Mamata Banerjee Finally Takes Oath As Mla

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday took oath as member of the state Legislative Assembly to officially enter the House nearly two months after winning a by-poll.

Speaker Biman Banerjee administered the oath of office and secrecy to Banerjee at the Nausher Ali hall where deputy Speaker Sonali Guha, besides some cabinet ministers, Leader of Opposition Suryakanta Mishra, some Left Front members and Union minister of state for urban development Saugata Roy were present.

Along with Banerjee, Trinamool Congress' A T M Abdullah, who was elected to the House from Basirhat (North) constituency, also took oath as member of the Assembly.

Mishra congratulated Banerjee after her swearing-in and presented her a bouquet which she reciprocated.

The chief minister was also congratulated by Front members including Anisur Rehman and Probodh Sinha who presented bouquets.

It was Mamata Banerjee's official entry into the House after she humbled CPI(M)'s Nandini Mukherjee by over 54,000 votes in the by-election from Bhowanipore constituency on September 28.

The seat fell vacant after Subrata Bakshi, transport minister, resigned to pave the way for Banerjee to contest the election.

Banerjee also nominated Bakshi to contest from Kolkata south Lok Sabha constituency after her resignation from the seat with her election from Bhowanipore Assembly seat.