Bengal CM Banerjee To Begin 4-Day Delhi Visit Today, Will Attend Niti Aayog Meet On Aug 7

According to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), her principal purpose for visiting the national capital is a Niti Ayog meeting on July 7

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Source : Getty Images

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will visit to Delhi for four days today, between August 4 and August 8, according to party sources, news agency PTI reported.

According to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), her principal purpose for visiting the national capital is a Niti Ayog meeting on July 7. She has previously not only boycotted such meetings, but also claimed that it had "no financial strength" and cannot support governmental goals.

Banerjee's visit will strengthen the confidence of TMC MPs who have been in the forefront of anti-BJP rallies, with seven of them in the Rajya Sabha among the 27 MPs banned so far, as per the party sources.

Her visit is also significant given the TMC's tense relationship with the Congress, particularly after West Bengal's governing party claimed that it was not consulted on the joint opposition candidate for the vice-presidential election.

The pressure between the parties was obvious during the opposition MPs' 50-hour relay protest, where regional parties managed to form an unified front without the Congress. In reality, Congress only joined in considerably later.

During her visit, the TMC head is also expected to meet with members of the opposition. It is unclear whether Congress President Sonia Gandhi is on the list.

Banerjee will also meet with her party's MPs to discuss not only the plan for the rest of the Monsoon session, but also her party's future as part of a unified Opposition.

She will also most likely make a visit to freshly elected President Droupadi Murmu.

The TMC chairman is expected to be in Delhi on August 6, when the vice-presidential poll takes place. The TMC has chosen to boycott the elections.

According to party insiders, she will also meet with party MPs and is expected to appear in the Central Hall of Parliament.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the Niti Aayog governing council meeting on August 7.

The council holds frequent meetings. It conducted its inaugural meeting on February 8, 2015.

Last year, Banerjee was unable to attend the summit. She is anticipated to express concerns about non-payment of GST dues and issues of federalism during this year's meeting.

(With Inputs From PTI)