President Visit’s Controversy: Will Mamata Pay The Price ?

West Bengal state administration led by Mamata Banerjee’s TMC government is back in news for wrong reasons. This time it was an alleged protocol lapse during the visit of President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday for the 9th International Santal Conference that triggered a political controversy between the centre and the state government.

Usually, the Chief Minister and other Ministers should receive the President whenever the latter goes to any state on an official visit. However, neither Mamata nor her cabinet Ministers welcomed the president and they didn’t even attend the tribal program which was arranged by a private organisation.

Murmu was upset with the change of the venue location in the last minute which led to low turnout of the public to the event. She openly slammed Mamta Banerjee and his government for not following the protocol and changing the venue to a far off place.

It was a rare instance that President Murmu, who usually stays away from controversies, has openly expressed her displeasure over the ill-treatment meted out by Mamta Banerjee and her administration. She called Mamta as her little sister but exposed the disregard during the official visit.

The issue turned into a full-blown controversy when Prime Minister Narendra Modi rallied behind Murmu and launched a scathing attack on Mamta Banerjee and her party for the gross insult inflicted on the President.

TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee quickly hit back at the controversy and the Modi’s government with the allegation that the entire controversy was created from the playbook of BJP’s agenda to gain political mileage in West Bengal.

With West Bengal elections scheduled to be held this year, this entire controversy is more likely going to snowball into a political slugfest between the BJP and the TMC as both parties will wrestle for power. Mamata Banerjee’s government is already facing considerable anti incumbency due to various reasons and controversies.

This episode might further create a big headache for TMC because President Murmu never flagged off any issues during her tenure so far. If this controversy results in public criticism on the state government, Mamata is more likely to pay the price in the upcoming elections.