Swap deal: Subrata Bakshi is Trinamool’s man for Lok Sabha seat held by Mamata

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced the name of Subrata Bakshi as the candidate for the Kolkata South parliamentary constituency which she vacated after she won Bhawanipore Assembly seat. ,Bakshi,who is currently minister for PWD and transport in her cabinet,had earlier held the Bhawanipore seat and had vacated it for the chief minister to contest.

“Bakshi is a dedicated party worker and I am glad to announce his name as candidate for this seat. I hope all of you will endorse this decision,’’ Banerjee said while winding her speech after she was anointed as the chief of Trinamool Congress at the special session of the party in Kolkata today.

Bakshi’s nomination puts an end to all speculation surrounding the Trinamool’s candidate for the seat. At one time Kolkata Mayor Shovan Chatterjee’s name did the rounds.

With Bakshi on his way out from Writers’ Buildings,focus now shifts to who will get the two coveted portfolios. According to sources,the chief minister who is constantly making assessment of the performance of her ministers may use this opportunity to effect a re-shuffle of her council of ministers. Incidentally,the name of Subrata Mukherjee,minister for public health engineering,has surfaced as one of the probables for PWD.