The BJP is likely to skip the all-party meeting called by chief minister Mamata Banerjee on August 29 at Nabanna Sabhaghar to discuss the proposed West Bengal Day.
On Thursday, a letter was sent to all parties inviting them to attend the meeting.
“The central government has decided to observe a particular day (June 20) as Paschim Banga Divas. This year, some programmes were also held in Raj Bhavan… We have reservations because we are not clear why the day is being termed as Paschim Banga Divas… The unilateral decision of the Centre is worrisome,” reads the letter signed by Mamata.
Reacting to the invitation, sources in the BJP said a final decision on attending the meeting was yet to be taken but a majority of leaders in the party, including the leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, felt that skipping the meeting would be an appropriate step.
“Majority of MLAs and other leaders feel attending the all-party meeting with Trinamul at Nabanna after the violence in the panchayat polls would not be appropriate,” said a BJP source.
Sources close to Adhikari said the leader of the Opposition also felt that attending the meeting would send a wrong message to those who faced the ruling party’s muscle flexing in the panchayat polls.
“BJP workers whose relatives were killed or seriously injured in the violence unleashed by the ruling party would not like to see a photograph of our leaders standing beside Trinamul leaders at Nabanna Sabhaghar,” said a source.
“But no final decision has been taken in this regard.... The state president will take a call in this regard,” said another source.
Other Opposition parties, including the CPM, were yet to take a call on whether to attend the meeting.
“We have not received any letter.... Let us get the letter first, then we can take a call on this,” said Sujan Chakraborty of the CPM.
Sources said the CPM and the Congress might not be able to skip the meeting as the Left had always responded to such all-party meetings in the past.
Even if the parties decide to attend the meeting, they are sceptical that the Trinamul has perhaps fixed a date as Paschim Banga Divas and it just wanted to get this vetted at an all-party meeting.
“We have heard that the Trinamul as well as the state government have decided to fix Paschim Banga Divas on Poila Boisakh (Bengali New Year). They want this to get vetted at the all-party meeting. If that happens, we can oppose it. We will be happy if a proper discussion is held to fix a date,” said a CPM leader.
