The question that is getting debated in the local media and inside the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is whether the Chief Minister or any of her envoys will attend the oath taking ceremony of BJP leaders on May 26 in New Delhi. When contacted, TMC general secretary Mukul Roy told The Hindu here on Wednesday that "the party is yet to decide on whether to attend the ceremony or not.”
TMC chairperson and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faces a two way compulsion over the issue of her party’s attendance in Narendra Modi’s oath taking ceremony. Observers of Bengal politics feel, Ms. Banerjee is stuck between the proverbial "devil and the deep blue sea." Ms. Banerjee needs financial assistance from the Center owing to poor health of State's economy and she has reasons to visit Delhi and attend the ceremony. On the other hand TMC may face the risk of loosing the minority votes in the upcoming civic polls, if the party chief shares "public space", commentators feel.
TMC’s final decision in this regard may have some repercussion on the future of the State’s relation with the Centre. Ms. Banerjee has repeatedly claimed over last several months that her party will be a determining factor in the formation of the next government at the Centre and West Bengal will not go to New Delhi for financial help and "instead Delhi will come to West Bengal." But with the BJP getting a majority on its own it is rather unlikely that TMC will have any role to play at the Centre. BJP President Rajnath Singh however said that if the BJP forms the government it would provide a special financial package to West Bengal in tune with Ms. Banerjee’s long standing demand. In this context it remains to be seen what decision TMC takes in this regard.
The CPI(M) also is yet to decide whether to attend the oath taking ceremony or not. When contacted CPI(M) Central Committee member and the party’s MP from the Raiganj constituency said “we have not yet deliberated on the matter yet. The party will probably discuss it tomorrow (Thursday).”
