This is brings us to the end of Live! commentary today in what has been a truly historic day.

Mamata Banerjee became West Bengal's first woman chief minister and the first first non-Marxist CM in 34 years. The adulation she gets from the man on the street will soon translate into hope and then action. And she needs to ensure she gets it right -- quickly.

In Delhi, DMK MP Kanimozhi has been arrested and will spend this night in Tihar jail. Never ever did her father former TN CM Karunanidhi imagine the sun would one day set on his empire.

Scroll down for all that happened today.

High voltage, emotionally-charged performance at Writers'. Mamata says she feels helpless at the poor infrastructre, 'nothing' to work with, referring to the government machinery. But says she will work day and night to set it right and create her own infrastructure.

On the Singur issue, which tilted the electoral balance for the Trinamool, Mamata says she will build a factory in 600 acres in Singur. But 400 acres will be returned to farmers. She said the Tatas are welcome but they will work on the people's terms.

Mamata holds historic press conference at Writers' Buildings after cabinet meeting.

• First up: Promises to return 400 acres of Singur land to farmers.
• To set up expert panel on how best to use flood waters.
• A new committee will be set up for the release of political prisoners.
• If Tata wants to come to Bengal, they are welcome.
• Special package for development of Jungle Mahal.
• Illegal arms to be seized.
• Amit Mitra will be finance minister
• Jungle Mahal (Naxalite) and Gorkhaland crisis to be solved in three months
• Full ministry to be announced at 9 pm.

WB CM Mamata Banerjee is a self-confessed Rabindranath Tagore fan, much like most Bengalis across the world. If she had the time, she's have loved to see these pictures of Robi Thakur (as the bard is called in Bengali). In fact, on counting day, when it became evident she had won, she asked her supporters to be calm and listen to Rabindra Sangeet.

See the pictures

This is what the CBI court said when Kanimozhi's lawyer Ram Jethmalani asked that she be released on the sole ground that she is a woman.

The judge said: "Sex is one of the grounds which may be considered at the time of grant of bail. However, considering the magnitude of the crime and the allegations against her, I am unable to show any consideration to her on this ground," the court said.

However, the "dignified" conduct of Kanimozhi during court proceedings earned special praise for her. "I wish, I could show her some consideration, considering her extremely dignified conduct in the court," the CBI Judge said.

The court allowed her appear in Parliament after special permission. She will also get a cell to herself with an attached bathroom.

There was a serious security lapse inside Writers' Buildings with West Bengal's first woman chief minister Mamata Banerjee having to enter her office through a different door today to take charge.

Finding the main entry to the chief minister's chamber blocked by people who had gathered in huge numbers in the corridor, the chief minister's securitymen had to escort her through the conference room leading to her chamber. \

There was jostling inside the protected area of the state secretariat as the throng pressed for a vantage point to have a glimpse of the chief minister.

Mediamen were outnumbered by outsiders with the policemen pleading helplessness in controlling the situation.

Policemen had to virtually give up as a hysteric crowd, including the staff of Writers' Buildings, broke barricades and entered almost unhindered.

In other news, the CBI will begin a quarterly review of the Red Corner Notices and also plans to revamp its Interpol division, CBI sources say.

See our 10:53 am post for the reason.

Now for some international news.

The bbc.co.uk reports that the president of Tepco, which operates Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, has resigned as the firm reported a loss of $15.3bn for the past financial year.

West Bengal's new Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today promised to work 24X7 to learn the state of affairs of the administration.

Stating that she would not take a holiday on Saturday and Sunday, Banerjee told a huge crowd at her residence before leaving for Raj Bhavan for her 1:01 pm swearing-in.

Stating that the state was on the brink of bankruptcy and the situation was "dismal," she said, "I will have to work now. I can't take a holiday." Keeping in mind that people visited her at her residence all through the week, she said, "I will evolve a system so that I can meet people at least once a week."

She said, "I assure you about transparency of our new government. I expect people to come forward with their problems and I will do my best to solve them."

Pictured: Mamata Banerjee at the oath-taking ceremony at Raj Bhavan today

On January 7, 1993, Mamata Banerjee, then a Youth Congress leader, stormed Writers' Buildings and sat on a dharna in front of the chamber of then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, demanding justice for an alleged rape victim.

