Mamata Banerjee's cabinet meeting postponed, ministers to campaign in the district

The announcement of the Bengal Panchayat elections has set off a flurry of political activities in the state, with various parties finalizing their nominations and gearing up for the electoral battle.

While the process of withdrawal of nominations is currently underway after a round of scrutiny, campaigning has already commenced across the state, creating a busy atmosphere. In light of these developments, the scheduled cabinet meeting, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, at Nabanna on Monday at 3 pm has been postponed until further notice, according to a notification issued by the Chief Secretary, Harikrishna Dwivedi.

Unnamed sources suggest that the date for the next cabinet meeting will be determined after assessing the availability of time and opportunity. However, a section of administrative circles speculates that the ruling party, Trinamool, is preoccupied with the upcoming Panchayat elections, leading to the postponement of the cabinet meeting.

The Panchayat elections in West Bengal are slated for July 8, with the vote count scheduled for July 11. The campaign period for the Panchayat elections concludes on July 6, compelling most ministers of the state government to engage in campaign activities in their respective districts.

It is worth noting that approximately 30 members of the state cabinet are elected from rural areas, thus necessitating their involvement in campaigning for the Panchayat elections. Consequently, state administration officials believe that the cabinet meeting has been deferred due to these commitments.

Political circles perceive the Panchayat elections as a crucial test for Trinamool before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The ruling party aims to exert its full strength in this election and, accordingly, the top leadership of Trinamool has directed not only the party's senior leaders but also all members of the state cabinet to actively participate in the campaign. Once the campaign period for the Panchayat elections concludes, the cabinet meeting can be rescheduled.

Informed sources indicate that several significant decisions were slated for discussion in the state cabinet meeting, the announcement of which could potentially draw accusations of violating the election code of conduct from opposition parties. To avoid any such controversies during the state's Panchayat elections, the government has opted to postpone the meeting. The state government plans to announce the approval of these decisions in the cabinet meeting after finalizing the model code of conduct for the elections.

During a meeting of the Trinamool election committee in Kalighat on Saturday, it was decided that 50 top leaders of the party would embark on a campaign in the districts for the next 20-25 days. Each participant is expected to undertake a minimum of 40 campaigns. Among the campaign participants are 50 leaders and ministers. Consequently, their active involvement in the ongoing campaign makes it impossible for them to attend the cabinet meeting.