The President’s Secretariat has declined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party’s request for an appointment for a meeting, citing “paucity of time”, sources have said.The TMC delegation had sought the meeting to brief President Droupadi Murmu on various welfare and development programmes undertaken by the West Bengal Government. Party sources indicated that the TMC had written to the secretariat again, seeking an appointment next week in case a slot was unavailable this week.The initial letter was sent on March 9, requesting a meeting between the President and a delegation included Members of Parliament and state ministers, who aimed to apprise the President of the government’s initiatives in the state.Notably, during her visit to West Bengal last week for the International Santhal Conference, Murmu had expressed displeasure over the absence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior state ministers at the airport to receive her. The President also raised questions over the venue for the event.Following the incident, a war of words erupted between the TMC and the BJP. The BJP described the episode as “shameful”, accusing the TMC of disrespecting the Constitution.The TMC, in turn, defended the state government and accused the BJP of attempting to politicise the President’s visit. The TMC’s renewed request for a meeting signals the party’s intent to formally communicate the state government’s welfare and development achievements to the President, amid an ongoing political tussle.