West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee counters President's remarks with pre-approved state visit plan

Mamata Banerjee

• President Murmu, CM Banerjee dispute Santhali Conclave location
• Banerjee says event lineup excluded her and ministers
• Banerjee alleges BJP is using President for political purposes

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The latest flashpoint -- 9th International Santhali Conclave in West Bengal, that saw President Droupadi Murmu

and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee being engaged in a war of words, shows no signs of closure.

The Bengal chief minister has hit back at President after the latter's remarks on the way she was treated during her visit to the state.

On Saturday, President Murmu attended the tribal community conclave that was initially supposed to take place in Bidhannagar but later moved to a smaller venue in Goshaipur near the Bagdogra Airport citing congestion.

This change did not sit well with the President, who said she was “very sad that the people here were unable to reach the conference because it was held so far away".

The absence of CM and other ministers at the event attended by President, turned into a war of words with not just the President herself, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressing his disapproval of the state's decision.

Now, Banerjee has countered, saying that she and her ministers were never supposed to be present as per the lineup approved by the President's Secretariat and that the event was arranged by a private organisation. The documents also have no mention of Bidhannagar being the initial location.

The CM also said that the Siliguri distict administration had flagged a lack of adequate arrangements at the venue, which documents shared by her showed was originally supposed to be in Goshaipur, to the President's Secretariat ahead of the latter's visit. Pictures the Bengal CM shared, claiming to be two days before Murmu's visit, showed a barren field with no structures needed for a public gathering.

She further said that the President was received and seen off by the Siliguri Mayor, Darjeeling DM and Siliguri CP as per the pre-approved lineup by the President's team. "Hon’ble President was received and seen off by Mayor Siliguri Municipal Corporation, DM Darjeeling and CP Siliguri Police Commissionerate strictly as per the approved lineup shared by the President's Secretariat. CM, West Bengal was not part of the lineup or the dais plan. No protocol lapse happened on the part of district administration," her post read.

International Santal Council, a private organisation, invited Hon’ble President to the 9th International Adivasi Santal Conference in Siliguri. After Advanced Security Liaison, district administration flagged in writing to the President’s Secretariat that the organiser appeared…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 7, 2026

Banerjee alleged that politics were being played by using the President "on the advice of the BJP". "I feel ashamed to even say this.

We respect the Honourable President. But, she too, has been sent to sell politics...I am sorry, madam. I have great regard for you, but you are being guided by BJP policies and BJP instructions," the Bengal CM said, addressing a gathering in Kolkata.