News Analysis India

Tag: Jagdeep Dhankhar

  • Mamata’s allegations “wildest”, claims Dhankhar

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s comments against him at a TMC meeting during the day were “wildest of allegations” and have no credibility.

    He asked Banerjee to point out any document written by him or tweet posted by him which is in abusive language or is not justified under constitutional provisions.

    Banerjee had criticised Dhankhar at a Trinamool Congress meeting during the day without naming him.

    “What she has said, there is no credibility in them for me. It does not behove the chief minister to make such wild allegations,” Dhankhar told reporters here.

    Banerjee had criticised Dhankhar at a Trinamool Congress meeting during the day without naming him.

    The governor termed as “100 per cent factually incorrect” the chief minister’s claim that he gets food delivered from a five-star hotel in the city everyday.

    “All that the chief minister said are wildest of allegations. There are abuses against me, invectives against me,” he said and asserted that nothing will deter him from the constitutional path.

    He said that it is his duty to ensure that governance of the state is in accordance with the constitution and rule of law.

    “For two and half years there has been total failure at your (Banerjee’s) end to perform your constitutional duty under Article 167 to give information to the governor,” he said, claiming that detail was sought from the Mamata Banerjee government in aspects where “serious allegations were made of fiscal irregularities”.

    Dhankhar claimed that she has made wild allegations questioning the happenings in Raj Bhavan and hinted at telephonic tapping.

    “Perception by and large is because of the present (TMC) government that people in the state have taken to telephoning only on Whatsapp, Facetime, Signal and Telegram and that is a terrifying state of affairs,” Dhankhar said.

    He alleged that fear is haunting virtually every mind of the state. “You (Banerjee) are in your third term. You have today been again elected chairperson of your party. On this day I appeal to you to soul search, respond to your conscience, keep in your heart not the pursuit of power but helping the more than nine crore people of the state,” the governor said.

    Dhankhar claimed that the chief minister had described a horse of the Kolkata Police, which was perhaps not in line during the Republic Day parade, as showing its back to him. “Where are we heading, are we to engage in mudslinging?” he asked.

    Calling for dialogue between the governor and the chief minister, Dhankar said that he will be “happy to walk the extra mile”.

    He said that Banerjee wanted to make an emotional issue of his raising the question of funding for ‘Maa Canteen’ (introduced by TMC government to provide meals for Rs 5 only) which was launched before the stipulated date of April 1, 2021.

    “My point is very simple – where did the money come from? Maa Canteen was operational from mid-February to March 31, 2021 but the constitutional allocation was only from April, 2021,” he said. Replies to his questions on ‘Maa Canteen’ have to come from the government, Dhankhar said.

    The governor said he is not a stakeholder in politics and claimed that the performance of the bureaucracy in the state is turning out to be a challenge to the rule of law. He will ensure that governance in Bengal is in accordance with it. “I want investment in the state. But it can come only when there is right environment, democratic values flourish, human rights blossom, there is rule of law and bureaucracy is apolitical,” the governor, who earlier attended a business chamber programme, said.

    Asserting that no file is pending with him as alleged by the chief minister, Dhankhar claimed that it is the Mamata Banerjee government that has not been able to reply to issues on which he raised questions.

    There is an ongoing tussle between the governor and the TMC dispensation over the issue of his assent to a bill on bifurcation of Howrah Municipal Corporation.

    While TMC has claimed that the issue of his not giving assent is delaying the election to Howrah Municipal Corporation, the governor has said that questions raised by him on the bill are yet to be replied to by the government.

  • Dhankhar vs Mamata: Trinamool likely to bring motion against Bengal Governor in Rajya Sabha

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Amid the ongoing acrimony between the West Bengal government and Raj Bhavan, the ruling Trinamool Congress is likely to bring a substantive motion against Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar in the Rajya Sabha in the upcoming budget session of Parliament, a senior party MP said on Thursday.

    A substantive motion is a self-contained, independent proposal submitted for the approval of the House and drafted in such a way as to be capable of expressing a decision of the House.

    At a virtual meeting of the TMC parliamentary party in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, it was also decided that the MPs will take up the issue of alleged attack on the federal structure and “efforts by the Centre” to snatch away the states’ rights, including its recent proposal to amend the IAS (Cadre) rules.

    Although the issue regarding floor coordination with the Congress was not discussed, a section of the TMC MPs said the party is likely to adopt a “flexible approach” on this.

    In the last winter session of Parliament, the party had decided against engaging in any form of floor coordination with the Congress.

