Political Drama Unfolds In West Bengal: Mamata Denies Calling Amit Shah, Says 'Will Resign If Proved'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that she would resign if it is proved that she contacted Union Home Minister Amit Shah after her party, Trinamool Congress, lost its national party status.

Banerjee challenged Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari's claim of her contacting Home Minister Amit Shah without evidence, and hinted at legal action.

Adhikari, during a rally in Singur, alleged that Mamata Banerjee had made multiple phone calls to Amit Shah, requesting the retention of her party's national status.

Banerjee responded to media reports regarding Adhikari's comments and said: "One person is addressing a public meeting and saying that after the Trinamool Congress lost its national party status, I called their tallest leader, Shah ji, four times on the phone.

"You have aired this news the entire day yesterday. It has been reported in the newspapers as well. Have you cross-checked this information with me that whether I have called him or not?"

"I want to repeat that I have demanded his resignation. For engaging in a conspiracy to break the Constitution. He denigrates his constitutional position, and he intends to break the federal structure by using brute force to break governments. His words are not befitting the post of the Home Minister and not according to the constitution," Banerjee said.

"The person who says I have called him four times should atone by crawling with his nose on the ground because you have reported it. If I have done this, I am giving you my word, I will resign from the position of Chief Minister.

"And if they have lied and used you to propagate their lies, then admit that those who are behind it and those who have done it, will you atone for this by crawling with your nose on the ground? Will you resign? Or will your leaders resign?" Banerjee told the reporters.

"My question is, shouldn't the press verify these claims, instead of blatantly running whatever BJP leaders are claiming? The media, too, will get defamation notices if they don't cross-check, before running such propaganda," she added, cautioning media of defamation notices.

TMC announced in a tweet that it is taking Suvendu Adhikari and Amit Shah to court over the claims.

Adhikari, responding to Banerjee, said in a tweet: 'For making the call to Delhi, you (Mamata) used a landline. I'd expose you in due time.'

On 10 April, the Trinamool Congress and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) lost their national party status.

The Election Commission had granted TMC the national party status in September 2016, following an amendment to the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. In 2016, TMC was already a state party in West Bengal, Manipur, and Tripura.

In contrast, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was granted the recognition of a national party.