Thaindian News

Kolkata, May 20 (IANS) There was an air of optimism among celebrities and intellectuals here as Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee took charge as the first woman chief minister of West Bengal.

“During the Singur and Nandigram movements, Mamata Banerjee was with the civil society. She supported the movements. So we all have got together here to support her,” said theatre actor and director Bivash Chakraborty who attended Banerjee’s oath-taking ceremony at Raj Bhavan.

Renowned painter Suvaprasanna said: “Jubilation of the people on Banerjee becoming the chief minister was very very spontaneous. People have huge expectations from her. It is like entering a new battle after winning an old battle.”

He expected that restoring law and order and solving the Maoist problem will be the top most priority of the new government.

Eminent writer and poet Sunil Gangopadhyay said this was the first time he saw so much of a crowd at Raj Bhavan.

“We are a democracy. Many people wanted the change and the change has happened. I hope that the new government will build a new Bengal,” he added.

For actor Prasenjit Chatterjee it was a “historic day”.

“This is a historic day… historic day for the people of Bengal. So many people have gathered at Raj Bhavan and the road between Raj Bhavan and Writers’ Buildings because of the charisma of Mamata Banerjee. It is like magic,” he noted.

Chatterjee hoped that development of Bengal’s film industry would be one of the priorities of the new government.

National award winning Bengali film director Gautam Ghosh said: “I saw tremendous enthusiasm inside Raj Bhavan despite the heat. The last time I visited Raj Bhavan was in 1996. But today it was something new and very special.”

“I am feeling very happy because I was present at Raj Bhavan when Mamata Banerjee took the oath,” said renowned magician P.C. Sorcar.

“We are feeling very happy. We wanted Didi to become chief minister. She has become the first woman chief minister of West Bengal after Independence,” said Swati Ghosh, a housewife, who came to Raj Bhavan from Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas.