In a significant development Bengal Chief Minister suddenly dropped in at her predecessor and ailing Marxist leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s residence on Thursday evening.
Bhattacharjee has been suffering from acute COPD and has almost taken a political exile on account of restricted movements imposed by the doctors.
The meeting comes in the midst of rampant skirmishes mostly between Trinamool and BJP in Bengal boondocks leading to a perception that the saffron outfit was coming up steadily and fast.
The Chief Minister who presented Bhattacharjee with flowers and sweets later said she came calling to inquire about his health and talk about books as “both of us are fond of reading.” She was accompanied by Kolkata Commissioner of Police Rajib Kumar.
Notwithstanding, her casual interpretation of the meeting, experts felt the development assumes significance against the backdrop of rising presence of the BJP in the State which could be proved from the recurrent clashes between the saffron outfit and the Trinamool cadres in the run-up to the panchayat elections.