Bengal Governor Prioritises Visiting Flood-Hit Areas Over Meeting Abhishek Banerjee, TMC Protests Outside Raj Bhawan

Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and his team maintained their sit-in protest outside the Raj Bhawan in Kolkata on Friday (6 October), insisting on a meeting with Governor CV Ananda Bose to address the MGNREGA funds dispute.

The TMC aims to elevate the issue of the Centre's alleged neglect to the Lok Sabha. On Thursday, Banerjee and party workers marched to Raj Bhawan to discuss the matter with Bose.

However, the Governor reportedly asked them to join him in North Bengal, where he was evaluating the flood situation, within two hours — an impractical timeframe before his departure to Delhi.

In response, an angered Banerjee initiated a sit-in outside Bose's residence, vowing not to move until a meeting was arranged. A 25-member delegation, consisting of 15 TMC leaders and 10 representatives from affected families, submitted letters to the police and administrative staff outlining the adverse impact of fund shortages on their lives.

Banerjee, echoing the demands of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, challenged the Governor to forward the letters to Delhi and inquire why payments to 20 lakh MGNREGA workers had been halted. He declared his commitment to stay until the Governor accedes to a meeting.

The confrontation between TMC and BJP seized the spotlight in Delhi this week when Banerjee and BJP's Suvendu Adhikari arrived in the capital to meet MoS Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.

However, the day concluded in disorder as TMC claimed that its leaders were mistreated by the police and couldn't meet the minister. In response, the BJP dismissed it as a theatrical move by the state party.

Governor Bose's position, as reported by Raj Bhawan sources according to News 18, emphasises the importance of connecting with the grassroots, criticising the TMC's reluctance to visit villages as a form of "neo-zamindari" or new feudalism. The Governor's decision to visit flood-affected areas is framed as prioritising the people and their connection to the land.

In response, a TMC minister accused Bose of being a tourist in the flood-affected regions, prompting Bose to defend his actions and agree with the TMC's claim that he "flew away" saying, “I wish the ministers were also here, at least as tourists. He is minister of waterways. If he had come to the field, he would have realised that roadways have become waterways.”

On the ground, Trinamool workers expressed dissent, showing black flags and shouting 'Go Back' slogans. Governor Bose responded with composure, stating that they were expressing solidarity and agreeing that a Governor should not permanently stay in the circuit house.