The Hindu : National : Mamata refuses to share dais with Chief Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 12, 2004

National

National

Mamata refuses to share dais with Chief Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, OCT. 11. The Trinamool Congress chief, Mamata Banerjee, has declined to share the dais with the West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, at a function scheduled for October 13 to mark the re-opening of the renovated Star Theatre in north Kolkata.

A Trinamool Congress MLA described Ms. Banerjee's ways as "whimsical" and her decisions "highly personalised." "However adversarial her relationship with political opponents [is], there should be room for social niceties in a parliamentary democracy," he told The Hindu today.

However, a close aide of Ms. Banerjee said, "The theatre's renovation comes at a time when the Municipal Corporation Board is under the control of the Trinamool. But Ms. Banerjee has declined to be on the `manch' where a Chief Minister responsible for attacks on our party workers is present."

It was reportedly pointed out to Ms. Banerjee that the Chief Minister had been invited to the re-opening of the 121-year-old Star Theatre — that was gutted in 1991 — by virtue of his office, but she, apparently, has different ideas. Mr. Bhattacharjee, however, remains nonchalant.

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