Jagdeep Dhankhar’s outburst against the state government on the premises of the Assembly on Tuesday cast its shadow on Republic Day celebrations on Wednesday as chief minister Mamata Banerjee maintained a studied distance from the governor throughout the programme.

While Mamata returned Dhankhar’s salutations she barely looked at him, something very non-characteristic of the chief minister. During past events, Mamata had been seen exchanging pleasantries with the governor despite Dhankhar’s frequent criticism of her government’s policies. The warmth of the chief minister was evidently missing on Wednesday.

At 10.34am on Wednesday, the governor reached the Red Road for the traditional Republic Day parade. After getting down from his car and being received by government officials, the governor approached the chief minister with folded hands. Mamata, however, remained seated till the governor came close to her. She then stood up and returned his gesture, without a smile or a look.

As Dhankhar lowered himself to speak to Mamata, she appeared to turn her face away and then hurriedly gestured Dhankhar to pose for photographers. She then called Speaker Biman Banerjee for the photo op.

Dhankhar yet again appeared to be speaking something to the chief minister, who kept her glare away from the governor. Soon, both exchanged salutations and Dhankhar approached the main stage, conventionally meant for the governor. He unfurled the national flag and marked the beginning of the celebrations.

About 30 minutes later, after the conclusion of the event, Dhankhar approached Mamata with folded hands yet again. The chief minister again returned the gesture but maintained a stone-cold expression.

Although no statement has come from either the chief minister’s office or the Raj Bhavan on this “unnatural interaction”, sources close to Mamata said she was extremely annoyed with the governor’s conduct on Tuesday.

To mark the National Voters’ Day on Tuesday, Dhankhar had expressed his wish to pay tributes to the statue of B.R. Ambedkar at the Assembly and had invited both the Speaker and the leader of the Opposition to the event. After the programme was over, Dhankhar spoke to journalists and lashed out at Mamata, her government and Speaker Biman Banerjee.

“Tuesday’s was not a prescheduled event. Dhankhar came to the Assembly on his and then used the platform and the sacred premises of the House to exploit his agenda. Mamatadi is extremely upset with him for this and that was evident on Wednesday as well,” a Trinamul Congress source close to Mamata said.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the Speaker said that in future, if the governor wanted to visit the House, the purpose and other issues would first be looked into before taking any decision.

“I wasn’t able to hear what he (Dhankhar) actually said (on the Assembly premises). I’ve asked for a video copy of it and will look into it,” Biman added.

A tableau prepared by the state government and subsequently rejected by the Centre for taking part in New Delhi’s Republic Day parade was seen rolling out on Red Road on Wednesday. The theme of the tableau was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army.

Adhikari not invited

Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari was not invited to the Red Road parade.

While Adhikari claimed that Mamata had not invited him deliberately since he had defeated her in Nandigram last year, sources in the government said the Opposition leader was left out as the programme was limited to 60 people because of Covid-19-induced restrictions .

“Even amidst the Covid-19 outbreak last year, the then Opposition leader, Abdul Mannan, had been invited .… Jealousy has no vaccine and she is jealous of me,” Adhikari said.

Minister Firhad Hakim said Adhikari had remained absent from programmes earlier despite being invited.