Mamata distributes portfolios to Cabinet colleagues
Bengal CM announces free vaccine to all in state
Kolkata, May 10 (UNI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday distributed the portfolios of her 44-member Cabinet, keeping Home, Hill Affairs, Personnel and Administration, Health and Family Affairs, Land and Land Reform, Refugee and Rehabilitation, Information and Cultural Affairs and North Bengal Development.
Earlier in the day, 42 legislators and Amit Mitra, who did not contest the poll, took oath, which was administered by Governor Jagdeep Dhankar at Raj Bhawan at a brief and simple ceremony under Covid protocol.
“Those who did not get a place in the cabinet will be placed at the head of the committee,” said Banerjee.
TMC MLA Tapas Roy is the Deputy Chief Whip of the Legislative Assembly. and Ashish Banerjee is the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Party senior leader Biman Banerjee was already elected as the Speaker.
Banerjee, who had declared that fighting Covid -19 is her top priority, today announced “free vaccine to everyone in the state”.
“I will give 10 million vaccines to private hospitals,” she said, adding, “I will vaccinate everyone in the state free of cost.”
Banerjee said strict rules to be followed like virtual lockdown. “We need strict rules like lockdown, not lockdown at all,” the chief minister said.
“GST should not be taken when it comes to building infrastructure. If 75% of the vaccines go out of the country, they will have to be brought from other countries. The Centre will decide where the vaccine will be brought from. This requires a clear policy,” opined Banerjee.
She also appealed for financial help at this time of crisis to rescue the common people in the time of pandemic. “This year’s poll is the mandate for development, harmony, brotherhood,” she added.
