News Analysis India

Tag: Jagdeep Dhankhar

  • Vice presidential polls: Alva gets AAP, TRS support; numbers stacked in favour of NDA’s Dhankhar

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Members of Parliament of both houses will vote on Saturday to elect the next Vice President of India in an election where NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar is pitted against Opposition pick Margaret Alva.

    With numbers stacked in favour of the NDA, former West Bengal governor Dhankhar is set for an easy win.

    Cracks were visible in opposition unity as Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress decided to abstain from voting alleging lack of consultations while deciding on the name of Alva.

    The 80-year-old Alva is a Congress veteran and has served as governor of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, while the 71-year-old Dhankhar is a Jat leader from Rajasthan with socialist background.

    Alva, however, received the backing of regional party Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Friday, two days after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) lent their support to the opposition candidate.

    The AIMIM has also extended its support to Alva.

    With the support of some regional parties like the Janta Dal (United), YSRCP, BSP, AIADMK and Shiv Sena, the NDA nominee is likely to get over 515 votes, enough for a comfortable win for him.

    Alva is likely to get over 200 votes, going by the support announced by parties for her candidature so far.

    The Trinamool Congress, which has 23 MPs in Lok Sabha and 16 in Rajya Sabha, has decided to stay away from the vice presidential election.

    “If Parliament is to function effectively, MPs, independent of their parties, must find ways to rebuild trust and restore broken communication amongst each other. In the end, it is the MPs who determine the character of our Parliament,” Alva said in a fresh video message ahead of elections.

    She said she has seen debates and differences and yet an atmosphere of give and take, which is now lacking.

    “The time has come for all parties to get together and to restore the faith and the trust in each other and restore the dignity of Parliament,” Alva said in her fresh appeal to MPs.

    Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge also hosted a dinner on Thursday night to thank all opposition MPs who are supporting Alva.

    Dhankhar, on the other hand met a number of BJP MPs at his residence on Friday.

    These include Sushil Kumar Modi, Gautam Gambhir, Rajyavardhan Rathore, Rajendra Agrawal, Pradeep Choudhary and Kartikeya Sharma, among others.

    He has been meeting party MPs while seeking their support for the poll.

    While polling will be held from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, the ballots will be counted immediately after that.

    By late Saturday evening, the returning officer will announce the name of the next vice president.

    Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, are eligible to vote in the vice presidential poll.

    The term of incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10.

    The vice president is also the chairperson of Rajya Sabha.

    The electoral college in the vice presidential election comprises a total of 788 members of both Houses of Parliament.

    Since all the electors are members of both Houses of Parliament, the value of vote of each MP would be the same — one, the Election Commission has said.

    The election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the voting at such election is by secret ballot.

    There is no concept of open voting in this election and showing the ballot to anyone under any circumstances in the case of presidential and vice-presidential elections is totally prohibited, the EC has cautioned, adding that parties cannot issue whip to its MPs in the matter of voting.

    Unlike the presidential poll where voting takes place in multiple locations as elected MLAs, not nominated, also form part of the electoral college, in the vice presidential election, voting takes place in Parliament House.

    NEW DELHI: Members of Parliament of both houses will vote on Saturday to elect the next Vice President of India in an election where NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar is pitted against Opposition pick Margaret Alva.

    With numbers stacked in favour of the NDA, former West Bengal governor Dhankhar is set for an easy win.

    Cracks were visible in opposition unity as Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress decided to abstain from voting alleging lack of consultations while deciding on the name of Alva.

    The 80-year-old Alva is a Congress veteran and has served as governor of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, while the 71-year-old Dhankhar is a Jat leader from Rajasthan with socialist background.

    Alva, however, received the backing of regional party Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Friday, two days after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) lent their support to the opposition candidate.

    The AIMIM has also extended its support to Alva.

    With the support of some regional parties like the Janta Dal (United), YSRCP, BSP, AIADMK and Shiv Sena, the NDA nominee is likely to get over 515 votes, enough for a comfortable win for him.

    Alva is likely to get over 200 votes, going by the support announced by parties for her candidature so far.

