WB Chief Secy formally invites Mamata to attend swearing-in

Kolkata, May 19: West Bengal Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh on Wednesday, May 18, personally went to chief minister designate Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence to invite her for Friday's swearing-in ceremony as per convention.

Ghosh met Banerjee at her residence at 8:00 pm and handed over an official invitation letter on behalf of the administration.

Earlier, Ghosh told reporters at the Writers' Building that the state government has not as yet received a list of ministers till the evening. "We expect the list by Thursday, May 19." Special Secretary, Information, Niloy Ghosh said 57 industrialists and representatives of chambers of commerce had been invited to the ceremony at Raj Bhavan.

Director General of Police Naparajit Mukherjee also met Banerjee at her residence and is believed to have discussed law and order and the seizure of the huge quantity of illegal arms in the state after the declaration of results.

Commissioner of Kolkata Police R K Pachnanda had called on Banerjee last night.

The West Bengal government will put up four giant screens at the Sahid Minar grounds, a short distance from Raj Bhawan, for live telecast of the swearing-in ceremony.

Besides the screens at Sahid Minar, to be set up by the information and cultural affairs department, the Trinamool Congress has sought permission for doing the same at the Metro channel at Esplanade, Joint Commissioner of Police (Hqs), Jawed Shamim told reporters.

"The chief minister and ministers will go to Writers' Building after the swearing-in so there will be extensive security arrangements all the way from Raj Bhawan," he said.

PTI