Centre can't decide TMC representative for MP delegation: Mamata Banerjee on skipping global outreach bid

Mamata made the clarification after reportedly her MP from Baharampur, former cricketer Yusuf Pathan, snubbed the Centre's offer to join the delegation which will be touring different parts of the world in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.

Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister said, "I said that they (Centre) cannot decide the name. If they request us, the party will decide the name. This is the custom and system.

"We are totally with the central government regarding External Affairs policy and we are fully supporting them. We have no hesitation to say that."

"However, they cannot unilaterally decide on the name of the representative by consulting only the Parliamentary Party, and not the parent party," she added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which runs the Centre, equated Mamata's stance as an effort to skip speaking against Pakistan-backed terrorism.

This has been reflected in BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya's X post that reads, "West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision to force the TMC MP to withdraw from the multi-party delegation is unfortunate. This is a Government of India delegation and should have been kept above partisan politics. Members of Parliament are representatives of the people as well.

"It sends a subliminal message that Mamata Banerjee and her party are unwilling to speak out against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. What is worse is that while a caucus of senior party apparatchiks prevailed—likely because they were not part of the delegation—other senior TMC MPs are now sending feelers to be included."

"After all, it is a matter of national pride to represent the country at such a moment. Mamata Banerjee represents the worst kind of politics, and unfortunately, West Bengal is bearing the brunt of it. Let us not forget that a hostile demographic shift is staring the state in the face."

Earlier, the central government had snubbed the Congress' choices and instead picked its MP Shashi Tharoor, who has praised Modi's several foreign policies of late, to lead a delegation in the United States.

The government has formed seven all-delegations which will visit key partner countries including members of the UN Security Council later this month to carry the message in the context of Operation Sindoor.

The delegations will showcase India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism globally.

Each delegation comprises Members of Parliament from different parties, political personalities, and diplomats.

Tharoor has been picked as one of the seven leaders who will lead seven different all-party delegations to key partner nations.