Mamata Banerjee

As part of a rally organized by the BJP's youth wing in Kolkata, party workers also carried copies of 'Barnaparichay,' a popular primer written by Iswarchandra Vidyasagar, a 19th-century polymath and an iconic figure in the state. The aim was to remind Mamata Banerjee of the richness of the Bengali language.

During her two-day sit-in demonstration against the non-payment of central dues to West Bengal, Banerjee also ridiculed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi without explicitly naming him. She mocked Rahul Gandhi's mass outreach during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, particularly referring to his interaction with 'bidi' workers in North Bengal.

During the night, state ministers such as Firhad Hakim and Aroop Biswas joined Banerjee at the protest site. In the morning, Banerjee took a walk at the nearby Red Road and visited a basketball ground. Despite the thick blanket of fog in the area, Banerjee walked with her security personnel.

Addressing a public distribution program in Balurghat, Banerjee cautioned against accepting such cards, labeling them as potential tools for an "NRC trap." She expressed her commitment to preventing the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in West Bengal and criticized the BJP for bringing up issues like NRC, Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), and Uniform Civil Code ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Banerjee conveyed this ultimatum during a program at Raj Bhavan, held to celebrate the 75th Republic Day. She emphasized that if the central government fails to clear the funds owed to the state, the TMC will initiate a large-scale protest.

Expressing disappointment over the lack of communication regarding Rahul Gandhi's Nyay Yatra, Banerjee emphasized that such information could have been shared for the sake of alliance.

The first reason cited is the perceived absurdity of the Congress' demand for eight to ten seats in West Bengal. The state Cabinet member argued that such a demand is unreasonable given the Congress' diminished vote share of only three percent in the 2021 state Assembly polls.

Banerjee emphasized her skepticism, stating that she does not find the concept practical, acceptable, or in line with the principles of the federal structure. Addressing reporters at the state secretariat, she underscored the need for the ECI to approach the issue with rationality and sincerity.

Banerjee expressed confidence in her party's capability to confront the BJP in West Bengal and potentially set an example for the entire country.

Although the Chief Minister has not made any announcement to this effect, Trinamool Congress spokesman Kunal Ghosh made a statement on Wednesday ruling out the possibility of not only the Chief Minister, but also any leader from the party attending the inauguration function.