    “At the meeting, Rajya Sabha Chief whip Sukhendu Shekhar Ray spoke about bringing in a substantive motion against the governor in the Rajya Sabha during the Budget session,” a senior TMC MP said on condition of anonymity.

    It has been decided that Ray will bring in the motion, he said.

    “The way the governor is meddling in the jurisdiction of the state is unprecedented. He is trying to create a problem and a controversy every day,” he said.

    On January 25, while speaking to the media after paying floral tributes at the statue of B R Ambedkar on the Assembly premises on the National Voters Day, the governor not only castigated the Speaker and the chief minister for allegedly not providing the information he had sought, but also described the political condition in West Bengal as “horrible and frightening”.

    A day later, Speaker Biman Banerjee said that in future his office might enquire about the purpose of any visit by Dhankhar to the Assembly, other than constitutionally mandatory appearances such as the governor’s address at the inaugural session of the House.

    Since he took charge in 2019, Dhankhar has had several run-ins with the West Bengal government over various issues.

    The TMC MP said the issues related to the alleged attack on the federal structure of the country would be raised in both Houses of Parliament.

    “We will raise the issue of (proposed amendments to) IAS cadre rules, attack on federal structure, attempt to undermine the authority of states, especially opposition ruled states, discrimination in the distribution of Covid vaccines, the BSF’s increased jurisdiction and bank privatisation,” he said.

    Till Wednesday, nine non-BJP ruled states have opposed the Centre’s proposal that gives it an overriding power while deciding on central deputation of IAS officers, whereas eight others have given their consent.

    The West Bengal CM had twice written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the proposed amendment to the IAS (Cadre) Rules claiming that it would lead to destruction of democracy.

    When asked whether anything was discussed about floor coordination with the Congress, several TMC MPs replied in the negative.

    “Most likely, this time we will adopt a flexible approach. We will continue to function as an opposition party. We have our own identity. We will raise issues concerning the masses, like weakening the federal structure.”

    “We will ask all opposition parties, including the Congress, to join us. Now whether they will join us or not depends on them,” a TMC MP said.

    The relationship between the Congress and the TMC had hit an all-time low in 2021.

    The TMC had slammed the grand old party over its alleged failure to fight against the BJP and dubbed it as an “incapable and incompetent” party that has gone into a “deep freezer”.

    The Congress has recently turned down the TMC’s offer for an alliance in the upcoming Goa assembly polls.

  • Warmth missing as Dhankhar, Mamata come face to face for Republic Day event; Suvendu hits out at Bengal CM

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The shadow of recent run-ins between the West Bengal governor and the Mamata Banerjee government fell on the Republic Day programme here, when Jagdeep Dhankhar and the chief minister came face to face at the venue.

    Though Banerjee greeted Dhankhar when the latter approached her after reaching the venue, the natural warmth of the Trinamool Congress supremo was clearly missing.

    Banerjee was seen not getting up from her chair until the governor came close to her.

    It was seen that at one point of time the CM turned her face away when Dhankhar was seen saying something to her.

    At the photo session, Banerjee kept a distance from the governor and stood close to state assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee with whom Dhankhar had a spat on the previous day.

    While speaking to the media after paying floral tributes at the statue of B R Ambedkar on the Assembly premises on National Voters Day, Dhankhar not only castigated the speaker and the chief minister but also described the political condition in West Bengal as “horrible and frightening” He had come down heavily on the Speaker, accusing him of violating constitutional norms and not providing information sought by him, including details of the assembly resolution on the extension of BSF’s area of operation.

    Reacting to Dhankhar’s accusations, the Speaker had said it was “extremely discourteous” of the governor to have made such remarks.

    Dhankhar has had several run-ins with the West Bengal government over various issues including appointment of vice chancellors of state universities and asking the chief secretary and police chiefs to appear before him.

    Later, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP alleged that the chief minister did not maintain protocol by not receiving the governor at the Republic Day event.

    “Arrogance of @MamataOfficial vs Humility of @jdhankhar1 at Republic Day function. A new low in observance of protocol and propriety by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” Adhikari tweeted.

    He asked: “Is it because there are no answers to the tough questions asked by Hon’ble Governor?” Reacting to Adhikari’s allegation, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh claimed that the BJP leader is a frustrated person as he had left the Trinamool Congress and joined the BJP expecting many things and to escape from the raids by central agencies.

    “But he can see that the party is now disintegrating quickly (in the state),” Ghosh said.

