One-third new faces in Left Front Ministry

Kolkata, May 17 (UNI) Infusing fresh blood for a new look 'team Buddha', the ruling Left Front today announced the names of 44 Ministers, one-third of them new faces, for its seventh successive Government in West Bengal.

Headed by Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the Ministers, including 33 of cabinet rank, will be sworn-in tomorrow.

A meeting of the Left Front Committee, held at the CPI(M) State headquarters, inducted 15 freshers in the new Ministry and dropped as many as 14 who were members of the previous Ministry. The Ministry will have three women--one of Cabinet rank and two ministers of state.

Briefing reporters, Front Committee Chairman Biman Basu said the meeting had selected Mr. Hashim Abdul Halim as Speaker and Mr.

Bhakti Bhushan Ghosh as his Deputy while Mr. Syed Mohammad Mohsin had been named as the Chief Whip of the Left Front.

Later all the legislators of the Left Front at a separate meeting unanimously elected Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee as the Legislature Party leader clearing the decks for his coronation as the Chief Minister.

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