    The Trinamool Congress, which has 23 MPs in Lok Sabha and 16 in Rajya Sabha, has decided to stay away from the vice presidential election.

    “If Parliament is to function effectively, MPs, independent of their parties, must find ways to rebuild trust and restore broken communication amongst each other. In the end, it is the MPs who determine the character of our Parliament,” Alva said in a fresh video message ahead of elections.

    She said she has seen debates and differences and yet an atmosphere of give and take, which is now lacking.

    “The time has come for all parties to get together and to restore the faith and the trust in each other and restore the dignity of Parliament,” Alva said in her fresh appeal to MPs.

    Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge also hosted a dinner on Thursday night to thank all opposition MPs who are supporting Alva.

    Dhankhar, on the other hand met a number of BJP MPs at his residence on Friday.

    These include Sushil Kumar Modi, Gautam Gambhir, Rajyavardhan Rathore, Rajendra Agrawal, Pradeep Choudhary and Kartikeya Sharma, among others.

    He has been meeting party MPs while seeking their support for the poll.

    While polling will be held from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, the ballots will be counted immediately after that.

    By late Saturday evening, the returning officer will announce the name of the next vice president.

    Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, are eligible to vote in the vice presidential poll.

    The term of incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10.

    The vice president is also the chairperson of Rajya Sabha.

    The electoral college in the vice presidential election comprises a total of 788 members of both Houses of Parliament.

    Since all the electors are members of both Houses of Parliament, the value of vote of each MP would be the same — one, the Election Commission has said.

    The election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the voting at such election is by secret ballot.

    There is no concept of open voting in this election and showing the ballot to anyone under any circumstances in the case of presidential and vice-presidential elections is totally prohibited, the EC has cautioned, adding that parties cannot issue whip to its MPs in the matter of voting.

    Unlike the presidential poll where voting takes place in multiple locations as elected MLAs, not nominated, also form part of the electoral college, in the vice presidential election, voting takes place in Parliament House.

  • Enough time for Mamata Banerjee to change mind, says vice presidential candidate Margaret Alva

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Opposition’s vice presidential candidate Margaret Alva Saturday described the prevailing situation in the non-BJP camp as a “family quarrel”, but asserted they are clear they don’t want a one-party rule and were working to “sink the differences” and unite for the 2024 challenge.

    The 80-year-old Alva, who faces an uphill task in the August 6 vice presidential poll, also said the Opposition was clear in its intention that the Constitution has to be defended and democratic institutions protected.

    In an interview to PTI, the former governor said, “The tragedy of today’s democratic system is that the mandate of people does not prevail and muscle and money power, and threats change the composition of the elected framework.”

    On frequent disruptions seen in Parliament, the multi-term parliamentarian said these interruptions were happening because the Chair was “unable to work out compromises” and consider the Opposition’s viewpoint.

    “How can a democracy function with the government slogan seemingly being ‘my way or no way’.”

    Alva has been fielded by the Opposition for the vice presidential poll contest against the ruling NDA’s Jagdeep Dhankhar, but the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has announced it will abstain from the election.

    READ HERE | From cross-voting to abstaining from voting, chinks in Opposition unity exposed

    Alva admitted she was “aghast at the announcement” the TMC would abstain.

    “Mamata has been leading the entire movement to unite the opposition,” Alva said.

    “She has been my friend for many years and I believe that there is enough time for her to change her mind”, Alva said.

    On Saturday, Alva met Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal to seek his support for her vice presidential bid.

    On dynastic politics, which has been frequently been deprecated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a threat to democracy, Alva said there is nothing wrong in children of politicians coming in.

    “But they have to win elections and the confidence of people and be accepted.”

    Alva, a former Congress general secretary, had questioned the denial of a party ticket to her son in the 2008 Karnataka elections when wards of leaders in other states had been accommodated.

    On her rival Dhankhar’s tenure as West Bengal governor, she said there is a ‘Lakshman Rekha’ a Raj Bhawan occupant needs to respect. “It is unethical and unconstitutional to function as a party representative when holding the constitutional office,” Alva said.

