KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee's cabinet promises to be a unique mix of carrer politicians and first-timers, where experts and former bureaucrats will have a crucial role to play.
Along with political veterans like Subrata Mukherjee, there are three former IPS officers of DGP and ADG level ^ Rachpal Singh, H A Safwi and Upen Biswas ^ along with Manish Gupta, who retired as chief secretary. Former Ficci secretary-general Amit Mitra, the new finance minister, was among the first two to get their portfolios. Then there is theatre personality Bratya Basu. Together, they bring a wealth of administrative and creative experience.
It's rare to find so many `outsiders' in any cabinet, rarer still for so many of them to be given the most important portfolios. Mamata has bigger plans of involving experts from various fields as advisors. Some of them may even be made ministers if her plan for a Vidhan Parishad comes true. Former IPS officer Sultan Singh, for example, has not been made a minister but Mamata could use his experience in the several committees she proposes to set up to sort out critical issues.
Mamata has already put Mitra to work. "I have asked him to find out if there are sufficient funds to pay salary," the chief minister said on Friday.
The inclusion of former top cops like Rachpal Singh, Upen Biswas and H A Safwi is a masterstroke as they know the administration like the back of their hands. They will prove invaluable in the administrative reforms that Mamata is so passionate about.
toi
Along with political veterans like Subrata Mukherjee, there are three former IPS officers of DGP and ADG level ^ Rachpal Singh, H A Safwi and Upen Biswas ^ along with Manish Gupta, who retired as chief secretary. Former Ficci secretary-general Amit Mitra, the new finance minister, was among the first two to get their portfolios. Then there is theatre personality Bratya Basu. Together, they bring a wealth of administrative and creative experience.
It's rare to find so many `outsiders' in any cabinet, rarer still for so many of them to be given the most important portfolios. Mamata has bigger plans of involving experts from various fields as advisors. Some of them may even be made ministers if her plan for a Vidhan Parishad comes true. Former IPS officer Sultan Singh, for example, has not been made a minister but Mamata could use his experience in the several committees she proposes to set up to sort out critical issues.
Mamata has already put Mitra to work. "I have asked him to find out if there are sufficient funds to pay salary," the chief minister said on Friday.
The inclusion of former top cops like Rachpal Singh, Upen Biswas and H A Safwi is a masterstroke as they know the administration like the back of their hands. They will prove invaluable in the administrative reforms that Mamata is so passionate about.
toi
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