    In a deepening of the spat between Governor Jagdeep Dhankar and the TMC-led state government, West Bengal assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee said on Wednesday he has requested for footage of the governor’s press meet held in the assembly premises a day before where he had attacked the state government and accused the speaker of transgressing constitutional norms, before deciding on his future course of action.

    Banerjee told reporters on the sidelines of a Republic Day function, that after scrutinising the footage, his office may in future enquire the purpose of any future visits by Dhankar, other than constitutionally mandatory appearances such as the governor’s address of the inaugural session of the house.

    Banerjee, a well known lawyer, also alleged that no governor in the past “had addressed the media in the fashion”, Dhankhar did on January 25, The Governor while speaking to the press after paying floral tributes at the statue of B R Ambedkar on the Assembly premises on the National Voters Day, not only castigated the speaker and the chief minister but also described the political condition in West Bengal as “horrible and frightening”. He said the governor had told the speaker before his visit that he would pay floral tributes to the founder of Constitution but “used the occasion (instead) to criticise the government inside the hallowed premises of the assembly which had never been done by any of his predecessors in past.”

    “He did not even go to the press corner situated in the premises,” the Speaker said.

    Banerjee also claimed Dhankhar did not inform his office about the status of bills such as those related to separating Howrah and Bally Municipal areas which had been passed by the house.

    BJP state President Sukanta Majumdar described the Speaker’s retort as a deliberate attempt to run down the office of governor and against the spirit of constitution.

    “The Speaker cannot consider assembly as his domain. He should act as Speaker not as the representative of Trinamool. In past the governor’s speech in house had been blacked out but the Speaker never acted on the issue,” the Balurghat MP said.

    The governor had said on Tuesday, “We have seen post-poll violence of unprecedented level. Those who dared to vote according to their own volition had to pay the price with their life. Democracy is in deep peril here.”

    Noting that a fact-finding committee appointed by the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission had observed that rule of the ruler and not the law prevails in the state, he had said, “this is an understatement; West Bengal’s situation is so horrible and frightening that there is horror about the ruler here.”

    He had also come down heavily on Speaker Biman Banerjee, accusing him of violating constitutional norms and not providing information sought by him, including details of the assembly resolution on the extension of BSF’s area of operation.

    Dhankhar also alleged his address to the assembly was blacked out twice.

    The Governor has had several run-ins with the West Bengal government including over appointment of vice chancellors of state universities and over asking the chief secretary and Police chiefs to appear before him.

    Speaker Banerjee too has in the past protested and written letters to President Ram Nath Kovind on Dhankar’s alleged “interference” in legislative matters.

    Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday claimed that he was not invited to the Republic Day parade here as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government was “yet to reconcile to her election defeat against him in Nandigram”.

    Talking to reporters on the sidelines of another programme, Adhikari said Banerjee tried to “avenge her humiliating assembly poll defeat” by dropping his name from the list of invitees for the Red Road parade.

    “She is yet to reconcile to her defeat against me. There could be a remedy to cancer but not to revengeful mindset and jealousy. The CM must have forgotten that not inviting the leader of opposition was against the protocol,” the Nandigram MLA, who was once a part of the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, said.

    Adhikari pointed out that last year, months ahead of the assembly polls, then leader of opposition Abdul Mannan was an invitee to the Republic Day parade.

    Transport Minister and Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim, when approached, said he had no information about the matter.

    Hakim, however, noted that Adhikari had “failed to turn up at the Independence Day programme on Red Road last year. I am not aware about the reasons”.

    Veteran Congress MP of Rajya Sabha Pradip Bhattacharya said he won’t be able to speak on behalf of the Nandigram MLA as the two don’t share the same ideology “but if what he has claimed is true it was unfortunate.

    The leader of opposition should always be invited to such events”.

    The CM, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, cabinet ministers were among those who attended the Red Road programme on Wednesday, held with COVID-19 restrictions in place.

  • VCs of 25 varsities appointed without my nod as chancellor: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday alleged that vice chancellors of 25 state universities have been appointed so far sans his nod as the chancellor.

    His allegation came within 24 hours of the Mamata Banerjee administration appointing Professor Soma Bandyopadhyay as the new VC of Diamond Harbour Women’s University (DHWU) after Arts Faculty Dean Professor Tapan Mondal, appointed by Dhankhar in his capacity as the chancellor, declined to accept the post due to “personal reasons”.

    The ruling Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, asserted that the governor should have approved the names of the VCs selected by the search committee, and if he refuses to give his nod, the Education Department has the power to go ahead with its decision. “Education Environ — ‘Law of ruler, not rule of law’. VCs of 24 (now 25) Universities appointed illegally without Chancellor approval,” Dhankhar tweeted.

