Colour, grandeur and humility mark swearing-in ceremony

Kolkata, May 18 (UNI) Even as Team Buddha stood on the stage for a photo session at the end of the ostentatious swearing-in ceremony of the 44-member Left Front ministry in West Bengal, major opposition Trinamool Congress were conspicuous in their absence citing 'political violence.' Dressed in choral design of cream and terracotta, the sprawling 10,000 sq foot area Raj Bhavan lawn was converted into a makeshift arena, where Mr Bhuddhadeb Bhattacharjee and his 43 ministers were sworn-in here today.

While the ministry features 16 new faces, including two women MLAs, it also maintained its core with the senior leaders retaining their portfolios.

Conspicuous by its absence was the entire team of Trinamool Congress legislators. They had given a boycoytt call of the swearing-in ceremony alleging political violence. The party alleged that ever since the verdict was out their workers were being terrorised by the ruling party.

However, this apart there were no signs of any discord as the Left Front presented an united face as ever, with the chandeliers burning bright and a host of dignitaries from across the country making their presence felt.

Prominent among those who were present were Agro-economist M S Swaminathan, Historian Irfan Habib, ITC Chairman Y C Deveshwar, Videocon Chairman V N Dhoot, The Goenkas and other leading industrialists. Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, Olympians P K Banerjee and Chuni Goswami were also present in the function.

While Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee took the oath to the office of secrecy in English, Deblina Hembrom took the oath in Santhali and Manohar Tirkey in Hindi. The rest took their oath in Bengali.

Following the searing-in ceremony Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi requested all the ministers to come on stage for a group photo, following which they went to the Marble Hall of the Raj Bhavan where the Governor had hosted a tea party in the honour of the swearing-in of the 14th Legislative Assembly of the state.

However, as a gesture of goodwill, Mr Gandhi invited the workers who had constructed the majestic dias and arena for a photo shoot with him and Mr Bhattacharjee.

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