Kolkata, 27 July (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee walked out of the NITI Aayog meeting on Saturday. After that, addressing reporters, she said, ''I was not allowed to speak. My mic was turned off. Chief Ministers of other states were given a chance to present their views. But I did not get even 5 minutes. I have been insulted by turning off the mic. Bengal has been insulted. I said that you (Central Government) should not discriminate against state governments. This is insulting.''

''Through this meeting Bengal has been directly 'insulted', She said, ''I was alone from the opposition in the meeting. Despite this I was not given a chance to speak. I wanted to say something else. But before that the mic was switched off, this is an insult.'' Mamata told that she will not attend any meeting of Niti Aayog in future.

Earlier, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had repeatedly complained about his mic being switched off in the Lok Sabha.

However, once again Mamata Banerjee was not given a chance to speak in the Niti Aayog meeting and her mic was allegedly also switched off.

In a significant move ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has officially declared its candidates for all 42 parliamentary seats in West Bengal. The announcement was made during a vibrant gathering at Brigade Ground in Kolkata, organized under the banner of Jangarjan Sabha.

Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan and expelled Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Moitra are among the notable names included in the candidate list. However, sitting Arambagh MP Aparupa Poddar and Barrackpore MP Arjun Singh have been omitted from the roster.

This marks the first time that the Trinamool Congress has unveiled its list of candidates during a public event. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with the announced candidates, took to the stage to greet and interact with enthusiastic TMC supporters gathered at Brigade Ground.

The TMC's candidate lineup for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections includes a diverse array of individuals. Prakash Chik Badaik will contest from Alipurduar, Mithali Bagh from Arambag, Shatrughan Sinha from Asansol, and Yusuf Pathan from Berhampur, among others.

The list also features prominent names like Sharmila Sarkar, Partha Bhowmik, Shatabdi Roy, and Dev (Deepak Adhikari). With this comprehensive candidate announcement, the Trinamool Congress aims to secure a strong footing in the upcoming parliamentary elections in West Bengal.

Kolkata, Nov 26 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday ruled out the possibility of Trinamool Congress having seat-sharing agreement with any other political force in the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

She made her intention clear while addressing a public rally at Deganga in North 24 Parganas district on Thursday, stating that while the grand opposition INDIA bloc will contest the polls nationally, Trinamool Congress will lead the charge in in West Bengal.

“Let INDIA bloc be there nationally. But in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress will put up the fight. Remember, only the Trinamool can teach the BJP a lesson in West Bengal. Trinamool can show the path to the entire country. No other party is capable of doing that,” the Chief Minister said.

Political observers feel that through this statement, Banerjee has sent across a message to her party’s rank and file to be prepared to go solo in 2024, instead of depending on any alliance or seat-sharing agreement with any other political party.

The Chief Minister in speech also placed the Congress, CPI(M) and BJP in the same bracket on the issue of central agency actions in West Bengal 'targeting' the Trinamool insiders.

“They have got our minister Jyotipriya Mallick arrested, so that he is unable to be active for the party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. On this issue, the CPI(M), Congress and the BJP are hitting the streets on the same line,” the Chief Minister said.

She also issued a strong note of caution against the growing infighting in Trinamool in different parts of the state.

“If any leader feels that he or she is bigger than the party, he or she will not able to continue within Trinamool. I will not tolerate any kind of infighting. Do not consider yourself to be more important than the party,” the Chief Minister said.

Kolkata, April 14 (IANS) Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday claimed if the BJP manages to win 35 of 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in the next year's general elections, the Trinamool Congress government in the state will collapse much before its term (till 2026).

"If the people of West Bengal gift BJP 35 seats in 2024, then they will not have to wait even till 2026. Mamata Banerjee's government will collapse even before that," Shah said at a public rally at Suri in Birbhum district of West Bengal.

However, during his 20-minute speech, the Home Minister did not utter a single word about the forthcoming polls for the three-tier panchayat system in West Bengal which is scheduled in 2023 only.

Political observers feel that from his speech it is clear that just like in other states, the BJP has set the tone for 2024 Lok Sabha polls for West Bengal as well.

During the speech, his attack against Trinamool Congress and the state government were mainly on two points, namely the incidents of scams, especially in recruitments and the recent clashes over Ram Navami processions in the state.

The Union Home Minister even went to the extent of claiming that the high-handed approach of the chief minister had resulted in several Trinamool Congress leaders going behind bars.

"It is just because of the 'Didi's Dadagiri' that so many leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress are currently behind bars. However, the chief minister may wish, but she would not be able to see her nephew (Abhishek Banerjee) as the next chief minister. Someone from the BJP would be the next chief minister of West Bengal," Shah said.

Commenting on the recent clashes in Howrah and Hooghly districts over Ram Navami processions, Shah said the clashes were the result of the appeasement politics of Trinamool Congress and CM Mamata Banerjee.

"If Narendra Modi returns as the Prime Minister for the third term in 2024, no one will dare anywhere in the country to stop Ram Navami processions," said the Home Minister.