The Centenary Celebrations of the Indian Science Congress here in the city on Thursday brought together the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee face to face with each other.

This was the first time after her acrimonious exit from the UPA-II that the West Bengal Chief Minister shared the dais with the Prime Minister.

Both the Prime Minister and President Pranab Mukherjee were in the city to attend the inaugural session of the Centenary celebrations of the Indian Science Congress.

Banerjee, had skipped the National Development Council (NDC) meet – attended by Chief Ministers – held in Delhi in December. She had instead sent the State Finance Minister Amit Mitra as the state’s representative.

It is reliably learnt that Banerjee did not go to receive the President and Prime Minister from the airport last evening (Wednesday evening).

abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in

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