West Bengal to get 7 new districts, cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday: Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that the state would get seven new districts.With the addition of new districts in the state, the total count will rise to 30.

Rubbishing reports about the possible dissolution of state cabinet, the CM said that a reshuffle is on the cards, with four to five new faces expected to get inducted in the council of ministers.

Banerjee also said that several departments were currently functioning without any dedicated minister, and it wasn't possible for her to shoulder responsibilities of these alone.

"We have to reshuffle our cabinet. But, I do not have any plan to dissolve the cabinet and come up with a new one. There are several departments which has no one at the helm. I alone cannot shoulder the responsibilities of all these departments," Banerjee said."We will introduce four to five new faces in the cabinet. The reshuffle will be carried out on Wednesday," the chief minister added.

"Earlier there were 23 districts in Bengal, now it has been increased to 30. The seven new districts include Sunderban, Ichhamati, Ranaghat, Bishnupur, Jangipur, Behrampur, and one more district will be named in Basirhat", she said.

Departments of panchayat, public health engineering, consumer affairs & self help group are currently looked after by Banerjee.

After Partha Chatterjee was relieved of his ministerial duties, following his recent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the school job scam, portfolios held by him - industries and parliamentary affairs - were also taken over by the TMC boss.