    Downplaying the apparent cracks in the Opposition betrayed by the cross-voting in the presidential poll on July 18, Alva said, “Opposition parties are making efforts to sink their differences and work together before the general elections. I think they feel the need and the urgency of finding a common platform to face the challenge of 2024. There might be ups and downs, differences but the intention is clear, they are concerned and they want to make a point. The Constitution has to be defended and democratic institutions have to be protected. We do not want a one-party rule.”

    The veteran Congress leader, who has spent nearly 50 years in politics, said the differences in the Opposition bloc were “like a family quarrel” which would be resolved.

    “We will sit and sort it out,” she said, adding “She (Mamata) is very much part of us and her basic ideology is that of the Congress. I always consider her one of us. I believe we can sit and sort out any differences that have arisen. She has been fighting the BJP all along. There is no way she can help the BJP win.”

    The Congress veteran, who has served as governor of Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, also favoured consensus on the posts of president and vice president, saying the government should take the initiative and engage various parties and forge a common ground.

    On the status of democracy in the country, she said “it is not the mandate of the people that prevails” these days.

    “In various states, the mandate of the people is ignored and muscle power, money power and threats change the composition of the elected framework,” Alva said, citing the examples of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.

    She added, “Today, it is frightening when I look around. It’s a different world altogether. You cannot eat what you want, you cannot wear what you want, you cannot say what you want, you cannot even meet people what you want. What is this time?” She said parliamentary disruptions are unfortunate.

    “The point is why are there disruptions?” she asked.

    “It is because the Chair is unable to work out compromises and work out a way by which the point of view of the opposition and their demands for discussion and debate can be worked into the agenda of the house. You can’t just pass 22 bills in 12 minutes, without debate, without discussion,” the opposition candidate said.

    “How can a democracy function like this? The government’s slogan seems to be either my way or no way. You don’t allow a discussion and you don’t want to hear a point of view which is different from yours. It is the people suffering outside — common people, the voter, the taxpayer”, Alva noted.

    Noting that she has been a governor and a lawyer — her vice presidential poll rival Dhankhar has also served as governor and lawyer — she said, “He (Dhankhar) has been fighting a woman in the state (West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee) and now he is fighting another woman in the election. Something in his stars.”

    Alva said Dhankhar is “being rewarded” for the hard political stance he took as West Bengal governor.

    “I have also been a governor and you are supposed to be non-partisan. You are supposed to help your government function. There is a Lakshman Rekha, which you have to keep in mind once you are in the Raj Bhawan. You can’t sit there and function as the representative of your party. I think it is unethical and unconstitutional.”

    READ HERE | VP polls: TMC’s decision to abstain from voting disappointing, says Alva; not against her: Trinamool

    Speaking about her own journey, Alva said Indira Gandhi was her political mentor.

    “Indira ji handpicked me for Parliament, but my in-laws helped me grow. The numbers in the electoral college are heavily against Alva, but she said in democracy it was important to accept the challenge, notwithstanding the considerations of victory or loss. Because the numbers are stacked against us, should we not fight the election? I think in a democratic system, win or loss, you have to accept the challenge and place your point of view before your MPs who are now the electoral college. We have a different point of view from the government and the need is for those who are on a common platform to accept the challenge,” Alva said.

    The veteran leader also pointed to her struggles saying she has come up the ladder of politics — from block level to being MP, minister and governor — all by the virtue of “hard work, commitment and clean politics”.

    “This is another chapter,” said Alva, who had returned to Bengaluru to settle, but returned when called upon by the Opposition to fight the August 6 election.

    NEW DELHI: The Opposition’s vice presidential candidate Margaret Alva Saturday described the prevailing situation in the non-BJP camp as a “family quarrel”, but asserted they are clear they don’t want a one-party rule and were working to “sink the differences” and unite for the 2024 challenge.

    The 80-year-old Alva, who faces an uphill task in the August 6 vice presidential poll, also said the Opposition was clear in its intention that the Constitution has to be defended and democratic institutions protected.