As she refused to budge, the police caught her by the hair, dragged her out and locked her up.

She then vowed that she would only return to Writers' as the chief minister of West Bengal.

That day has arrived.

Kanimozhi has left in a police van for Tihar jail where awaiting her arrival (with bated breath and beating heart) is co-accused, formertelecom minister A Raja.

Mamata Banerjee walking to her office at Writers' Building.

The last time West Bengal saw such massive numbers on the streets was probably when Bengali superstar Uttam Kumar died. Absolutely incredible images. Certainly many mas andmanush-es walking on the mati.

Don't envy the securitymen flanking her.

In Bengal, festivities reign. Indrani says the massive numbers following Mamata Banerjee on her padyatra from Raj Bhavan to Writers' is singing "We shall overcome" albeit out of tune. Much blowing of conch shells.

The huge press of people outside Writers' has broken a barricade... unintentionally.

Kanimozhi's stepbrother, union minister Alagiri will be in court for the next hearing tomorrow.

Unconfirmed sources say A Raja asked for an extra ration of coconut oil this morning for his oil bath.

Meanwhile, in Chennai, top DMK leaders went into a huddle at the residence of party chief M Karunanidhi in the wake of a Delhi Court rejecting the bail plea of his daughter Kanimozhi .

Senior leaders rushed to the CIT Colony residence of Karunanidhi and Kanimozhi soon after news broke out about the the court verdict.

Karunanidhi was glued to the TV to know about the latest on the fate of his daughter, set to be arrested by CBI, and was apparently upset after the rejection of the bail plea, party sources said.

The next course of action for the DMK, a key ally of UPA, was not immediately known.

R Rajagopalan tweets: Three DMK ministers in Delhi are rushing to Chennai by the evening flight. After Kani arrrest, they advanced their departure.

There were nine DMK ministers in the Patiala House Court today, of which three apparently broke down when they heard their leader was headed to Tihar. Don't know yet if they are the same three.

Sources say that the DMK is in shock after Kanimozhi's arrest.

In Bengal, Mamata Banerjee's meeting with Governor MK Narayanan is over and she now heads to Writers' Building. And yes, she's walking the kilometrefrom the Raj Bhavan to Writers. Indrani says at least a thousandpeople following her.

Barkha Dutttweets: Kanimozhi asking for bail on premise of being a woman makes zilch sense. Let's not drag gender into this. Equal crime; equal punishment.

Like.

In Delhi (much virtual travel happening), Kanimozhi was apparently stoic when the verdict was read out, but brokedown outside court. She hugged her husband and a fewfamily members who had come to the Patiala court.

It's one thing to say she was expecting the 'no bail' verdictand quite another to actually be led into jail.

The court rejected her bail owing to the gravity of the crime -- accepting a bribe of Rs 214 crore -- and that she can influence witnesses.

Back in Bengal: Mamata is still at Raj Bhavan holding a one-on-one meeting with governor MK Narayanan. Issues being discussed include law and order and economy.

No prizes for guessing, which woman grabs your attention now.

We will going back and forth between Bengal and Delhi; between Mamata Banerjee and Kanimozhi.

In Delhi, DMK MP Kanimozhi was in tears as she was led to the lock-up. She will be sent to Tihar jail at 4.45 pm. In Tihar she will be allowed a mat, a fan, medicines, magazines, and will have an attached bathroom.

Her cell neighbours are a pimp and a spy.

Kanimozhi can now appeal to the Delhi High Court for bail, saysCBI laywerAK Singh andwill be produced before the court tomorrow. Remember, theSupreme Court has directed that this case beheard on a day-to-day basis.

Back in West Bengal, where it's Mamata Banerjee's moment in the sun, Indrani says she has left Raj Bhavan forWriter's Building.

Still not known whether she's walking it. Sea of people, as expected outside Writers.

No reactions yet from the DMK or from Kanimozhi's father, former Tamil Nadu CM Karunanidhi.

Of the nine DMK MPs in court three MPs dissolved into tears. Sigh.

Moment of irony: A Raja's wife was the first to comfort Kanimozhi in court after her bail plea was rejectd.

After hearing the verdict, Kanimozhi inside the courtroom said she was expecting the decision.

Awaiting her arrival at Tihar, will be former telecom minister A Raja and a host of 2G accused.

