New Delhi: Stoking a controversy over the omission of West Bengal from the Republic Day tableau parade, the Trinamool on Monday claimed that the showcase “Kanyashree” scheme of the state was rejected by the Centre.

Trinamool leader Derek O’Brien blogged to claim that there was a “backstory” to the missing tableau of the state. Along with West Bengal, a number of states, including Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Odisha, Kerala, Punjab, Delhi and Nagaland, did not figure in the parade on Monday.

Incidentally, the Tamil Nadu government showcased tableau in Chennai which had pictures of AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa. Meanwhile, Mr O’Brien claimed that even though West Bengal had bagged the best prize for tableau last year, “there is a backstory to the missing tableaux.”

The BJP slammed West Bengal’s ruling party for politicising the matter. It termed the claims of the Trinamool reflective of a “petty mindset.” “It is very unfortunate that on a very auspicious day of Republic Day, we have parties making political statements,” BJP spokesperson G.V.L. Narasimha Rao said.

The Trinamool MP said that the state’s proposed tableau would have fitted well with the overall national message of encouraging and empowering women.