Kolkata, 04 July (H.S.): Days after resigning from all posts in the Trinamool Congress, former Minister of State for Finance Chandrima Bhattacharya has raised serious questions over Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's style of functioning, claiming she was never consulted during the preparation of the state budget despite being in charge of the Finance Department.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Bhattacharya alleged that she came to know about the budget proposals only a few hours before they were presented to the public.

I was never involved in discussions on the preparation of the budget. I would learn about the budget proposals only a few hours before they were announced to the people. I always performed my duties with sincerity, but when that very sincerity is being questioned, I decided to resign, she said.

Bhattacharya further claimed that her role was limited to presenting the Budget speech in the Assembly. According to her, she was not aware of who actually prepared the budget.

The Chief Minister would simply tell me, 'Chandrima, this is the kind of budget that has to be presented.' I believe she gathered inputs from officials and then conveyed the directions to me, she said.

Responding to a question on why she did not resign earlier if she had reservations about the process, Bhattacharya said it was her duty to follow the Chief Minister's instructions, and she discharged her responsibilities accordingly.

However, she declined to elaborate further on the budget-making process, stating that she had taken an oath to maintain confidentiality and intended to honour that commitment.

Bhattacharya's remarks have revived the debate surrounding a statement made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in 2021, when she had said that she had prepared the state budget while walking on a treadmill. The Opposition had then questioned the role of the Finance Minister in the budget-making process.

Her latest comments have once again brought the issue into the political spotlight. Coming in the wake of her resignation from the Trinamool Congress following the party's defeat in the Assembly elections, the remarks are expected to intensify political debate in the state. Her recent meeting with leaders of the Ritabrata Banerjee-led faction has also fuelled speculation over her future political course.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh