West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee today expanded her nine-month-old ministry inducting two Trinamool Congress MLAs amid reports of a minor shake-up in the cabinet which awaited any official confirmation.

"Notification is made from Raj Bhavan," she told reporters who asked if she had effected any minor reshuffle in her ministry by divesting some of the departments of two Congress ministers in the coalition government.

Chandrima Bhattacharya and Arup Biswas was administered oath at a simple ceremony at Raj Bhavan by Governor M K Narayanan.

Biswas told reporters that he had been asked to take over his new assignments of independent charge of youth affairs, besides serving as minister of state for Parliamentary affairs and housing.

Bhattacharya said she will be the deputy to Banerjee who herself looks after Health department which has been in the focus of criticism in recent time.

Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay and a number of Banerjee's ministerial colleagues were present at the swearing-in, but Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra was conspicuous by his absence.

Asked whether he was invited to the swearing-in, Mishra said, "I received the invitation only around 3.30 p.m. But I am not complaining. However, there is a saying among village folk that invitations can be sent in a manner where the invitee does not feel encouraged to attend."

Speculation was rife in the state secretariat that Manoj Chakraborty (Congress), minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs and MSSE, was divested of the portfolios and made the MOS for Food Processing.

He later told reporters that it would be unfortunate if he had been divested of any of his departments.

Abu Hena (Congress) was also reportedly divested of Food Processing and Horticulture, and he would remain content with Fisheries ministry only. Hena was also closely attached to Adhir Chowdhury, Congress MLA and bete noir of Banerjee.

Sports Minister Madan Mitra is also likely to be taking charge of Transport department in addition to his present portfolio.

Environment Minister Sudarshan Ghosh Dastidar is likely to be given charge of PWD in addition to his present responsibility.

The PWD portfolio fell vacant after Subrata Bakshi resigned on his election to the Lok Sabha from South Kolkata constituency

Sources said Biswas, currently minister for Youth Affairs, will be the minister for Food Processing and Horticulture with cabinet rank.