Kani and Sharad Kumar will be allowed access to books and magazines in jail, much like A Raja.

Breaking: DMK MP Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TVmanaging director Sharad Kumar have beenarrested. The Special CBIcourt has refused bail for both accused in the 2G scam. This means its Tihar jail for both.

The DMK MP waschargesheeted by the CBI for her alleged role in the 2G spectrum case along with former Telecom Minister A Raja.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini, exclusively trying the 2G case, pronounced his order minutes ago, quashing her bail plea along with that of Kalaignar TV's Sharad Kumar.

The court earlier had reserved its order on their bail pleas for May 14, and postponed it till today.

Kanimozhi has been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act for taking a bribe through Kalaignar TV -- a channel run by DMK -- in which a sum of Rs 200 crore was routed from Shahid Usman Balwa's firm DB Realty.

Kanimozhi and Kumar hold 20 per cent stake each in Kalaignar TV while former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal holds 60 per cent share in it.

Indrani says a state government employee she met was extremely bitter about Mamata. Refusing to be named he said Mamata is only about gimmicks. Just because she declined the official bulletproof car, doesn't mean she is honest. (See our 12:47 pm post).

Prophesies thatif Mamata runs the state the way she runs the railways, "we've had it." He also forsees a dictatorship. And warns: Shobi to didir kheyale chole, kheyale ki aar rajjo chalano jaay? Khayale akta club ba shongothon cholte pare." (Everything runs on Didi's whims. You can run a club or an organisation on a whim, not a state.)

Back to Mamata for a moment.

After the ministers are sworn in she is headed to Writers building where the first cabinet meeting is expected to be held at 4 pm. Buzz is that the she may walk the distance.

While we wait for the West Bengal cabinet to be sworn in, here's some other news.

India and Pakistan today began two-day talks on the Sir Creek issue as part of a bilateral dialogue process, with the two sides holding parleys on the maritime boundary dispute after a gap of four years.

The talks which are being held by the Defence Ministry in Rawalpindi are part of the bilateral dialogue process that recently revived after a gap of over two years in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

During the last round of talks on the Sir Creek issue four years ago, the two countries made significant progress in resolving the dispute over the 96-km estuary in the Rann of Kutch separating India's Gujarat state from Pakistan's Sindh province.

Apparently, the first person Mamata Banerjee greeted inside Raj Bhavan was former WB chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Again, a first, in terms of decorum and courtesy for state politics.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's 44-member cabinet still being sworn in.

Indrani says there are barricades all around Raj Bhavan.

A middle-aged man squatting on the street outside Raj Bhavan told her he had been there since 11 am just to catch a glimpse of Mamata Banerjee.

He's come all the way from a village in Sunderban, leaving home at 8.30 am. But, he says the effort has been worth his while.

"I waved to her and she waved back," saidSubroto Mandal, a daily wage labourer. He said he won't budge from the spot till Mamata leaves Raj Bhavan for Writers. "I have sacrified my day's earning for someone who rewrote the history of the state, but I don't regret it," says Mandal.

The chief minister seems to have brought to West Bengal politics a courtesy that was missing earlier.

Apparently, one of the first things she did after her electoral victory is to call up former speaker and sacked CPI-M senior leader Somnath Chatterjee. She also met him personally and invited him to the swearing-in ceremony. Chatterjee could not attend as he is not in Kolkata now.

The Chaterjee-Banerjee connect: Twenty-seven years ago, in 1984, after being nominated as the Congress candidate for the Jadavpur Lok Sabha seat, Mamata had sought the blessings of her rival Somnath Chatterjee and stunned the state by defeating him.

Mamata's cabinet to include 44 ministers (not 43 as we told you earlier), 37 from TMC, 7 from Congress. The CM has included Muslims, women Scheduled Castes, giant-killers, in her cabinet.

Mamata will hold the first cabinet meeting at 4 pm today at Writer's Building.

Beautiful image: The shining brass plaque outside CM Mamata Banerjee's office at Writer's Building is being polished one last time. Writer's has now got a revamped waiting room outside the CM's office.

On the streets, Kolkata celebrates with dhak, dhol and the now omnipresent green gulal.

We've told you earlier, but to reiterate, Mamata has scored two firsts. Bengal's first woman chief minister and the firstnon-Marxist government in 34 years.

