WB Cong chief may get Union Cabinet berth

West Bengal Pradesh Congress President Pradip Bhattacharya is likely to get a berth in the Union Cabinet. This was revealed by a reliable source in Pradesh Congress on Tuesday. At present West Bengal Congress has no one to represent in the Union Cabinet while Trinamool Congress (TMC) has half a dozen ministers in it. Earlier, Pranab Mukherjee was representing West Bengal Congress in Cabinet.

The source indicated that Bhattacharya is likely to get Cabinet rank while one more Congress MP will also get a berth as a Minister of State in Union Cabinet. The names doing the rounds are heavyweights Adhir Chowdhury of Murshidabad and former Union minister Gani Khan’s brother, Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury (Dalu) of Malda.

Names of these two MPs are being considered to consolidate Congress base in these two districts, which have been Congress stronghold for decades.

On the other hand, TMC has been trying to gain as much as possible before ensuing Panchayat elections, leaving the PCC leaders anxious.

If included in Union Cabinet, Bhattacharya would have to vacate the post of PCC President. Reportedly, Abdul Mannan, a Congress veteran, will replace him. Mannan’s name was considered for Rajya Sabha in the last elections, but had to be taken back as TMC didn’t spare a seat for its electoral partner.