Mamata Banerjee likely to meet PM Narendra Modi by end of this month

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the end of the month to discuss some economic issues related to the state, people aware of the development said.

Workers of Mamata’s Trinamool Congress party and government officials said Banerjee has given the impression that the ruling party will support development activities of the Centre and will not oppose Modi’s government as long as it does not take steps that the TC may perceive as detrimental to Bengal's interests.

Trinamool Congress workers said the three newly elected chief ministers of Kerala, Assam and Tamil Nadu have met the prime minister and discussed with him economic issues of their respective states.

"Our chief minister is yet to visit Delhi after winning the recent polls and meet the prime minister. As far as I know, she is planning to meet Narendra Modi at the end of this month, when she is likely to raise certain issues related to our state. She might urge the prime minister to reconsider her government's plea to give some financial relief to West Bengal in regard to recovery of loan taken by the previous Left Front government," a senior minister in Banerjee’s cabinet told ET on Wednesday.

Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his counterpart in Assam, Sarbanand Sonwal, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha have already met Modi.