Citing “unforeseen circumstances”, the Oxford Union Debating society on Wednesday looked to postpone a scheduled online address by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the last hour. The move invited flak from the ruling Trinamul Congress leadership, which alleged "political pressure from the highest level" in the issue.

Mamata was about to become the first woman chief minister of India to address 'The Oxford Union Debate' around 2:30 pm on Tuesday. However, at 1:50 pm, the organisers requested the programme be rescheduled stating that "nothing prevails over circumstances sometimes".

The state home department acknowledged the matter and wrote on Twitter, “Today afternoon, the organisers have suddenly sought postponement and rescheduling of the programme at the last moment!"

"The request has been made telephonically from the organisers' end, citing some unforeseen problems, a brief while ago. The programme with Oxford Union today stands cancelled," it added.

Infuriated over the incident, the TMC leadership said that “political pressure” might be the reason behind such a decision.

"This is unprecedented... A programme planned months ahead was cancelled a few minutes before the event was scheduled to start. This is not the first time that such a thing has happened. Earlier, too, her programmes at international fora and foreign visits have been cancelled at the eleventh hour. All sorts of pressure were applied from the highest level to stop Mamata Banerjee's address. We condemn such politics," a senior TMC parliamentarian, who wished to remain anonymous, told PTI.

In 2018, the chief minister’s programme at Chicago to mark Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary, her scheduled visit to China and her address at St Stephen's college in New Delhi were cancelled, one after another.

The Oxford Union Debating Society, while offering its “sincerest apologies”, wrote a nail to the government saying, “Our audience sent a great many questions, and we were all working hard to pull a number of elements together. However, nothing prevails over circumstances sometimes; it seems."

"I sincerely hope that the Hon'ble Chief Minister will understand and might honour us with her esteemed presence at the earliest possible convenience to you. With your permission, I will pass your details onto my successor, to whom I hand over this Friday," the mail added.

State secretariat sources said that Mamata was expected to speak on the various welfare schemes launched by her government, including the 'Kanyashree', 'Rupasree', 'Krishak Bandhu' and 'Duare Bangla' programmes, during her address.

She had received the invitation in July, the sources said.