WB: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee natural choice as CM

Kolkata, May 12: The ruling coalition partners in West Bengal were today unanimous that Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was the natural choice as Chief Minister of its seventh successive government and decided to finalise the names of ministers by May 14.

A front meeting held a day after the election results were out, unanimously accepted the proposal for retaining Mr.Bhattacharjee as the Chief Minister for another term.

Front chairman Biman Basu said the names of those to be inducted in the ministry would be decided in separate bilateral meetings among the Front partners on Sunday. The process would be followed by the oath taking of the newly elected legislators early next week after the Election Commission issues a notification in this regard.

''Under the statutory provision the EC issues the notification within seven days after announcement of the election results. We are expecting in the next few days,'' he said.

Before the swearing-in ceremony, the chief minister, however, would talk to the governor and go through certain administrative measures for election of a protem speaker, who will administer the oath of office to the newly elected members, Mr Basu said.

Replying to a question he denied that today's meeting had discussed any name of a possible minister.

He said following the oath taking ceremony, all the Left MLAs would be called in a meeting to decide the leader of the legislature party. Mr Basu said the Left Front had secured 50.24 per cent vote in the assembly election which was third highest since the coalition government was formed in 1977.

The highest percentage of vote the Front secured was 52.96 per cent in 1982 when it cornered 252 out of then 296 assembly seats.

UNI