CPI(M), Congress calls Mamata 'BJP's secret agent' over NITI Aayog meeting, TMC hits back

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's decision to attend the Niti Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi has ignited strong reactions from the state units of the CPI-M and Congress. The controversy centers around Banerjee's participation, which some see as a deviation from the stance of other non-BJP-ruled states.

CPI-M Rajya Sabha member and senior Calcutta High Court advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya criticized Banerjee, alleging that her actions demonstrate a covert alliance with the BJP.

“When all chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states have decided to stay away from the meeting, Mamata Banerjee has emerged as an exception. In the past too, she has shown her weakness towards the BJP. She had earlier described the BJP as her natural ally. So this is nothing new for her,” Bhattacharya stated.

Supporting this sentiment, the state Congress also accused Banerjee of creating divisions within the opposition Indi alliance, of which Trinamool Congress is a part. “She has done all this to indirectly benefit the BJP. Her latest decision to attend the Niti Aayog meeting justifies her stand,” said the leader.

In response, Trinamool Congress leaders dismissed the criticism as unfounded. They emphasized that Banerjee's attendance at the meeting was to address the financial neglect of West Bengal and other non-BJP-ruled states.

Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh defended the Chief Minister's decision, saying, “The Chief Minister has already made it clear why she is attending the meeting. There was no specific agenda to attend the meeting about the Indi block. Trinamool Congress will be a part of the opposition block, but it has its own identity. So the decision taken by the Chief Minister in the interest of West Bengal is completely justified.”