'Why should we meet Sonia Gandhi every time? Not constitutionally mandated': Mamata Banerjee

Banerjee said, "they are busy with Punjab polls". Later, she added, "Why should we meet Sonia every time? It is not constitutionally mandated."

Banerjee was known to share a good equation with Sonia Gandhi, but it seems it has not extended to the next generation.

The Trinamool chief, who is on an expanding mode after the smashing victory in the April-May assembly elections in Bengal, said she was willing to cooperate in the coming Uttar Pradesh elections.

"If Trinamool can help defeat the BJP in UP, we will go... If Akhilesh (Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav) wants our help we will give," she said. "We have started in Goa and Haryana... but I think some places, let regional parties fight. If they want us to campaign, we will help".

Banerjee also announced that she has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) in April, 2022, to help betterment of the state-centre relations for overall development of industries, which suffered heavily for past two years owing to Covid-19.

"The Prime Minister has accepted the invitation (BGBS)," Banerjee told the reporters in Delhi while addressing them about the outcome of her talks with Modi.

She said in a federal structure country, there should be very cordial relations between the state and centre because development of the states meant a stronger centre.

Banerjee said she also raised various issues like pending funds, withdrawal of Border Security Force (BSF) territorial jurisdiction in West Bengal, Covid vaccination and alleged brutality in Tripura by the ruling opposition.