Many have failed to fathom why Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee was stripped of the responsibility of government spokesperson after his outburst against Governor M K Narayanan following the latter’s remark of “goondaism going on” in the wake of violence in Bhangar carried out allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers. Mukherjee had dared the governor to sack the government and warned him saying he has been shown “yellow card”. People in the knowhow say that Mukherjee could not have uttered the words without the mandate of Chief Minister and party chief Mamata Banerjee. So what happened that evening when Mukherjee was made to shut up. Did Mukherjee overstepped his brief? Or was it an eyewash to send a message to the governor that the man who made the disparaging remarks against him has been censured?
... & Exit of Information Director
In the recent bureaucratic reshuffle, one transfer that rattled all at the Writers’ was that of Umapada Chatterjee, Director Information, under Department of Information and Culture. A most affable, industrious officer who used to work late even on Saturdays, Chatterjee was not only removed from his post, he was also sent for compulsory waiting — something which is not regarded a good thing in a bureaucrat’s career. He was a favourite not only in his department but reportedly with the chief minister too. Everybody began to wonder what did he do to invite the ire of the CM.