    In an interview to PTI, the former governor said, “The tragedy of today’s democratic system is that the mandate of people does not prevail and muscle and money power, and threats change the composition of the elected framework.”

    On frequent disruptions seen in Parliament, the multi-term parliamentarian said these interruptions were happening because the Chair was “unable to work out compromises” and consider the Opposition’s viewpoint.

    “How can a democracy function with the government slogan seemingly being ‘my way or no way’.”

    Alva has been fielded by the Opposition for the vice presidential poll contest against the ruling NDA’s Jagdeep Dhankhar, but the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has announced it will abstain from the election.

    READ HERE | From cross-voting to abstaining from voting, chinks in Opposition unity exposed

    Alva admitted she was “aghast at the announcement” the TMC would abstain.

    “Mamata has been leading the entire movement to unite the opposition,” Alva said.

    “She has been my friend for many years and I believe that there is enough time for her to change her mind”, Alva said.

    On Saturday, Alva met Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal to seek his support for her vice presidential bid.

    On dynastic politics, which has been frequently been deprecated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a threat to democracy, Alva said there is nothing wrong in children of politicians coming in.

    “But they have to win elections and the confidence of people and be accepted.”

    Alva, a former Congress general secretary, had questioned the denial of a party ticket to her son in the 2008 Karnataka elections when wards of leaders in other states had been accommodated.

    On her rival Dhankhar’s tenure as West Bengal governor, she said there is a ‘Lakshman Rekha’ a Raj Bhawan occupant needs to respect. “It is unethical and unconstitutional to function as a party representative when holding the constitutional office,” Alva said.

    Downplaying the apparent cracks in the Opposition betrayed by the cross-voting in the presidential poll on July 18, Alva said, “Opposition parties are making efforts to sink their differences and work together before the general elections. I think they feel the need and the urgency of finding a common platform to face the challenge of 2024. There might be ups and downs, differences but the intention is clear, they are concerned and they want to make a point. The Constitution has to be defended and democratic institutions have to be protected. We do not want a one-party rule.”

    The veteran Congress leader, who has spent nearly 50 years in politics, said the differences in the Opposition bloc were “like a family quarrel” which would be resolved.

    “We will sit and sort it out,” she said, adding “She (Mamata) is very much part of us and her basic ideology is that of the Congress. I always consider her one of us. I believe we can sit and sort out any differences that have arisen. She has been fighting the BJP all along. There is no way she can help the BJP win.”

    The Congress veteran, who has served as governor of Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, also favoured consensus on the posts of president and vice president, saying the government should take the initiative and engage various parties and forge a common ground.

    On the status of democracy in the country, she said “it is not the mandate of the people that prevails” these days.

    “In various states, the mandate of the people is ignored and muscle power, money power and threats change the composition of the elected framework,” Alva said, citing the examples of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.

    She added, “Today, it is frightening when I look around. It’s a different world altogether. You cannot eat what you want, you cannot wear what you want, you cannot say what you want, you cannot even meet people what you want. What is this time?” She said parliamentary disruptions are unfortunate.

    “The point is why are there disruptions?” she asked.

    “It is because the Chair is unable to work out compromises and work out a way by which the point of view of the opposition and their demands for discussion and debate can be worked into the agenda of the house. You can’t just pass 22 bills in 12 minutes, without debate, without discussion,” the opposition candidate said.

    “How can a democracy function like this? The government’s slogan seems to be either my way or no way. You don’t allow a discussion and you don’t want to hear a point of view which is different from yours. It is the people suffering outside — common people, the voter, the taxpayer”, Alva noted.

    Noting that she has been a governor and a lawyer — her vice presidential poll rival Dhankhar has also served as governor and lawyer — she said, “He (Dhankhar) has been fighting a woman in the state (West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee) and now he is fighting another woman in the election. Something in his stars.”

    Alva said Dhankhar is “being rewarded” for the hard political stance he took as West Bengal governor.

    “I have also been a governor and you are supposed to be non-partisan. You are supposed to help your government function. There is a Lakshman Rekha, which you have to keep in mind once you are in the Raj Bhawan. You can’t sit there and function as the representative of your party. I think it is unethical and unconstitutional.”

