Kolkata, Jan 22 (PTI) TMC MLA Madan Mitra on Saturday flagged off a tram here themed on the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, calling it a "befitting" response to the Centre's rejection of West Bengal's Republic Day tableau that had the same theme.

Hitting back, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said Mitra's comments showed that the TMC was looking to reap political dividends from every project of the state government.

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The single-bogey tram was flagged off by Mitra, the chairman of West Bengal Transport Corp Ltd, at the Gariahat depot in south Kolkata.

The tram, named 'Balaka', has books on Bose and showcases posters and photos of the icon. It has been also been decked up with the Tricolor.

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"This is Bengal's befitting response to New Delhi in the wake of the insult to the state and its people. Whenever New Delhi humiliates Bengal, we will give a strong response. Don't underestimate Bengal," Mitra said.

The tram will ply for five days between Gariahat and Esplanade, he added.

The BJP said Mitra is not even taken seriously by his party, TMC.

"After being reprimanded by TMC for his recent Facebook lives, Madan Mitra, who is not taken seriously by his party's leadership, is trying to get some points and eyeing a berth in the cabinet with the comments. His statement shows that TMC wants to reap political dividends from every project of state government," he said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)