West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee did a balancing act in nominating the mayors and key functionaries of Asansol and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporations.
While the most important contender was appointed the mayor, Ms Banerjee did not shy away from giving key portfolios to the others contenders.
After a meeting of all elected councillors, Ms Banerjee on Tuesday announced Rajarhat MLA Sabyasachi Dutta as the Mayor of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation which comprises of Salt Late in the north-eastern parts of the city and Rajarhat-Newtown in eastern part of the metropolis.
Another contender for the post, Krishna Chakraborty, former chairman of Bidhannagar Municipality, was nominated the chairman of the newly set up municipal corporation.
Tapas Chaterjee, a former heavyweight leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who joined the TMC before the civic polls, was nominated deputy mayor of the municipal corporation.
Keeping in mind the majority of non-Bengali electorate at Asansol, Ms Banerjee announced Jitendra Tewari as the mayor of the civic body in Bardhaman district.
Another woman and a minority candidate Tabassum Ara was nominated the deputy mayor while Amar Chaterjee was nominated the chairman of Asansol Municipal Corporation.
The Trinamool Congress had lost the Asansol Lok Sabha seat in 2014 to the BJP and the selection of mayor and other key portfolios have been keeping in mind the upcoming Assembly polls in 2016.
Though the ruling party had swept the polls in Bidhannagar and Asansol Municipal Corporation held on October 3, allegations of violence and malpractices were made by the Opposition. The ruling party had won 37 of the 41 wards in Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation and 74 of the 106 wards in Asansol Municipal Corporation.
At the event during the day, an Independent councillor elected from Ward number 83 of Asansol Municipal Corporation joined the ruling party in presence of Ms Banerjee.
Tapas Chaterjee, former CPI (M) leader who joined the TMC before the civic polls, nominated Bidhanngara deputy mayor
