PM Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the launch of social welfare schemes in Kolkata on Saturday. (Press Trust of India)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose Kolkata to launch three new social welfare schemes, an event coinciding with the 155th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.
In attendance was Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister, known for her admiration of the poet, who peppered her speech liberally with Tagore quotations.
But if her primary objective is to seek a complete debt waiver for Bengal from the Prime Minister, she certainly didn't appear conciliatory at this event.
Not once did she thank PM Modi for his new schemes, instead thanking the insurance sector.
And then came a political potshot: "There are no banks in many villages. How will these bank dependent schemes work?" she asked.
"In Bengal, Even now also after so many years of our independence it's a fact, reality is, out of 3500 panchayats there are no banks in more than 1000 panchayats. Gram panchayat must be covered with banking facilities," she said.
It was an irrefutable point but the PM used it to his advantage. He said, "The honorable chief minister in her speech was saying that there are no banks in villages. This is the legacy of 60 years."
There was loud applause and then the gloves came off.
"Her pain or concern is natural. I also share her concern. But she made this point in front of me because she is confident that if anyone changes things, it will be me," PM Modi said.
There was louder applause. After the event Ms Banerjee met PM Modi again at the Raj Bhavan with what has been her primary agenda with the Centre since the BJP came to power: the complete waiver of the state's debt of Rs 2.74 lakh crore. She blames the previous Left Front government for it.
The Bengal chief minister is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister again on Sunday in Burnpur where Mr Modi will inaugurate a modernised steel plant. The big question is will the two leaders overcome their political differences to make a real difference to the economic development of West Bengal.