With the exit of six Trinamool Congress ministers from the UPA cabinet, the Bengal unit of the Congress party has asked the Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to consider nominating at least three ministers, including one with a “suitable” cabinet berth, from state unit of the party.
In a letter sent to Sonia Gandhi, a copt of which has been forwarded to Manmohan Singh, the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee has stated that at present there is no representation from Bengal after former Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee moved to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
“The question of proportionate and adequate representation from the state is engaging the attention of the people. Of the 42 Lok Sabha and 16 Rajya Sabha members from the state, we have only six members supporting the UPA government. These six members belonging to the Congress party represent the state at the centre,” states the letter signed by Omprakash Mishra, general secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee and member of AICC.
“West Bengal being the third largest state, deserves political and ministerial representation in a proportionate way. Moreover, the withdrawal of Trinamool Congress presents a wonderful opportunity for the revival and rejuvenation of our party. Proportionate and adequate representation of the Congress MPs from the state in the union council of ministers would be a moral booster for the party and help generate political support in the state for reform measures,” the letter read.
Significantly, there are talks of imminent reshuffle in the state unit following the reshuffle in the Manmohan Singh’s cabinet. Rumours have it that of the six MPs from the state, two will bag ministerial berths in Delhi with the name of Pradip Bhattacharya topping the list.
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