NEW DELHI — The office of President Droupadi Murmu has turned down a request from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for a meeting, citing a “paucity of time.”
The snub follows a period of heightened tension between the President and the West Bengal government regarding alleged protocol lapses during her recent visit to Siliguri.
Key Points of the Conflict:
-
The Meeting Request: A 12-member TMC delegation sought an appointment to brief the President on Bengal’s tribal welfare initiatives, seen by many as an attempt to mend ties before the upcoming Assembly elections.
-
Protocol Face-off: The tension originated last week when the President questioned the absence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or senior ministers at Bagdogra airport.
-
Political Exchange: President Murmu previously suggested that central welfare measures were not reaching tribal communities in Bengal. Chief Minister Banerjee dismissed these remarks as “political” and advised the President to remain neutral ahead of the April/May polls.
-
National Reaction: Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the alleged protocol lapses “shameful” and “unprecedented,” while the Bengal government maintained the Siliguri event was a private function with no official protocol requirements.
The rejection of the meeting request signals a deepening rift between the state administration and the President’s office as Bengal enters a high-stakes election season.