    Aug 28 Notification @MamataOfficial appointing Sonali Chakravarti CU VC for second four year term (a classic case of patronage) was directed by Chancellor on Sept 16 to be withdrawn.No response @basu_bratya “Law unto Oneself” stance.Instance of “Law of ruler, not rule of law” pic.twitter.com/1EoXnszenF
    — Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) January 15, 2022
    Sharing a copy of a letter, dated August 17, 2021, addressed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the continuation of Professor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee as the vice chancellor of Calcutta University for the second term, the governor tweeted, “Calcutta Univ VC Sonali Chakravarty gets second full four year term without any selection. No CM response to Aug 17 communication.”

    “Aug 28 Notification @MamataOfficial appointing Sonali Chakravarti CU VC for second four year term (a classic case of patronage) was directed by Chancellor on Sept 16 to be withdrawn. No response @basu_bratya (Education Minister Bratya Basu) ‘Law unto Oneself’ stance. Instance of ‘Law of ruler, not rule of law’,” he said in another Twitter post.

    Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Roy criticised the governor for his statement.

    “The honourable governor is not doing justice to his constitutional post by such tweets. He is meddling into the domain of the state government. As the figurehead he should have given assent to the names of VCs decided by the search committee and the Higher Education Department is vested with the power to decide the names after due consideration. If the governor refuses to give nod to the selection, the department has the power to go ahead with its decision as per law,” he said.

    The state government on Friday gave additional charge to Bandyopadhyay, the vice chancellor of West Bengal University of Teachers’ Training, Education Planning and Administration (WBUTTEPA), as the VC of DHWU.

    “The authority has decided to give the charge of the office of the VC of Diamond Harbour University to Prof Soma Bandyopadhyay with effect from 15.01.22 in addition to her normal duties as Vice Chancellor of WBUTTEPA,” the notification said.

    DHWU outgoing VC Professor Anuradha Mukhopadhyay was appointed as the vice chancellor of Sanskrit College and University, of which Bandyopadhyay was the acting vice chancellor.

  • After pointing out ‘mess’ at GTA, now Bengal Governor attacks Mamata over appointments of VCs of 24 universities

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar Thursday claimed that appointments of vice-chancellors of 24 universities in the state were made without his approval or in defiance of orders.

    Dhankhar is the ex-officio chancellor of the state-run universities, including Calcutta University, Jadavpur University and Presidency University.

    “VCs of 24 Universities appointed @MamataOfficial in disregard of law. These are ex facie in defiance of specific orders or without approval by Chancellor-the Appointing Authority,” the governor tweeted.

    “These appointments carry no legal sanction and would be forced to take action unless soon recalled,” he added.

    The warning comes close on the heels of chancellors and vice-chancellors of private universities not attending a meeting called by the governor earlier in the month at the Raj Bhawan here.

    Dhankhar is the visitor of private universities in the state.

    Claiming that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) — an autonomous district council for Darjeeling and Kalimpong areas, was in a complete “mess”, Dhankhar on Wednesday sought updates about its operations from officials concerned.

    He also noted that GTA accounts have not been audited by CAG since its formation a decade ago.

    The governor, who is on a visit to Darjeeling, has asked the GTA administrator to personally update him about the council’s operations and way of functioning.

    He also sought an explanation in writing for “non-compliance of earlier directives”.

    “GTA @MamataOfficial in a mess. No CAG Audit for a decade since inception. No report to Governor #GTA functioning as per Section 55 (10) GTA Act, 2011,” Dhankhar tweeted.

    “Administrator #GTA directed to personally update and make available Reports under Section 55(10) of GTA Act by 30 December, 2021,” he said.

    Section 55 (10) of GTA Act, 2011 stipulates that the governor shall obtain a report on the functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and cause that report to be laid on the table of the Legislative Assembly annually.

    The governor, in a letter to the GTA administrator, a copy of which was attached with the Twitter message, said that a disturbing situation has arisen, pointing towards “serious dereliction of duty by the concerned” with no report being made available to him in spite of firm directives.

    He also said that on the last occasion, the secretary of GTA, under instructions of the then administrator, who was on leave, had called on him in Darjeeling.

    Maintaining that there has been no response to issues flagged for urgent intervention by the administrator, the governor stated that “a serious view of the same is taken at this end and for such acts of omission and commission appropriate steps will emanate.”