    READ HERE | VP polls: TMC’s decision to abstain from voting disappointing, says Alva; not against her: Trinamool

    Speaking about her own journey, Alva said Indira Gandhi was her political mentor.

    “Indira ji handpicked me for Parliament, but my in-laws helped me grow. The numbers in the electoral college are heavily against Alva, but she said in democracy it was important to accept the challenge, notwithstanding the considerations of victory or loss. Because the numbers are stacked against us, should we not fight the election? I think in a democratic system, win or loss, you have to accept the challenge and place your point of view before your MPs who are now the electoral college. We have a different point of view from the government and the need is for those who are on a common platform to accept the challenge,” Alva said.

    The veteran leader also pointed to her struggles saying she has come up the ladder of politics — from block level to being MP, minister and governor — all by the virtue of “hard work, commitment and clean politics”.

    “This is another chapter,” said Alva, who had returned to Bengaluru to settle, but returned when called upon by the Opposition to fight the August 6 election.

  • VP polls: TMC’s decision to abstain from voting disappointing, says Alva; not against her: Trinamool

    Trinamool Congress said it has taken a 'principled strand' of abstaining to protest against the way her name was 'unilaterally' decided by other opposition parties.

  • If elected as VP, Dhankhar will be the second Jat leader: Facts to know

    Dhankhar's election as the vice president is almost a certainty as the BJP has a majority in the electoral college comprising the members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

  • Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar named NDA’s Vice Presidential candidate

    By Online Desk

    The BJP on Saturday named Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as its Vice-Presidential candidate. The decision was taken during the meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board earlier in the day.

    The ruling NDA’s nominee has an upper hand in the election as it enjoys a majority in the electoral college.

    Sources said the BJP will also reach out to various parties to seek a consensus over the choice of the candidate. However, the leaders of Opposition parties will meet on Sunday to discuss their own Vice- Presidential candidate.

    The Congress has anointed Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, to reach out to all Opposition leaders to find a consensus candidate. The party has already made it clear that it is not fielding a candidate. With the numbers in favour of the ruling bloc, the contest will be a symbolic one.

    The members of the BJP Parliamentary Board include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari and party president J P Nadda, among others.

    polling to elect the next vice president will be held on August 6 and counting of votes will take place the same day, the Election Commission said on Wednesday.

    The BJP-led NDA has a clear edge in the poll in which members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, are eligible to vote.

    ALSO READ | Dhankhar assures monks of steps as per law on Mahua Moitra’s Kali comment

    The notification for the election will be issued on July 5, which will set in motion the nomination process. The last date for filing of nomination papers will be July 19.

    The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on July 20 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 22. The term of incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10. The vice president is also the chairperson of Rajya Sabha.

    The electoral college in the vice presidential election comprises a total of 788 members of both Houses of Parliament.

    Since all the electors are members of both Houses of Parliament, the value of vote of each MP would be the same — one, the EC said.

    The election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the voting at such election is by secret ballot.

    There is no concept of open voting in this election and showing the ballot to anyone under any circumstances in the case of presidential and vice-presidential elections is totally prohibited, the EC cautioned, adding that parties cannot issue whip to its MPs in the matter of voting.

    A nomination paper of a candidate has to be subscribed by at least 20 electors as proposers and by at least other 20 electors as seconders.

    An elector can subscribe to only one nomination paper of a candidate as either a proposer or a seconder. A candidate can file a maximum of four nomination papers. The security deposit for the election is Rs 15,000.

    Unlike the presidential poll where voting takes place in multiple locations as elected MLAs, not nominated, also form part of the electoral college, in the vice presidential election, voting takes place in Parliament House.

    The schedule for the vice presidential election was finalised at a meeting of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey.

    The BJP on Saturday named Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as its Vice-Presidential candidate. The decision was taken during the meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board earlier in the day.

    The ruling NDA’s nominee has an upper hand in the election as it enjoys a majority in the electoral college.

