'Super CMO' to be real power centre in Mamata Banerjee govt

The 'Super CMO' as it is being touted would be the real centre of power with the working of all departments to be monitored by it and instructions given on speeding up projects, state secretariat sources told PTI.

Known as the 'CM's Secretariat' during the times of Jyoti Basu, the Chief Minister's office came into being in 2009 during the tenure of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

The CMO, under Bhattacharjee, was mainly to deal with portfolios held by him and for liaison with the Centre and offices outside the state.

The CMO, with seven to eight officials, during Bhattacharjee's times used to look into the work of other departments only when they were referred to it by the chief secretary.

The 'Super CMO' being set up by Banerjee would have double the strength with control over all departments, the sources said.

It would also develop a data bank with details of all development programmes under various departments, they said.