Mamata likely to discuss financial package with Pranab

Kolkata, June 20: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to go to Delhi on Monday, June 20 on her maiden visit after assuming office with a bail-out financial package from the Centre high on her agenda.

Sources close to the chief minister told PTI that during her three-day visit, she will first call on Pranab Mukherjee on Monday in the afternoon and is expected to discuss a special package for the state government which has inherited a grim fiscal position from the previous government.

The state's finance minister, Amit Mitra, who has recently met his Union counpterpart will accompany her.

At their last meeting here on May 29, Mukherjee had assured the chief minister of central assistance to overcome the deep financial crisis with the accumulated debt reaching over Rs 1.85 lakh crore as on March 31, 2011 and is estimated to increase to over Rs two lakh crore during the financial year.

Mukherjee had, at the meeting, agreed with Banerjee's description of the situation as ''difficult'' and assured her that long and short-term assistance was necessary for the state.

During her stay she will call on Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to discuss the state's plan size. Banerjee will leave for Kolkata on Wednesday.

PTI