Kolkata/UNI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday took a dig at the BJP-led NDA government, saying only two meetings of the INDIA alliance in a couple of months were enough to force the Centre to reduce the cooking gas price by Rs 200.

The price of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders for domestic use has been brought down by Rs 200 per cylinder for all users with effect from August 30, announced Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday.

This marks an 18 percent reduction in the price of a 14.2-kg cooking gas cylinder.

The drastic lowering in cooking gas prices happened at a time when the country was grappling with high inflation. However, the government's decision would benefit millions of low-income families in India ahead of crucial state elections this year and the general election in 2024.

The government said this was a gift for the festival of Rakha Bandhan as well as the ongoing Onam festival.

The government exchequer will have to spend an additional Rs 4,000 crore towards the enhanced subsidy, over and above the Rs 7,600 crore it has budgeted for the ongoing fiscal year.

The price of a 14.2-kg LPG bottle will now come down to Rs 903 from Rs 1,103.

"Till now only two meetings have been held in the past two months by the INDIA alliance, we see that LPG prices have gone down by Rs 200." Banerjee, who is also the chairperson of Trinamool Congress, said on X.

Banerjee and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee are expected to fly to Mumbai on Wednesday to attend the INDIA alliance's third meeting scheduled for August 31 and September 1.

Banerjee is also expected to visit the residence of matinee idol Amithabh Bacchan, who invited the CM for a cup of tea at his Mumbai residence.