Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will not be going to New Delhi to attend the meeting of the proposed ‘one nation, one election’, scheduled to be held on 6 February. Miss Banerjee changed her mind in view of the state Budget for 2024-25, which will be tabled on the floor of the Assembly on 8 February. Sudip Bandyopadhyay party’s MP and leader of the party in Lok Sabha and Mr Kalyan Bandyopadhyay will attend the meeting on her behalf tomorrow.
Earlier, Miss Banerjee had decided to go to Delhi this evening and come back on 6 evening. It may be recalled that she had said that the BJP should spell out that it would go ahead with the Presidential form of government. So, it is evident that Trinamul Congress will wholeheartedly oppose the proposal. Mrs Chandrima Bhattacharya, state finance minister, will table the budget on the floor of the house.
Senior state government officials said Miss Banerjee goes through every word of the budget before it goes on print. Political analysts said it needs to be seen whether she proposes any new scheme in the budget. Swasthya Sathi and Sabuj Sathi, two flagship schemes of the state government were tabled during the budget. Sabuj Sathi has bagged global recognition. The scheme gives free cycles to the students of state-run and aided schools and Madrasas from Classes IX to XII. It has successfully reduced the number of school drop outs and child marriages.