Too much interference from Centre in state affairs: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata, May 25: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged "too much interference" from the central government in affairs of the state and held such developments were "unacceptable" in a federal structure.

"Too much interference in the federal structure is unacceptable. The state government is an elected body. The central government is also an elected body," she tweeted on her official social media handle.

The chief minister, however, did not provide any details about what prompted the tweet.

"Every elected body has its own jurisdiction. One must respect the other," she said in another tweet.

Her tweet comes somewhat suddenly in the backdrop of the apparent bonhomie between the chief minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter's recent trip to West Bengal.

Modi, during his trip, said that the central and state governments need to work together as "Team India" to develop the country - a view that found resonance with Banerjee. [Passengers or not, Mamata hell-bent to get an airport in a town]

Her tweet follows Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's allegation on Sunday that the Bengal chief minister and prime minister have a tacit understanding and they are "two sides of the same coin".

"Modi and Mamata are two sides of the same coin. They are each others' most trusted friend and both show similar traits," Ramesh had told media persons here.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had however dismissed the allegations of a nexus between his Bharatiya Janata Party and Banerjee's Ttrinamool Congress.

"We are politically opposed to each other. There can never be a political alliance between us. We are opposed to them (Trinamool) and will remain opposed," he said in New Delhi.

IANS