With Bengal at her feet, Mamata kicks the Congress where it hurts most

Mumbai: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is in no mood for a reconciliation with the Congress yet. In what might prove to be another setback to the TMC-Congress relationship, Mamata Banerjee stripped two Congress party ministers of their portfolios, in the first expansion and reshuffle of her cabinet since coming to power. By sidelining Congress and strengthening Trinamool’s presence in the ministry, Mamata intends to send out a tough message to Congress, which is embroiled in a bitter fight with Trinamool. Mamata stripped Congress minister Manoj Chakraborty of his parliamentary affairs portfolio and gave it to two Trinamool ministers. He also lost the portfolio of SMEs and has to be now content with the status of Minister of State for food processing. Chakraborty is now second incharge of the ministry under Ujjwal Biswas of the Trinamool. [caption id=“attachment_184995” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Trinamool Congress MLA Arup Biswas seeks blessings of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after taking oath as a Minister of State during a ceremony at Raj Bhawan in Kolkata. PTI”]  [/caption] Last week, Chakraborty had accused Mamata of not performing the raj dharma, and criticised the government of losing credibility for adopting different yardsticks when it came to two incidents where college principals were beaten up by students. The other Congress minister, Abu Hena, has been stripped of his food processing portfolio, and has been given fisheries instead. Both Chakraborty and Hena hail from Murshidabad district, considered a stronghold of Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury, who has spoken against the Trinamool on many occasions. Chakraborty was furious at the move. “This is completely unwarranted and unacceptable to us. We have been sent to the cabinet by the high authorities of our party, by (Congress chief) Sonia Gandhi and not by any Tom, Dick or Harry. There is too much dictatorship, it is high time we moved out of the alliance,” he said. “I had dared to oppose the government’s move to rename the Indira Bhavan, that’s why I have been meted out this treatment. No matter what I will continue to oppose anything unjust,” Chakrabarty said, adding that he would consult his party leaders before deciding on accepting the ministry offered to him. Speaking on the issue, Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury said, “It is the vindictive politics of Mamata Banerjee. She cannot stand criticism. Both Congress ministers had spoken out against the government.” The two new Trinamool ministers inducted on Monday are Arup Biswas and Chandrima Bhattacharjee. Biswas has been made MoS with independent charge of housing, parliamentary affairs and youth welfare, Bhattacharjee is MoS for health. Ujjal Biswas, who earlier held charge of youth welfare, has been made Minister with Independent Charge for food processing. Sports Minister Madan Mitra has been elevated and made Minister in Charge of sports and transport. Environment minister Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar has been given the additional charge of PWD.