Mamata Banerjee's Painting Auctioned in New York for $3000

KOLKATA: Purple flowers on a bed of green leaves in acrylic and oil on canvas by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been auctioned in New York for 3000 dollars, her first painting to be sold abroad.

With a reserved price of USD 2500, five bids were made before the painting titled 'Flower Power' was sold at 3000 USD to Sundaram Tagore Gallery, a spokesperson of the US-based NGO Children's Hope India which auctioned the painting to raise funds for the welfare of underprivileged children in India, told .

The auction was held at a gala event in New York City to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the NGO.

Founded in 1992 by a group of Indian American women professionals, Children's Hope India sponsors health, education and vocational programmes for thousands of children in India.

Among other items, a cricket bat with the signature of Team India members including M S Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar was auctioned for 15,000 USD.

Out of about 200 paintings made so far by the Trinamool Congress supremo, this was was the first time her work went abroad. She has held three exhibitions so far.