Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to go to Punjab on 21 February after disbursing money to the workers engaged under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme whose dues have not been paid by the Centre. Miss Banerjee had announced that they would be paid their dues on 21 February.

A sum of Rs 3,700 crores would be required to clear their dues, and budgetary provisions have been kept in the state Budget for 2024–25. Miss Banerjee had staged a dharna demanding payment of their dues in November 2023. Again, she took a delegation of MPs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press her demand. However, despite assurances given by the Prime Minister, nothing has been done so far in the matter. Miss Banerjee has also announced the state would fund the construction of houses for over 11 lakh rural poor in phases if the Centre does not clear the Prime Minister Awas Yojna (PMAY) dues within a month.

Advertisement

It was learnt that Miss Banerjee will offer prayer at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. She is likely to meet the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Bhagwant Mann. Miss Banerjee has very cordial relations with the Punjabi community in Bengal. She always visits the meeting to celebrate the birthday of Guru Govind Singji at Maidan. Miss Banerjee, who is an integral part of the INDIA alliance, has decided to go it alone in Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections. Similarly, the AAP has decided to go it alone in Punjab.

Miss Banerjee is likely to meet Mr Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi. Political observers see Miss Banerjee’s meeting with Mr Mann and Mr Kejriwal as important in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. It was learnt that she would discuss how the farmers’ movement can be intensified at the border of Delhi and Punjab. Miss Banerjee has always expressed solidarity with the agitating farmers and extended her support by uploading a post on her X handle. Earlier, she had sent her teams to meet the farmers two years ago and had talked to the farmer leaders over the telephone to extend her support.