Mamata Banerjee to be sworn-in as West Bengal CM for third term today

Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee will be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the third term in a low-key ceremony on Wednesday (May 5). According to a government official, invitations for the programme have been sent to her predecessor Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, leader of Opposition of the outgoing House Abdul Mannan and CPI(M) veteran leader Biman Bose.

Chief ministers of other states and leaders of other political parties have not been invited for the programme keeping in mind the current COVID-19 situation in the country, he said.

"It has been decided to keep the oath-taking ceremony of Mamata Banerjee a very simple one because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Banerjee will be the only leader who will be taking oath tomorrow. The programme will be a very brief one," he said.

Soon after taking the oath, Banerjee is expected go to the state secretariat 'Nabanna' where she will be given 'guard of honour' by the Kolkata Police. 

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, poll strategist Prashant Kishor and party leader Firhad Hakim are likely to be present at the ceremony scheduled to be held at the Raj Bhavan at around 10.45 am on May 5, TMC sources said. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has also been invited for the ceremony, the official said.

(With agency inputs)