Trinamool ministers chant Mamata mantra

Mamata Banerjee has left New Delhi to rule West Bengal but her shadow is likely to remain in the capital’s corridor of power.

Two new Trinamool Congress ministers — Railway minister Dinesh Trivedi and minister of state for health and family welfare Sudip Bandopadhyay — are here to chant only the ‘mamata mantra’ in their workplace.

“I don’t need to think anything new. Mamata Banerjee has given me the Bible in the form of the Vision 2020 for the Railways. If I can implement it properly, my job is done,” Trivedi told HT.

For Bandopadhyay, the most important observation is: “Mamata Banerjee is perhaps the only chief minister now who is also handling the health department. I will try to help her to stop patients rushing to other cities for treatment. After Dilli chalo, it should Kolkata cholo for medical treatment,” Bandopadhyay said.

Trivedi didn’t waste any time and rushed to Fatehpur and Rangia (the two latest accident sites) after she got a missive from her political boss minutes after he took oath on Tuesday.

Bengal on top

Bandopadhyay is yet to meet his senior minister Ghulam Nabi Azad but he is already determined to keep the interest of Bengal on the top of his agenda.

Banerjee was particular during the run-up to the reshuffle that her party retains all the portfolios, including health and railways. She has special interest in health and railways and wants to see a number of projects in Bengal under these two ministries.

Railway officials fear that even after getting a cabinet minister the remote control of the ministry may well stay in Kolkata.