Bhubaneswar: After spending two days in Puri, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee arrived at Naveen Niwas in Odisha capital around 4.30 pm on Thursday for her much-speculated meeting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Naveen welcomed Mamata by presenting a Sri Anga Vastra of Mahaprabhu, a replica of three chariots, a filigree work and chhena poda, which brought a smile to her face.
The Bengal CM reciprocated with a shawl specially prepared by Biswa Bangla. She also paid respect to his parents, Biju Patnaik, former chief minister of Odisha, and Gyan Patnaik by presenting a zamadani saree.
Later speaking to the media, Naveen said that it was a courtesy call and there was no in-depth discussion on serious political matters. “We stressed that the federal structure in India should remain permanent and strong,” he added.
Mamata said that they discussed about safety of the nation and democratic rights. “I strongly support Naveen ji’s statement on strengthening the federal structure. We share a good relationship being neighbouring states which face the vagaries of nature. When there is a cyclone in Odisha, West Bengal is also affected,” she said.
She also thanked Naveen for the 2-acre land for Bangla Niwas in Puri and the hospitality shown to them. “I am grateful to Naveen ji. He is a very tall leader. It was a good gesture by him to give us all protocol, all affection,” Mamata said, adding that she has extended an invitation to Odisha CM to visit West Bengal.
She also spoke about the Rs 100-crore Jagannath Temple being built by the West Bengal government at the beach town of Digha in Purba Medinipur district.
Mamata, who be winding up her three-day visit to the state after this meeting, refused to talk about the Third Front, saying that elections are still a year away.
Grapevine was abuzz about possibility of talks on the Third Front between the CMs of the two neighbouring states. More so, since this tete-a-tete follows one with Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav during which they announced a new political front, challenging both Congress and the BJP in the upcoming general elections.
She will also be meeting former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy at her residence on March 24 and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the national capital later this month. Trinamool leadership has made it clear that the party will reach out to other like-minded parties.
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