Covid, law and order: Mamata Banerjee sets priority taking oath as Bengal CM for third term

"My first priority will be to tackle the Covid-19 situation. I have called a meeting today," Banerjee said, and added, "I appeal to all political parties to maintain peace and harmony. Bengal does not tolerate violence. I will deal with the law and order strictly."

Banerjee, who has decimated the mighty Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a high-pitched poll barely a few days ago, was sworn in as the Chief Minister by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar at Raj Bhavan (Governor's House) at 10:45 am.

In response to Dhankhar's expression of concern for the post-poll violence which killed at least 14 people from various political parties, Banerjee took the microphone and said in a stern message, "The administration was under the control of the Election Commission for the three last months.

"There are certain sporadic incidents where the winning parties are causing violence. I will form a new set-up to stop the violence."

While the Union Home Ministry has sought a report from the state government on the violence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday dialled the Governor to speak on the matter.

Note: There are certain videos and pictures circulating on social media which have been termed as fake by police and IBNS has not verified any of them.

The oath-taking ceremony, which was low key this time due to the pandemic, was attended only by Congress veteran Pradip Bhattacharya among the leaders from the opposition parties.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh, Indian cricket board chief Sourav Ganguly, who were also invited, skipped the event.

Congratulating Banerjee, Prime Minister Modi, whose prime target was the TMC supremo in the polls, tweeted, "Congratulations to Mamata Didi on taking oath as West Bengal’s Chief Minister."

After taking the oath, Banerjee, who leads the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), headed to the state headquarters Nabanna (situated in Howrah district) where she received the guard of honour.

In the assembly election results which were declared last Sunday, Banerjee's TMC won a whooping 213 of 292 seats (two more seats are due to be polled), decimating the BJP which has managed to win only 77 which came at the expense of the Left and Congress that have drawn a blank this time. 

In a peculiar situation, Banerjee, who single-handedly led her party to a landslide victory resisting the aggressive campaign by the BJP top leaders including Modi, herself lost to her lieutenant-turned BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari from Nandigram in East Midnapore by over 1,900 votes.

As per the constitutional norm, Banerjee would have to get elected from any constituency within six months.

West Bengal, like any other Indian state, is witnessing a spike in Coronavirus cases as over 1,700 daily infections are reported over the last few days.