    Sources said the BJP will also reach out to various parties to seek a consensus over the choice of the candidate. However, the leaders of Opposition parties will meet on Sunday to discuss their own Vice- Presidential candidate.

    The Congress has anointed Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, to reach out to all Opposition leaders to find a consensus candidate. The party has already made it clear that it is not fielding a candidate. With the numbers in favour of the ruling bloc, the contest will be a symbolic one.

    The members of the BJP Parliamentary Board include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari and party president J P Nadda, among others.

    polling to elect the next vice president will be held on August 6 and counting of votes will take place the same day, the Election Commission said on Wednesday.

    The BJP-led NDA has a clear edge in the poll in which members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, are eligible to vote.

    ALSO READ | Dhankhar assures monks of steps as per law on Mahua Moitra’s Kali comment

    The notification for the election will be issued on July 5, which will set in motion the nomination process. The last date for filing of nomination papers will be July 19.

    The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on July 20 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 22. The term of incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10. The vice president is also the chairperson of Rajya Sabha.

    The electoral college in the vice presidential election comprises a total of 788 members of both Houses of Parliament.

    Since all the electors are members of both Houses of Parliament, the value of vote of each MP would be the same — one, the EC said.

    The election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the voting at such election is by secret ballot.

    There is no concept of open voting in this election and showing the ballot to anyone under any circumstances in the case of presidential and vice-presidential elections is totally prohibited, the EC cautioned, adding that parties cannot issue whip to its MPs in the matter of voting.

    A nomination paper of a candidate has to be subscribed by at least 20 electors as proposers and by at least other 20 electors as seconders.

    An elector can subscribe to only one nomination paper of a candidate as either a proposer or a seconder. A candidate can file a maximum of four nomination papers. The security deposit for the election is Rs 15,000.

    Unlike the presidential poll where voting takes place in multiple locations as elected MLAs, not nominated, also form part of the electoral college, in the vice presidential election, voting takes place in Parliament House.

    The schedule for the vice presidential election was finalised at a meeting of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey.

  • Shameful act to attack a judge: Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar takes on TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee again

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Hitting out at TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said it was a “shameful act” to attack a judge who has exposed a recruitment scam.

    Speaking to reporters at the Bagdogra airport in Siliguri, Dhankhar said nobody is above the law.

    “Those who are chest-thumping and saying that they will continue to say this a thousand times will face the power of truth. I have gone through the statement very minutely. This is a shameful attack on an individual judge who has exposed the country’s most severe recruitment scam,” Dhankhar said, without naming Banerjee.

    He was referring to the TMC leader’s statement at a rally in Haldia last week where he had criticised “one per cent of the judiciary” for ordering CBI probe in “every case” in the state.

    “I feel ashamed to say that there are one or two people in the judiciary who are in hand-in-gloves and have a tacit understanding and are ordering CBI investigation in every case. This is just 1 per cent of the judiciary,” Banerjee had said.

    Soon after he made the comment, Dhankhar had said that “the honourable Member of Parliament has crossed the red line”.

    To this, Banerjee had said he has always believed in speaking truth to power.

    “Yesterday, I said how 1% in Kolkata HC is working in cohorts with Centre in protecting some individuals. PEOPLE ARE WATCHING, they know who is actually ‘CROSSING THE RED LINE’. I rest my case here!” he had tweeted.

    The Calcutta High Court has ordered CBI investigations in a number of cases in the last one year, including post-poll violence and recruitment of teachers by the School Service Commission (SSC).

    Before leaving for New Delhi after a trip to Darjeeling, Dhankhar said, “Who were given the jobs? Those who never sat for the examinations as well as those whose names were not there on the list. In this backdrop, giving such a statement at a public rally is not correct.”

  • Probe gets compromised if people in authority are judgmental: Bengal guv on Hanskhali rape case

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: In an apparent dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks on a minor girl’s alleged rape and subsequent death in Nadia district’s Hanskhali area, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday said that the investigation could get compromised if people in authority “indicate judgmental stance”.

    He said that such approaches could “scuttle fair probe”.

