West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made headlines during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony by staging a symbolic protest. As the ceremony unfolded, Banerjee chose to switch off the lights and sit in darkness, sending a powerful message of opposition to the Modi-led government.
The act, witnessed by attendees including Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sagarika Ghose, marked a significant moment in the ongoing political saga between Banerjee's TMC and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It was a stark reminder of the deepening political fault lines in Indian politics, particularly in the context of the strained relationship between the TMC-led West Bengal government and the BJP-led central government.
For Banerjee, known for her vocal criticism of the Modi government on various issues including federalism, democratic norms, and minority rights, this act served as another platform to assert her political stance. By choosing such a public stage to express her dissent, Banerjee aimed to capture attention and rally support for her cause.