Swearing-in ceremonyof ministers taking place. It should take at least an hour after whichthe cabinet will be invited to tea by the governor.

Incidentally, the portfolios have not been announced, but FICCI chief secretary Amit Mitra is likely to be the finance minister.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has led a nine-member 'delegation' to the swearing-in ceremony. An unheard of gesturein Bengal politics given the acrimony between the two parties.

Can see Dr Amit Mitra at the dias now.

Clear, composed, calm. Mamata Banerjee takes oath. Governor Narayanan congratulates her. The ceremony is at the Raj Bhavan lawns.

Names of her 43-member ministry being read out.

Back to the Raj Bhavan, Kolkata.

Indrani confirms that Buddhadeb, Biman Bose, Ashim Dasgupta are inside the Raj Bhavan. Ditto P Chidambaram, Pranab Mukherjee and AK Antony.

Governor MK Narayanan has take his seat on the podium.

Quickly before the swearing-in begins, a tweet from Sushma Swaraj

Blooper after blooper. I am tired saying that the Government is embarrassing the country. Let us wait until the whole list is scrutinised.

For reference see our 10:53 am post

It was West Bengal ex mayor Partho Chatterjee who invited former CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and his wife Meera for the swearing-in. While Buddhadeb confirmed his presence, his wife hasn't. Chatterjee was ushered in to the Bhattacharjee drawing room graciously, where he spoke to the couple for 15 minutes.

OK, countdown begins. Mamata has left for Raj Bhavan. Senior Left Front leaders have been invited.

-- 43 ministers will be sworn in by governor MK Narayanan

-- Oath of office speech in six languages.

-- Male ministers to wear dhoti kurta for the ceremony.

-- Soumitra Roy, key member of the rock band Bhoomi also at Raj Bhawan. Sings a ditty for Mamata.

This is from the Telegraph, Kolkata. Apparently when Mamata heard that the invitation letters to the swearing-in ceremony were to be faxed, she chided her aides and sent Union minister Mukul Roy, who will hold additional charge of railways, to the offices of the Left allies.

Even her detractors say this kind of courtesy has never beenextended by the Left -- one of the reasons the party lost -- it's arrogance.

Hello, mic testing, at Raj Bhawan... Mamata's astrologers have advised her to take oath at exactly 1:01 pm. And that's when history will take place.

Indrani says Mamata Banerjee will leave for the Raj Bhavan in her old, black Santro. Shuns the special bulletproof car she is now entitled to.

Here's some info on the Raj Bhavan: The palatial building built in 1803 was once the residence of the Viceroy of India, till the British empire moved to Delhi. It is now called Government House and is the residence of the Governor of West Bengal.

Indrani Roy Mitra says Trinamool party sources say Mamata Banerjee will hold the first meeting of the newly sworn-in ministry at 6 pm at Writer's building.

Writer's building is the secretariat of the state government of West Bengal. The building originally served as an office for writers of the British East India Company, hence the name.

Rediff.com's Indrani Roy Mitra reporting from Kolkata says former West Bengal CM (feels strange using the word 'former') Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Biman Bose are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan.

The parents of Tapasi Mallik, the teen who was raped and killed at Singur has also been invited, but no confirmation yet of whether they will be attending.

Apparently Mamata sent Partha Chatterjee early last morning to the Palm Avenue flat to invite the outgoing chief minister and his wife to the swearing-in.

At least 3,292 people have been invited to Raj Bhavan, Kolkata, where Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee will be sworn-in as West Bengal's first woman chief minister. The invitees include the who's who of politics, business, art and culture.

The swearing-in will happen at 1:01 pm. We'll get you the details as it happens.

After goofing up on its ''most wanted'' list twice, the CBIhas now withdrawn the list from it's website.

The investigating agency has also removed the Red Corner Notice linked to the list for the time being.

"The entire list is being reviewed. We have no plan to recall the list from Pakistan," Secretary, Internal Security in the Home Ministry, U K Bansal, said.

However, it will not recall the list from Pakistan.

Dirt on Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Arnie was apparently called 'long hands' by his housekeeper/assistant who had his love child because of the way he groped her and other women workers. Mildred Baena, 50, told a friend how Schwarzenegger, once dubbed 'The Octopus' over his wandering hands, liked to touch the bottoms of his female staff.