    Insisting that the sequence of events indicate a determined defiance of the administrator, Dhankhar said inputs received on his end allege that GTA has become a “den of corruption”, where funds have been wrongly utilised in the absence of audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

  • Governor Dhankar sending anti-Mamata Banerjee messages to me every day: TMC MP Saugata Roy

    By ANI

    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saugata Roy on Wednesday alleged that West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has been sending him messages against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee every day.

    Roy said that ‘it is unethical’ for the Governor to engage in such activities.

    Speaking to ANI, the TMC MP said, “Sending messages against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to me by Governor Dhankhar is very unethical. Chief Minister is the leader of the party of which I am a member. I think someone is provoking the Governor. Governor tweets all this after meeting with either Shubhendu Adhikari or Amit Shah. Governor making statements against Chief Minister every day. He is diminishing the dignity of the post of Governor.”

    Referring to the extension of the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) by the Centre, the TMC MP said, “We had opposed the Centre’s move of extending BSF’s jurisdiction. The Governor also had countered our views on the matter.”

  • BJP alleges massive rigging in KMC elections, urges Bengal Governor for repolling

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Alleging large-scale rigging during the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections, opposition BJP on Sunday met West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and urged him to take steps to countermand the civic polls.

    Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari claimed that there were over 100 instances of irregularities during the polls, and not more than 20 per cent of the electorate could cast votes.

    “Most CCTVs were non-functional with papers and stickers pasted on the camera or their connection points pulled out. The chief minister is turning the state into a dictator-run republic,” he said.

    Sporadic incidents of violence including hurling of bombs at two booths and skirmishes between political workers marred an otherwise humdrum polling as 63.63 per cent of the nearly 40.5 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm on Sunday, when voting ended.

    High drama was witnessed outside a Salt Lake area house where Adhikari was holding a meeting with party MLAs, after the Bidhannagar city police cordoned-off the entire area and stopped him from leaving for Raj Bhawan, where he was scheduled to meet the Governor, citing a directive of the State Election Commission that non-residents cannot enter the city on polling day.

    In a video that surfaced on social media, BJP vice-president Jay Prakash Majumder was seen arguing with police officers, asking them on what grounds were they taking such action.

    A deputy commissioner rank officer was heard telling him: “We cannot allow you to proceed to Kolkata as polling is being held and you are not residents of the metropolis.”

    Adhikari also alleged he was manhandled by a junior police officer, and that the gates of the MLA hostel in Kolkata were locked till 5 pm, preventing eight BJP legislators from attending a legislature party meeting.

    Later, the governor, in a tweet, said: “BJP delegation led by LOP @SuvenduWB has urged the Governor to take steps to declare polls #KMC null and void in view of rampant violence, rigging and @KolkataPolice acting for ruling party. A thorough probe was sought in the locking of opposition MLAs in the hostel.”

    “Delegation also sought investigation into the virtual house arrest @bidhannagarpc of LOP @SuvenduWB and several MLAs, being reminiscent of emergency. According to them, ruling party Ministers and MLAs had free run with support @KolkataPolice.”

    A BJP delegation on Sunday evening submitted various footages and documents to the SEC, demanding repolling.

    Adhikari said the KMC elections is being monitored by the Calcutta High Court, and the party will also submit footages in support of its claims to the court on December 23.

    “I saw her (CM Mamata Banerjee) thanking police for having stopped outsiders. How long will she keep labelling residents of the state as outsiders?” the leader of opposition added.

  • West Bengal example of human rights violations, says Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar Friday fired a fresh salvo at the Trinamool Congress government, alleging that the state has set a precedent for human rights violations.

    The governor, in a videographed address on Human Rights Day, said upholding of people’s rights is necessary for a democratic system to flourish.

    “West Bengal has set an example of human rights violations….fear among the people is such that they cannot even discuss this openly,” he said in the address posted on Twitter.

    “Worrisome HUMAN RIGHTS violations @MamataOfficial. Only ‘Rule of Ruler and not of law’ @India_NHRC. Need for massive uplift,” he said in another tweet.

    Dhankhar, who has been at loggerheads with the TMC government over several issues since taking over as governor in July, 2019, also alleged that the administration and officials in the state are behaving like political workers.

    “Situation @MamataOfficial far distanced from ‘where the mind is without fear and the head is held high’. Governance is distancing from Constitution and rule of law,” he said.

    The governor urged the officials to work within the provisions of the Constitution.

    Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a message on Human Rights Day posted on Twitter around the same time as that of Dhankhar’s address, called for unity among people to defeat forces that abuse fundamental rights.

