Mamata 'accommodates' former Union ministers in state

Kolkata, Oct 6: Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief

created another controversy by placing her party's former Union ministers in the newly set-up chief minister's advisory council in the state. Through this, the former ministers could end up holding offices of profit if they receive any remuneration under the state government for they already enjoy facilities from the Centre.

The Opposition, Left Front, has slammed the government over the latest development, saying it was absolutely illogical to create new posts to accommodate the Mps when the state has been hit by a financial crisis. Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said it sounded ridiculous that an advisory committee has been formed for seven former Union ministers.

"She (Mamata) used to direct them (MPs) all these days. How can they advise her now?" he asked. Mamata Banerjee has set up the new advisory council on social and economic development.

Mishra also said that either the CM does not have much confidence on her ministers in the state or it was an award for the MPs. The former ministers include Mukul Roy, Saugata Roy, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, C M Jatua, Shishir Adhikari, Sultan Ahmed and Dinesh Trivedi. All of them except Trivedi quit their ministerial posts to protest the UPA government's decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail. The TMC pulled out of the government, reducing it into a working minority.

It is learnt that Mukul Roy was given charge of the advisory committee of the transpoert department, Trivedi (tourism), Roy (industri and IT), Adhikari (rural development), Ahmed (minority affairs), Jatua (Sunderbans development) and Bandyopadhyay (urban developmen).

Sources said that the ministers in charge of the abovesaid departments were not sure about the role of the new advisors and some were even not comfortable with the decision.

OneIndia News