Must a CM receive the President? 'Blue Book' rules in the Mamata Banerjee-President Murmu row

There is no rule making it mandatory for a chief minister to personally receive the President.

• President Murmu arrived in West Bengal; no CM or minister reception
• Protocol suggests CM or minister receive President, not mandatory
• Centre seeks report from West Bengal on alleged protocol lapses

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A political row erupted in West Bengal last week after President Droupadi Murmu arrived at Bagdogra airport in Siliguri without being received by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or any cabinet minister.

The incident has triggered debate over whether protocol was violated and what the rules say about receiving the President during visits to Indian states.

Is it mandatory for the Chief Minister to receive the President?

There is no rule making it mandatory for a chief minister to personally receive the President. However, by long-standing protocol and convention, the President is typically welcomed by the Governor and the Chief Minister.

If the chief minister is unavailable, it is customary to nominate a cabinet minister to receive the President. Officials familiar with such visits say the absence of both the chief minister and a designated minister is unusual.

The Blue Book protocol

Visits of the President, Vice-President, and Prime Minister are governed by a confidential protocol manual known as the Blue Book, prepared and updated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The document lays down detailed procedures covering security, logistics and ceremonial arrangements. Numbered copies are circulated to officials involved in organising the visit, and at the district level, it is kept with the district magistrate and the district police chief, who oversee local arrangements.

Because of the security sensitivity involved, even minor deviations from the approved procedures can invite scrutiny.

Who usually receives the President?

Under protocol, the President is usually received and seen off by the Governor and the Chief Minister. If the chief minister cannot attend, a nominated minister represents the state government.

Senior administrative and police officials are also present at the reception.

A list of those receiving the dignitary is prepared in advance and approved by the offices of the President, Vice-President, or Prime Minister.

Have such absences happened before?

Yes, though a minister usually represents the state government.

For instance, when President Droupadi Murmu visited Mathura in Uttar Pradesh in September last year, neither Governor Anandiben Patel nor Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was present. However, Minister Lakshmi Narain Chaudhary was deputed to receive her.

Similarly, officials said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Uttar Pradesh after 2014, then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav occasionally nominated ministers to receive him if he was unavailable.

Why the West Bengal visit has kicked off a controversy

The issue escalated after President Droupadi Murmu reportedly expressed displeasure at not finding either the chief minister or any cabinet minister at Bagdogra airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the West Bengal government, while Union ministers, including Amit Shah and S Jaishankar, also attacked the state government.

The ruling Trinamool Congress has, however, denied any protocol breach.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the responsibility for any mismanagement lay with the event’s private organisers and the Airports Authority of India, which provided the venue.

The Centre, on Sunday, has sought a report from the state government on alleged lapses in protocol, venue arrangements, and movement routes during the visit.

Why protocol matters

The President ranks first in India’s table of precedence, above the Vice-President and the Prime Minister. Because of this, their visits involve strict ceremonial and security arrangements.

While the chief minister’s presence is not mandatory, convention requires that the state government be formally represented, which is why the absence of both the chief minister and a nominated minister has drawn political and administrative scrutiny.