Governor meets Mamata Banerjee after bitter exchange over violence in Birbhum

Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee met with Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for the first time over law and order issues in the state. The official handle of the Raj Bhavan tweeted photos and videos of the meeting, in which the two - who had been at loggerheads for years -- were seen speaking candidly.

Apparently, the Governor extended the invitation following the Birbhum massacre on 29 March.

The invite had been posted on the same social media platform by Mr Dhankhar, whom the Chief Minister had previously blocked. "Recent alarmingly worrisome developments, reflecting increased lawlessness and violence, make it imperative that you spare time earliest for an interaction at Raj Bhavan," he Twteeted.

Following the violence in Birbhum district in which eight people died, the Chief Minister did not reply to the Governor's criticism of the government.

"Your statements have political undertones supporting other parties to browbeat the Bengal government," wrote the Chief Minister in a letter to the Governor.

"Your utterances and statements have political overtones which provide support to other political parties to browbeat the government," she said.

The Chief Minister and Mr Dhankhar had spoken in February as well, although no agenda had been established. The invitation came after Ms Banerjee organized a meeting of opposition Chief Ministers to discuss "Constitutional overstepping and brazen misuse of power by Governors.".

In tweeting the invitation, the Governor pointed out that the governor's "lack of response" can lead to "consitutional stalemate which we are obligated to avoid by virtue of our oaths".

"All my earnest efforts in this direction have unfortunately not been successful in light of our position on these issues... Now, it has been long since there are any responses to legitimate issues that you have been flagging in the past and to which there is a constitutional obligation."

"All my earnest efforts in this direction have unfortunately not been successful in light of our position on these issues... Now, it has been long since there are any responses to legitimate issues that you have been flagging in the past and to which there is a constitutional obligation" he added

As per the Chief Minister, she had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi several times for the removal of Mr Dhankhar, but no action had been taken.