Mamata divests Partha Chatterjee of key Commerce, Industry portfolio

Chatterjee, a trusted lieutenant of the Banerjee, has played an important role in shaping up TMC's policies.  In a bid to speed up development work ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Banerjee reallotted portfolios and inducted two new faces in the reshuffle of the 31-month-old ministry, which also saw a minister of state getting independent charge.  

The new faces are Shashi Panja, daughter-in-law of former party leader and Union minister Ajit Panja, and Binay Burman.  Panja is MLA from Shyampukur in north Kolkata, while Burman represensts Mathabhanga Assembly seat in Cooch Behar district.

Burman replaced Hiten Burman as the Forest Minister, who had resigned citing health grounds.  Swapan Debnath, Minister of State for Micro and Small-scale Enterprises and Textiles, was given independent charge. Debnath is the party legislator from Burdwan district.  

With today's reshuffle, the strength of the ministers, including the Chief Minister, has gone up to 44.  Governor M K Narayanan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the two new ministers in Raj Bhavan in the presence of the Chief Minister and members of her Cabinet.