Shillong, Dec 12: The AITC chairperson, Mamata Banerjee arrived in Shillong on Monday afternoon.
She is on a two-day visit to the city for the first time to boost the political activities ahead of the Assembly polls in 2023.
Clad in white saree and jacket, Mamata was given a traditional welcome amid the cheer of the party workers at the airport.
Later, wearing a Ryndia shawl, she walked and greeted the supporters before boarding a special vehicle to the city.
Mamata was accompanied by the AITC national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, who is visiting the state for the third time.
On December 13, she will hold a party workers’ convention at the U Soso Tham auditorium, State Central Library, with key TMC leaders of the state, representatives of all district and block committees, members of women, youth and student leaders, and over hundreds of party workers and members.
In the evening, she would be attending pre-Christmas celebrations with children from different orphanages, headmen from Khasi and Jaintia Hills, eminent members from the civil society and prominent influencers of Meghalaya based out of Shillong, at the Windermere Resort, Umpling.
After her arrival at the Umroi airport, Trinamool Congress Legislature Party Leader and Leader of Opposition, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Mukul Sangma said, “We are very happy that the AITC chairperson is here on her first-time visit. All the foot soldiers from the party from nooks and corners of the state got their chance to meet the chairperson. They will have an opportunity to have an audience with her in the meeting.”
Umroi MLA and AITC member George Lyngdoh said the visit will also boost the state party workers and leaders.
Coverage affected
The over-enthusiasm of Bengal media resulted in coverage of local media persons being affected at the airport.
The local media persons, who were barricaded by the security personnel and were not allowed to come out, could not get a proper view of the AITC leader as the media persons from West Bengal had unrestricted access and hindered the view.
What annoyed the local press is that the media persons from West Bengal were allowed to stand close to the gate where Mamata was to exit whereas, a different restricted place was allotted to the local journalists.
When the matter was brought to the notice of the AITC and I-PAC functionaries, they regretted the incident and assured to take corrective steps.
