Buddha turns down Mamata invite to fest

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday called up her predecessor and archrival Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and invited him to attend the inaugural ceremony of the 17th Kolkata Film Festival starting Thursday. This was the first time Mamata spoke to the CPM leader more than three years.

I will be happy if you please come for the opening ceremony, Mamata told Bhattacharjee. But the former CM turned down the invitation. I am sorry I will not be able to do that, Bhattacharjee told her.

The last time the two talked was in August 2008 at Raj Bhavan to diffuse the crisis over Trinamool opposition to the Tatas small car factory at Singur.