Basudeb Banerjee takes over as chief secretary

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday picked Basudeb Banerjee, 58, to replace Sanjoy Mitra as the state chief secretary. Banerjee, who had been serving as the home secretary since March, 2012, will be replaced by the health secretary Malay De. Mitra heads to New Delhi on Thursday to take over as secretary in the ministry of road, transport and highways.