The Trinamool Congress, the second largest partner in the Congress led-United Progressive Alliance government, is happy with the Cabinet reshuffle as the party has managed to retain the railways ministry.
“We are happy with the Cabinet reshuffle because we wanted to keep the railways ministry with us. And we have managed to do so,” Trinamool Congress MP and minister of state for tourism Sultan Ahmed told IANS over the phone. The Trinamool Congress, with 19 MPs, is the second largest partner of United Progressive Alliance.
The Trinamool Congress earlier had one Cabinet rank minister and six ministers of state. Dinesh Trivedi has been named Union railways minister, getting the portfolio which was earlier held by Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee resigned from the post before taking over as chief minister of West Bengal. Trinamool leader and MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay has been named minister of state for health and family welfare, the portfolio earlier held by Trivedi.
“We earlier had six ministers of state. Now after the reshuffle we will also have six ministers of state,” said Ahmed. When asked whether the Trinamool Congress expected more berths after the party’s magnificent performance in the just concluded West Bengal Assembly polls, where it decimated the mighty Left Front after 34 years, Trinamool Congress MP Somen Mitra said: “Mamata Banerjee never bargains for ministries. She doesn’t like it. She had a conversation with the prime minister and the reshuffle is taking place accordingly.”