West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed happiness over former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee being conferred Bharat Ratna today and described him as a "truly great statesman" who richly  deserves this honour.

"Happy that Atalji is being conferred Bharat Ratna today. He is a truly great statesman who richly deserves this honour. I wish him well," the Trinamool Congress supremo, who served as a minister in the Vajpayee government, tweeted.