A political dispute has emerged between the Centre and the West Bengal government regarding alleged protocol breaches and logistical deficiencies during President Droupadi Murmu's two-day visit to the state in February 2024. Union government officials have raised concerns over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's absence from all presidential events and specific issues like the purported lack of water in the President's washroom at an event venue.

President Murmu visited Santiniketan and Kolkata on February 20 and 21, 2024, attending various engagements including the convocation ceremony at Visva-Bharati University. Following the visit, Union Minister of State for Education, Subhas Sarkar, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament from Bankura, publicly alleged a series of lapses. These included the Chief Minister's non-attendance at any of the President's programmes in both Santiniketan and Kolkata.

Key allegations from the Centre's side include:

  • Chief Minister's Absence: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was notably absent from all official events attended by President Murmu, including the Visva-Bharati convocation and cultural programmes.
  • Washroom Facility: Union Minister Subhas Sarkar reported that the President's designated washroom at Visva-Bharati in Santiniketan lacked running water on February 21, 2024, an issue he claimed to have personally verified.
  • Sanitation Concerns: Allegations were made regarding the presence of garbage along the route of the President's convoy in Kolkata, raising questions about cleanliness and arrangements for the head of state.
  • Protocol at Historical Site: Further claims detailed alleged protocol breaches during the President's visit to Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home, Jorasanko Thakurbari, in Kolkata.

In response, the West Bengal government has refuted these claims. State Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya stated that Chief Minister Banerjee's absence was due to pre-scheduled official commitments. Bhattacharya also asserted that the state administration had made comprehensive arrangements for the President's visit, and that all necessary protocols were meticulously followed. She specifically dismissed the allegations concerning the washroom facilities and sanitation as baseless. Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim also defended the state's arrangements, maintaining that adequate care was taken for the President's security and comfort.

West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose was present at multiple events alongside President Murmu and interacted with her throughout the visit. The dispute has added to existing tensions in Centre-State relations between the Union government and the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal administration.

The allegations and counter-allegations continue to fuel political debate within the state and at the national level. No immediate investigations or formal inquiries have been announced in connection with the claims made by either side. The situation remains a point of contention between the two governmental bodies.