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

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien, who was also present during the auction, said the NGO had requested the chief minister to contribute a painting.

"Since it was for a good cause she readily agreed. She painted it two months ago at her office," said the party leader.

Another painting was sent to Israeli Ambassador Alon Ushpiz in Delhi last week.

"He paid a courtesy visit on the CM and wanted to buy one of her paintings. Banerjee said she would gift it," said Derek, who had organised Banerjee's first sale-cum-exhibition in 2005.

Titled '25 Hours In A Day', the first lot was sold for Rs four lakh.

The second exhibition in 2007 fetched Rs 14 lakh and the proceeds were donated to the victims of Nandigram violence.

Ahead of the last year's Assembly elections, her collection of 95 paintings were sold out within three days for a staggering price of more than a crore of rupees.

The proceeds were used for the party's poll expenses.

Derek said Banerjee's fourth exhibition with 50 paintings would be held in Kolkata early next year.