    Dhankhar also called upon the state chief secretary and the DGP to brief him on the incident by 4 pm on Wednesday.

    “Criminal Investigation in shameful rape #Hanskhali leading to victim death is tainted & compromised when people in authority & constitutional position indicate judgmental stance,” the governor tweeted, without naming anyone.

    Dhankhar, who has had several run-ins with the TMC government in the state over multiple issues, also said, “This against the law approach scuttles fair & independent probe as police is forced to toe such line (sic).”

    Banerjee had on Monday expressed doubt over the cause of the girl’s death, although her family attributed it to gang rape, and wondered if the demise of the Class 9 student could have been caused after being slapped by someone.

    Maintaining that the victim had an affair with the accused, the son of a TMC leader, Banerjee also wondered if she was pregnant. Two persons, including the TMC leader’s son, have been arrested in the case thus far.

    The governor also called upon the chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP) to brief him, by Wednesday evening, on the alleged incidents of attacks on Ram Navami processions in Howrah on Sunday.

  • Shares deep relationship with Mamata, she’s sister to me: Bengal Governor amid Birbhum killings

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has been at loggerheads with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Friday said he shares a deep relationship with her like a brother.

    At the same time, he is not a “proactive governor” but a “copybook governor”, who believes in the rule of law, Dhankhar said here, adding he will never violate the dignity of the Constitution at the behest of anyone.

    He referred to various occasions when he had a showdown with the West Bengal CM while stressing that he won’t do anything beyond the constitutional limits.

    Dhankhar was speaking as the chief guest in a seminar on the “Role of Governors and MLAs in Furtherance of Democracy”, organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Rajasthan chapter in the state Assembly building.

    “People may not have knowledge but my personal relationship with the chief minister is very deep, of brother and sister. Our dialogue is continuing,” he said.

    He made the remark while talking about a recent controversy over summoning the West Bengal state Assembly at 2 am on March 7, the timing of which was changed to 2 pm after a fresh cabinet proposal.

    An imbroglio over the timing started after Dhankhar had on February 24 summoned the Assembly at 2 am on the basis of a proposal by the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, which was later clarified as a typographical error.

    “Sometimes conflict happens because of ignorance, like someone is there in the dark to trouble us,” he said. In lighter vein, Dhankhar quipped it was said that the government does not want to use the word “PM”, therefore “AM” was written.

    “I mean to say that I have to act as a friend, guide and philosopher of the government. My biggest witness is Mamataji. The CM’s status in democracy is very huge, behind the CM is the sanction of people. This mandate is huge,” the Governor said.

    “I tell her, I appreciate you represent the mandate of nine crore people. In the politics of India, the prime minister and the chief minister are supreme but I said, give at least some space to me,” Dhankhar said.

    Dhankhar has been at loggerheads with CM Banerjee since his appointment in July 2019.

    He said MLAs are also seen by a certain prism and his position is no different.

    Dhankhar said he told the chief minister that she is a well-known leader of the country.

    “I took his (Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot) name and said there are not more than three-four people in this category. Whatever the Centre suggests to me, I will take it very seriously and my mind will be that work should be done accordingly if there is no constitutional impediment,” he said.

    “In the same way, I said whatever your (Banerjee’s) suggestion will be, its effect will also be as much on me. But the day people of the Centre or you are convinced that I will do what you say, then another person will sit on this chair, I will not sit,” he said.

    Dhankhar said he takes command only from the Constitution and not from anyone else.

    “My job is to protect, preserve and defend the Constitution,” he said.

    Dhankhar said he was called by the media a “proactive governor”.

    “I am a copybook governor. I believe in the rule of law. I will not violate constitutional dignity under any circumstances at the behest of anyone,” he said.

    Dhankhar said he feels pain when there is no dialogue between ruling dispensation and the opposition.

    In this context, he praised Rajasthan, saying the state has a great tradition of cordial relationship between the ruling and opposition parties.

    “It has been my relentless effort that as a governor, my main responsibility is to support the government but it is not possible with one hand,” he said.

