Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the residence of Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) MP Sudip Bandopadhyay on Sunday on the occasion of Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, dismissing speculation about possible political realignments ahead of civic polls and describing the visit as a “courtesy call”.
Adhikari, while visiting Bandyopadhyay's residence in Janbazar area in central Kolkata, said it was a courtesy call, and that the former TMC leader had invited him to attend his household puja a month ago.
"It was a courtesy visit, as Sudipda had invited me to his household Lakshmi Puja a month ago. I offered prayers, puja and ate 'naru' (sweet ball made of grated coconut and jaggery or sugar)," the chief minister told reporters.
Taking a dig at former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari said she had not attended the Lakshmi Puja celebrations at Bandyopadhyay's residence on previous occasions.
Adhikari also pointed out that Bandyopadhyay was now an NDA partner and had attended a breakfast meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, senior Mamata AITC MP Sougata Roy said Kojagari Lakshmi Puja was an annual affair at Bandyopadhyay's residence but suggested that the latest developments indicated a shift in the MP's political proximity.