West Bengal's proposal to showcase its tableau in theupcoming Republic Day parade in New Delhi has been rejected, which could strainties between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Central Government evenfurther.

However, the defence ministry has not cited a specificreason for the rejection in its statement issued on Wednesday.

The statement simply said that the Bengal's proposalwas examined by an expert committee at two meetings and not taken forward forfurther consideration.

The Defence Ministry also pointed out that West Bengal's2019 proposal has been shortlisted as a result of the same process ofselection.

Nonetheless, the move isn't likely to go down wellwith the Mamata Banerjee government.

Besides, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool government hasbeen at loggerheads with Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on a range of issues — fromseating at a Durga Puja event to his unscheduled visit to Singur.

Twenty-two Republic Day tableau proposals — 16 fromstates and Union Territories, and six from central ministries — have beenshortlisted, out of a total of 56.