CPM turncoat, former cricketer Shukla tipped to be ministers in new Mamata cabinet

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's new cabinet is likely to have some new faces, TMC sources said on Friday. Eight ministers of the outgoing cabinet have lost the Assembly election this time. "There will be new faces as the eight ministers who lost will be replaced. A few new and young faces may be included in the cabinet which will be a mix of both youth and experienced MLAs," a senior TMC leader said on condition of anonymity.

According to the TMC leader, among those who might find a place in the cabinet are MLA from Nandigram Suvendu Adhikari and MLA from Bhangore Abdur Rezzak Mollah who switched over from CPM. Siddiqullah Chowdhury may also find a berth. Former Indian cricketer Laxmi Ratan Shukla may also be considered as MOS. The eight ministers who lost are Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Manish Gupta, Sankar Chakraborty, Sabitri Mitra, Abdul Karim Chowdhury, Shyamapada Mukherjee and Upendranath Biswas. According to the source, the portfolios of ministers in the outgoing cabinet may see a reshuffle.