Kolkata:
Eyeing a win in the West Bengal Assembly elections, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has said she planned to revive the Vidhan Parishad, the Upper House, if her party formed the next government in the state.
"If we (Trinamool Congress and Congress alliance) come to power we will revive the Vidhan Parishad where eminent personalities from different walks of life - economists, litterateur, artists, journalists, teachers and those from the unorganised sector and self-help groups would be made members," Banerjee told a face-to-face programme with a Bengali TV channel.
Banerjee said she had already spoken to Union Finance Minister and Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee of her plan.
West Bengal had a bicameral legislature earlier, but it was abolished in August, 1969.
Trinamool sources said Banerjee was toying with the idea of reviving the Upper House as a number of eminent personalities from different walks of life had been drawn into her movement since the days of Singur and Nandigram.
Many of them were not keen on contesting the Assembly polls, but Banerjee wanted to have their advice in running the government.
Banerjee said if her party came to power it would have a small ministry in contrast to the present large Left Front one to ensure better functioning and to minimise expenditure.
Asked whether her party would retain the railway portfolio if her party won and she became the chief minister, Banerjee, the present railway minister in the UPA government, replied "I think so".
"If we (Trinamool Congress and Congress alliance) come to power we will revive the Vidhan Parishad where eminent personalities from different walks of life - economists, litterateur, artists, journalists, teachers and those from the unorganised sector and self-help groups would be made members," Banerjee told a face-to-face programme with a Bengali TV channel.
Banerjee said she had already spoken to Union Finance Minister and Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee of her plan.
West Bengal had a bicameral legislature earlier, but it was abolished in August, 1969.
Trinamool sources said Banerjee was toying with the idea of reviving the Upper House as a number of eminent personalities from different walks of life had been drawn into her movement since the days of Singur and Nandigram.
Many of them were not keen on contesting the Assembly polls, but Banerjee wanted to have their advice in running the government.
Banerjee said if her party came to power it would have a small ministry in contrast to the present large Left Front one to ensure better functioning and to minimise expenditure.
Asked whether her party would retain the railway portfolio if her party won and she became the chief minister, Banerjee, the present railway minister in the UPA government, replied "I think so".
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