    “Let us pledge to rise above hate and inequality. Let us come together and fight for each other, stand by each other. Together, we can defeat all forces that dare to abuse our fundamental rights,” she wrote.

  • West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar says SEC will brief him on civic elections, poll panel ‘unaware’

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday said that State Election Commissioner Sourav Das would meet him to brief about the preparations for the upcoming civic polls in Kolkata, but the poll official claimed that he was not aware of any such meeting.

    Dhankhar said Das would meet him at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday and also discuss regarding deployment of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) during the polls here on December 19.

    “State Election Commissioner @MamataOfficial Shri Saurav Das will update Governor Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar on December 07 at Raj Bhawan on issues #KMC elections preparedness and deployment #CAPF,” said a tweet from the governor’s official account.

    “Governor had indicated SEC constitutionally mandated to ensure free and fair elections,” it added.

    Das, however, said he was not aware of the meeting.

    “I don’t know anything about it. I cannot comment much more than this, but can only say that I have no knowledge about the matter,” he said when contacted.

    Dhankhar had on Thursday sought details of deployment of the CAPF for the civic polls from Das who met him at Raj Bhavan.

  • Dhankar cautions SEC against toeing Mamata government’s line on civic polls; Trinamool hits back

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday cautioned State Election Commissioner Saurav Das against toeing the line of the state government on holding elections to Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and other civic bodies separately, describing this as an “outrage of Constitution”.

    The ruling Trinamool Congress was quick to hit back, accusing Dhankhar of crossing his constitutional limits.

    The West Bengal government has proposed to the SEC that elections to municipal corporations of Kolkata and Howrah be held first and those to the around 100 other municipal bodies where polls are pending be taken up later.

    SEC officials recently indicated that they have accepted the proposal.

    The notification in this regard is yet to be issued.

    “Cautioned Shri Saurav Das that SEC toeing line of State Government and be merely its executing agency, would be an outrage of Constitution as also unwholesome for democratic process,” the governor tweeted.

    Dhankhar, in a letter to Das, said he had received numerous inputs that the SEC is abdicating its constitutional mandate and authority and toeing the line of the state government.

    “(The SEC is) in effect executing the directions of the state government in the matter of holding upcoming elections to the municipalities in the state,” he wrote in the letter, a copy of which he attached to his tweet.

    He said Article 243ZA of the Constitution in categorical terms invests the SEC with “the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the municipalities.”

    This constitutional mandate for the SEC can in no manner be qualified or diluted by any law by state as, in terms of Article 243ZA(2), such law has to be subject to the provisions of the Constitution, the governor said.

    Maintaining that the SEC had mooted the idea of simultaneous elections to all the municipalities earlier, Dhankhar said overwhelming political inputs are for the same.

    “It is imperative at your end to ensure that constitutional mandate is regarded both in letter and spirit, and am sure you will bear this in mind,” the governor told Das in the letter.

    He wrote that the SEC is expected to act independently of the government.

    “Further, it is trite legal proposition that provisions of an enactment cannot override, in any manner whatsoever, the stipulations in the Constitution. The supremacy of the constitutional prescription is non-negotiable,” Dhankhar said.

    Dhankhar’s letter drew a sharp reaction from the ruling TMC, which accused the Governor of crossing his constitutional limits.

    “The state government has every right to send a proposal. The governor is interfering with the administrative and constitutional rights of the state government,” senior TMC leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee said.

    Dhankar’s views were, however, echoed by the opposition BJP, Congress and the CPI(M)-led Left Front.

    “We want that elections to all the municipalities are held together. The state government since 2019 has been delaying the elections for their political interests. Later, they blamed it on the COVID pandemic,” state BJP vice-president Pratap Banerjee said.

    The BJP has moved the Calcutta High Court seeking that poll to all municipal bodies where it is due be held together on a single day.

    The case is pending.

    The opposition Congress and the Left Front, which doesn’t have any representation in the state assembly, accused the state government of delaying the civic elections for political reasons.

    “The state government has no proper explanation on why it is delaying the elections to other municipal bodies. They (TMC) are delaying the polls in areas where they are not on the strong ground politically,” senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said.

    The proposed date for the elections to KMC, as well as Howrah Municipal Corporation, is December 19.

    The elections to KMC, along with 112 other municipalities and municipal corporations, were due in April-May 2020.

    But the polls were postponed due to the raging COVID pandemic.

    The civic bodies where elections are due are being run by state-appointed Board of Administrators.