On Wednesday, Mayor Sovon Chattopadhyay and the MMiCs took oath, though portfolio distribution was deferred.

“We have a fresh, new team and a great team this time, said Banerjee. “Many of the Mayor-in-Councils are young. We are planning to train them before giving them their portfolios.”

She said the portfolios will depend on the decision of the Mayor. “We have divided them keeping a balance of north, south, Garden Reach and Jadavpur areas,” she added.

The MMiCs are a mix of veterans like Atin Ghosh, Bobby Hakim, Samsudzaman Ansari and Rajib Deb and new comers like Sashi Panja, Parthopratim Hazari and Sanchita Mondol. “We have three women in our team,” said Banerjee Frazana Alam, Sashi Panja and Sanchita Mondol.

Party sources said Banerjee sent a clear message that the party will highlight fresh faces and young people including women in view of the coming Assembly polls. Plus, with four minority leaders in the team, she is aiming at the minority votes in urban areas, which have eluded her in some pockets.

The team has its task cut out ¿ the issue of water tax and drainage will be challenging enough. “We are against putting the burden of water tax on people, we have to find alternate ways,” said Mayor Shovon Chatterjee. “It is also of grave concern that the rainy season is here.”

Also in the offing are a number of development projects — brainchild of Subrata Mukherjee who is the chairman of the expert committee. According to sources, it will be a challenge to see whether the team is able to implement the proposed schemes.

Trinamool all set to form Taherpur civic board

Krishnagar: The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday appeared all set to form Taherpur civic board in Nadia district after a rebel CPM leader announced to extend support to the six-member Trinamool board. Niranjan Mistri, who had been expelled by the CPM in 2005 for alleged anti-party activities, declared supporting the Trinamool turning the table for the first time in many years at a party meeting in Kolkata this evening.

The Nagarik Mancha had fielded candidates in nine seats and Mistri won from ward no 10. With both the CPM and Trinamool having won six seats each in the recent municipal election, Mistri's support became crucial for both sides.