West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee felicitated by Jain Community women during the third day of dharna against SIR issues, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, at Dorina Crossing, Esplanade, Kolkata. | Photo credit: ANI
Controversy over the breach of protocol and change of venue during President Droupadi Murma’s visit to Darjeeling on Saturday (March 7, 2026) continued to rage in West Bengal political circles on Sunday (March 8, 2026), with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership demanding the resignation of Development Minister Chief Banje Mame Banjer
Calling it “shameful and unprecedented” on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had not only boycotted an important event of the tribal community, but had also boycotted the President of India.
“The President is from the Adivasi community. She is concerned about the development of the Adivasi Santhal community. Trinamool Congress mismanaged the event. It is not only an insult to the President but also an insult to the spirit of the Constitution and the rich traditions of democracy in our country,” Mr Modi said while attending an event in the state capital.
President Murma’s insult was an insult to the tribals of the state, BJP MPs from West Bengal representing Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities said. “The Chief Minister should resign immediately. Making excuses will not work. For the sake of the tribal community, she must resign,” Khagen Murmu, BJP MP from Malda Uttar Lok Sabha constituency, said during a press conference in Kolkata.
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday (March 7, 2026) expressed her dismay at the West Bengal government for shifting the venue of the Santhal International Conference to Darjeeling district and not following the required protocol to welcome her to the event. On Saturday (March 7, 2026), neither the state governor nor the chief minister nor any minister of West Bengal was present in Darjeeling to receive the president.
Responding to the allegations leveled against her, Ms. Banerjee on Sunday (March 8, 2026) maintained that there was no violation of protocol by Ms. Murma even on Saturday (March 7, 2026). The responsibility for the mismanagement of the event, if any, rested with its private organizers and the Airports Authority of India, which provided the venue, the CM said.
While on Saturday (March 7, 2026) the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief targeted the President and urged her not to “play politics on the advice of the BJP”, on Sunday (March 8, 2026) she said her government “has full respect for the President and the Constitution”.
Ms Banerjee, who has been on a dharna (protest) in Kolkata since March 6 against the deletion of Special Intensive Review (SIR) voters in the state, accused Mr Modi of insulting the President.
The West Bengal CM released a photograph of Mr Modi remaining seated at the event with veteran BJP leader LK Advani, with President Murmu standing beside them.
“The picture shows the Prime Minister sitting while the President is standing. We never do that. The culture of insulting the President is borne by the BJP, not us,” Ms Banerjee said, showing the photo as “proof of the insult”.
With West Bengal holding assembly elections in the next two months, the breach of protocol involving the President of India, who hails from a tribal community, has taken on political dimensions.
Published – March 8, 2026 10:41 PM IST
