waited outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the new Chief Minister.
Among the more than 3,000 invitees present were the outgoing Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Left Front Committee chairman Biman Bose and the former Finance Minister, Asim Dasgupta.
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A.K. Antony also attended the function.
Personalities from different walks of life were also present. They belonged to the worlds of industry, culture and sports — to name a few.
Long walk
Later, in an unprecedented move, Ms. Banerjee walked the distance of about half-a-km to the Writers' Buildings, the State Secretariat, even as her security staff had a trying time controlling the thousands of admirers surging towards her.
By the time she reached the Secretariat, the road in front of it had turned into a sea of humanity, with people breaking through the police cordons in a massive display of outpouring of emotions.
Even the corridor on the first floor of the Writers' Buildings — where entry otherwise is restricted — was overrun by enthusiastic State employees and others, leaving Ms. Banerjee no option but to enter the Chief Minister's chamber through the adjoining conference hall. Police reinforcements were brought in to restore order.
Later, she stepped onto one of the balconies and waved at the milling crowds outside.
Cabinet meeting
In the afternoon, before leaving the Raj Bhavan, Ms. Banerjee held a meeting with the Governor.
Her new Cabinet met for the first time in the evening.
Keywords: Mamata swearing-in, Trinamool Congress, Left Front, CPI(M), Writers' Building
I have been in Calcutta for 7/8 years.I have seen that the capability of those talented people had no opportunities.Now with turn of the politics of the WB, I hope Calcutta will restore the glory of the Britishers' time.Till today,I miss such a beautiful place with literary flavor in life, enjoyable frequent cool evening showers,exotic flowers and fruits..........and sweet sound of ringing bells of Rikshaw pullers........nowhere I have found elsewhere.Hand pulled Rishaws is the symbol of Calcutta and I wish new Govt.must do something to improve their life.There is no alternative way of transport except Hand Rikshaws to cross those criss crosing small lane especially with knee deep water.Let not that trade die.Improve that.
The new government formed by TMC will be the challenging one for the newly and first time cheif minister of West Bengal Ms Mamata Banerjee. No doubt she is a people's leader but to satisfy every individual is a difficult task.
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