Most ministers may choose themselves

Kolkata: The unexpected loss of eight Trinamool ministers has triggered speculation over formation of the next cabinet. The winners are now unsure of who will stand alongside Mamata Banerjee in Red Road on May 17 when she is sworn in, by Governor Keshrinath Tripathy, for her second term as the chief minister.
Given the perform-or-perish mantra, the chief minister had, much before the polls, indicated that East Midnapore satrap Subhendu Adhikari will find an important place in her cabinet.She had similarly indicated the same about senior minority leaders - and lateral inductees in her party - Abdur Rezzak Mollah and Siddiqulla Chowdhury.
Trinamool's spectacular performance in north Bengal where it halted the much-anticipated alliance juggernaut has put several names from Alipurduar and Cooch Behar in contention as well, feel party insiders.
"It is too early to speak on this. In Trinamool Congress, such decisions are always taken by the party chairperson. She is aware of the ground realities - and the implications. She will decide soon," a party leader said.
Mamata has already convened a meeting of her newly-elected legislators at her Kalighat home on Friday. On Saturday, she is expected to go to Raj Bhavan to formally stake her claim to form the government. A week later, on May 27, Friday, the swearing-in ceremony will be held in public at Red Road.
There is also a buzz in the party circles on state irrigation minister Rajeev Banerjee's spectacular win in Howrah's Domjur and also first-timer Vaishali Dalmiya and Mohua Maitra's win from Bally and Karimpur respectively.
First-timer Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who has defeated BJP's Roopa Ganguly, may also join the ranks. Singer Indraneil Sen - a favourite of the chief minister - may also be in contention after winning from Chandannagore. While the word is out that Mamata is likely to reward some of these first-timers, it is unlikely she may find place to accommodate all.
Trinamool, however, is finding it hard to come to terms with power minister Manish Gupta's loss in Jadavpur and state law minister Chandrima Bhattacharya's loss in Dum Dum. It is also being alleged by some quarters that a section within the party had played foul leading to these losses. The party high command has already launched a probe. The loss is much more for Mamata, since both Gupta and Chandrima had been ably steering their ministries.