Bengal Assembly reopens Partha Chatterjee’s room sealed since his 2022 arrest

The room of former minister Partha Chatterjee inside the West Bengal Legislative Assembly has been reopened ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the new government. The chamber, located adjacent to the Chief Minister’s room inside the Assembly complex, had remained sealed since July 2022 following Chatterjee’s arrest. Discussions are now underway regarding which minister in the incoming government will be allotted the room.

Preparatory work has intensified across the Assembly premises before the formation of the new government in the state. Renovation and decoration work is being carried out in the Speaker’s chamber, while new lighting arrangements have also been installed inside different sections of the Assembly building. The Chief Minister’s chamber has been reopened and inspected as part of the ongoing administrative preparations.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata on Friday morning and is scheduled to hold a meeting with BJP’s newly elected MLAs and winning candidates later in the day. According to sources, the BJP legislative party leader, who is expected to become the next Chief Minister of West Bengal, may be finalized during the meeting. Shah has also been appointed observer for the legislative party meeting.

At the same time, Lok Bhavan has issued an official notification formally dissolving the 17th West Bengal Legislative Assembly. According to the notification issued by Governor R. N. Ravi’s office, the dissolution came into effect from May 7. Administrative sources stated that the dissolution formally ended the tenure of the previous government ahead of the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to take place on Saturday at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.