    Dhankhar said a governor should not be given any work other than his constitutional obligations, which would create a situation of conflict with the state government.

    The appointment of vice-chancellors is one such thing that creates conflicts, he stressed.

    “When a matter of appointment comes to me, I work with my own wisdom. But when the CM’s suggestion comes, I don’t apply my mind. I agree to the name. Despite this, this governor had to suffer. Twenty-five vice-chancellors have been appointed without my knowledge and sanction,” he said.

    Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said there has always been a cordial relationship between the governor and state government because of the traditions set by old leaders.

    He said in Rajasthan, Assembly sessions run longer and both ruling and opposition parties share a good relationship.

    Gehlot said all members of the House will meet at dinner at his residence on March 28.

    Speaker C P Joshi, Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria also addressed the seminar, which was attended by sitting and former MLAs.

    In the programme, four MLAs were honoured.

    BJP MLA Gyanchand Parakh was honoured for being the best MLA for 2019, independent MLA Sanyam Lodha for 2020, BJP MLA Babulal and Congress MLA Manju Devi for 2021.

  • Mamata telephones M K Stalin, suggests meeting of non-BJP CMs

    By PTI

    CHENNAI: While Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday said West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar’s act of proroguing the Assembly is ‘without any propriety’, the latter said the House was prorogued at the government’s request and that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s remark was harsh and not based on fact.

    Stalin tweeted, “The act of #WestBengal Governor to prorogue the WB Assembly Session is without any propriety expected from the exalted post and goes against the established norms and conventions.”

    The Tamil Nadu Chief Minster further said, “the ‘symbolic’ head of the state should be the role model to uphold the constitution. Beauty of democracy lies in extending mutual respect to each other.” Stalin, after Dhankhar defended his action tweeted, “Beloved Didi Mamata Banerjee telephoned me to share her concern and anguish on the Constitutional overstepping and brazen misuse of power by the Governors of non-BJP ruled states.”

    Beloved Didi @MamataOfficial telephoned me to share her concern and anguish on the Constitutional overstepping and brazen misuse of power by the Governors of non-BJP ruled states. She suggested for a meeting of Opposition CMs. (1/2)
    — M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) February 13, 2022
    “She suggested for a meeting of Opposition CMs. I assured her of DMK’s commitment to uphold State autonomy. Convention of Opposition CMs will soon happen out of Delhi!, the TN CM said. Earlier on Sunday, replying to Stalin, Dhankhar had on his official twitter handle said, “Find it unusually expedient to respectfully invite indulgent attention of TN CM @mkstalin that his extremely harsh hurtful observations are not in the least in conformity with facts- attached order. Assembly was prorogued at express request @MamataOfficial @rajbhavan_tn.” Dhankhar also had posted an official communication in this connection.

    Governor Dhankhar had prorogued the Assembly from Saturday based on the state government’s recommendation.

    Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh had said, “The governor did not take the decision on his own initiative. He has prorogued the Assembly following the recommendation of the Cabinet. There is no confusion in it.”

  • ‘Spinal blow by CM to police’: Dhankhar pans Mamata for publicly asking senior cop whether Bengal Governor interferes

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday hit out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for publicly asking a senior police officer whether the Raj Bhavan occupant was threatening him and interfering in his work.

    “What a worrisome scenario! CM Mamata Banerjee in full media glare pulls up Purba Midnapore SP by asking ‘did the governor call you’ is serious issue needing focussed reflection,” Dhankhar said on Twitter.

    “Unfortunate, a spinal blow by CM to police (sic),” he added.

    Banerjee, at an administrative review meeting on Thursday, had also rebuked SP Amarnath K over the worsening law and order situation in his district.

    The seemingly unending tug of war between the TMC government and the governor had reached a new low, when Banerjee recently told a press conference she had blocked Dhankhar’s official Twitter handle because of his posts repeatedly targeting her government.

    Dhankhar had hit right back, referring to Article 167 of the Constitution, to remind the chief minister of her “constitutional duty” to furnish information related to the administration of the affairs of the state and proposals for legislation.