Just in: The Allahabad High Court has directed the Enforcement Directorate to probe allegations of money laundering against former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh. The court today turned down his writ petition.

It had been alleged in the FIR that Singh during his tenure as the Chairman of UP Development Council, when the SP was in power in the state, had helped many private companies in getting a number of contracts which had resulted in financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 500 crore.

However, Singh had rebutted the charges saying the post did not empower him to award contracts to private parties.

Before you step out and grab the Armstrong book we told you about,read this from the Hindu.The major allegation Rahul Gandhi made against the Mayawati government about mass rapes and mass graves in the state.

Rahul Gandhi's predilection to shoot from the hip is proving to be a challenge for his party managers who have found themselves picking up repeatedly after the First Family heir. Yet in Uttar Pradesh recently, the gaffe-prone Congress general secretary '" famously described by an American official as a "neophyte' without the chutzpah to become Prime Minister '" outdid himself.

Read more

Tyler Hamilton claimed that both Armstrong and he used EPO during the 1999 Tour. Lance Armstrong, who has always denied such claims, said on his Twitter page: "Never a failed test. I rest my case."

Hamilton served a two-year ban for blood-doping from 2005-2007.

The BBC quoted Hamilton, as saying: "I saw [EPO] in his refrigerator. ... I saw him inject it more than one time."

Hamilton told the CBS programme 60 Minutes, "like we all did. Like I did, many, many times."

While the jury is still out on that, read Lance Armstrong's autobiography It's Not About the Bike: My Journey back to Life.

A French poll has found more than half of people believe that former International Monetary Fund president Dominique Strauss-Kahn was set up in connection with a sexual assault plot.

Strauss-Kahn, who has been granted bail by a New York court, was accused some days ago of sexually attacking a maid at the Hotel Sofitel.

According to Sky News, the survey, which was taken before the 62-year-old''s first court appearance on Monday, showed that 57 percent of respondents believe the Socialist presidential hopeful was set up.

The bbc.co.uk reports that a roadside bomb has hit a US consulate vehicle in Peshawar, Pakistan,wounding some Americans.

Two armoured vehicles were travelling on University Road when the blast occurred. One of the vehicles was damaged.

A passer-by, a Pakistani citizen, was killed in the attack, police said. Pakistan has seen a spurt in violence since al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed earlier this month.

In yet another goof-up, NDTV reported last night that one of India's 50 most-wanted in Pakistan, is actually in Arthur Road Jail, Mumbai. This is second time the Home minstry has messed up. The Times of India had earlier revealed that another person on the most-wanted list is out on bail and lives in Thane, a suburb of Mumbai.

The government in the aftermath of this 'human error' today ruled out recalling the '50 most wanted' list given to Pakistan, but said the document is being reviewed.

"The entire list is being reviewed. We have no plan to recall the list from Pakistan," Secretary, Internal Security in the Home Ministry, U K Bansal told reporters here.

Heads (smallish ones, have fallen).

The CBI acted immediately and suspended and transferred some offcials responsible for the goof up. Bansal said responsibilty has been fixed and action has been taken.

He also said that the Home Ministry will conduct an exercise to ensure that there is no such mistake in the future.

In international news, former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was granted bail by a New York court shortly after he was formally indicted on all sexual assault charges.

The court agreed to free Strauss-Kahn from a New York City jail on bail terms of USD 1 million in cash and also on the condition that he would remain under house arrest in a Manhattan apartment under the watch of armed guards.

Strauss-Kahn is allowed to stay with his wife in the apartment. On June 6, the court will hold an arraignment hearing in which the exact charges will be revealed.

The former IMF chief, who was indicted on all seven counts, is accused of groping and mauling a Guinean maid in his room at Sofitel hotel in Times Square and forcibly tried to have oral sex with her.

Good morning. Big day ahead for Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee -- she takes oath today as West Bengal chief minister. Mammoth TV screens at key spots across Kolkata for live coverage. WB's first woman CM!

Then, the CBI court will decide on whether DMK MP Kanimozhi will get bail or go to jail. She has been named a co-conspirator in the 2G scam. Court decision expected after 1 pm.

Also up today is the hearing in the CWG scam -- Suresh Kalamadi and cronies. may be charged in the time scoring case.