A new political conflict has erupted in West Bengal concerning the protocol of the nation's first tribal woman President, Droupadi Murmu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Trinamool government of grossly disrespecting the President, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee retaliated by showcasing an old photograph to counter the Prime Minister's claims. Banerjee presented the image as evidence, asserting that Modi frequently makes grand statements about honoring the presidential office. The photograph in question shows President Murmu standing while the Prime Minister is seated comfortably, raising questions about the sincerity of Modi's respect for the office when such negligence is evident.

In a video, two Trinamool leaders are seen holding a picture from March 31, 2024, featuring President Murmu, Prime Minister Modi, and senior BJP leader L.K. Advani during a meeting where Advani was honored with the Bharat Ratna.

On Saturday, President Droupadi Murmu expressed her displeasure at not being greeted by the Chief Minister or any ministers upon her arrival at Bagdogra Airport. She was there to attend an international tribal conference. Murmu also voiced her dissatisfaction regarding a change in the location of her program near Siliguri, stating, 'I didn't find the situation there very appealing, so I thought I would check here, and it turned out to be much better. It's a large field, and many people could come. But I don't know what happened. Perhaps they thought no one would come, and the President would just leave. I'm very saddened by this, but I'm happy to be here with the people.'

Mamata Banerjee, however, was not one to remain silent. From a protest site in Kolkata, she displayed a photograph that stirred controversy all the way to Delhi. In the image, PM Modi is seen seated next to BJP leader L.K. Advani, with President Murmu standing beside them. Banerjee used this as proof to question who was truly disrespecting whom, asserting her respect for the office while demanding an end to the repeated targeting of Bengal.

She clarified that the Siliguri event was organized by a private entity and that the state government had not received official notice about it. Defending her absence, Banerjee stated that she was participating in a protest for the people's voting rights and could not leave it for a private event. She held the Airport Authority and private organizers accountable, remarking that it is not feasible to attend every event, even if invited multiple times.