Mamata Banerjee

"Those who secured jobs during the previous regime by virtue of recommendations made on pieces of paper by the ruling party leaders are now holding agitations over dearness allowance. Why should I take advice from them? They are all thieves and dacoits. Moreover, goons associated with the BJP are now making tall claims in the matter," Banerjee said during her sit-in agitation against the Centre over non-payment of dues, which will continue till 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The decision to remove Ghulam Rabbani as the minority affairs minister was announced on Monday, when it was also said that the affairs of the department will now be under the purview of the Chief Minister. Rabbani has been transferred to the horticulture department.

The meeting was as brief, lasting just 30 minutes, and neither Banerjee or Kumaraswamy made any comment on the proceedings. However, Trinamool Congress insiders aware of the proceedings of the meeting claimed that Kumaraswamy invited the West Bengal Chief Minister to come to Karnataka and campaign gainst the BJP.

Both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee gave a message on this issue through their respective Twitter handles but both refrained from naming Gandhi. according to the Chief Minister, in the current India, the BJP always targets opposition leaders with disqualification for speeches being the latest development on this count.

Mamata Banerjee offered prayers to Lord Jagannath, goddess Bimala, Mahalaxmi and other deities in the shrine. A flag offered by Banerjee was raise on the 214 foot high 'Nilachakra', on the top of the Jagannath temple while the existing flag was offered to the her, said a temple priest.

Trinamool Congress sources said that the chief minister will reach Odisha- capital of Bhubaneswar on March 21 evening and make a night-stay there. On March 22, Mamata Banerjee will go to Puri and offer prayers at Shree Jagannath Temple there. On March 23, before taking the return flight to Kolkata from Bhubaneswar, Trinamool sources said, there is a possibility of her meeting with Naveen Patnaik.

He has decided to skip the crucial meeting of the party at Kolkata on Friday afternoon to be chaired by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to finalise the strategy for the forthcoming polls for the three-tier panchayat system in the state. "The main agenda of the meeting is the forthcoming panchayat polls. The party high- command will give instructions there. There is no scope to say anything. So, I will not be attending the meeting," Chowdhary said.

According to the sources, the two leaders, at the meeting at Banerjee's residence at Kalighat in south Kolkata, are likely to discuss possibilities of having a grand opposition alliance against the BJP but without involving Congress in that initiative. Akhilesh Yadav will be attending a national working committee of his party at a hotel in Kolkata on Friday. After attending that meeting, he is likely to go to the Chief Minister's residence at Kalighat at around 5 p.m.

Addressing an election rally at Rajabala in West Garo Hills district, Banerjee said that Trinamool has been fighting the battle against BJP and every day, the saffron party knocks at its doors with ED and CBI. Banerjee also slammed the Congress for failing to fulfil its duties as the main opposition party. Congress is asking for votes, but what moral rights do they have.

After Minister of State for Finance Chandrima Bhattacharya presented the state Budget for 2023-24, the Chief Minister addressed the Assembly during which she referred to the Income Tax 'survey' at the BBC offices. However, the leader of opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, criticised the Chief Minister for making a speech on the floor of the House after the presentation of the state Budget.