Education Minister of West Bengal Partha Chatterjee slammed the Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi for bypassing the government. Derek O’ Brien, the Trinamool chief national spokesperson, alleged that the Governor wrote to the divisional commissioner of Malda asking to convene a meeting on law and order and development schemes of the state and central governments in the district. He further asked to assemble for a meeting on law and order and development schemes of the state and central governments in the district bordering Bangladesh.
In the West Bengal Assembly Chatterjee said,
“The governor has tarnished his post by writing a letter (to the official). It is against the Constitution. We condemn such action. We respect him as the constitutional head. But we will not accept such action under any circumstances.”
The governor, however, chose to decline any comment and said that he is keenly watching the developments.
Talking to the PTI Tripathi said,
“I don’t want to make any comment on this issue. Whenever I have to say anything I will say it to the reporters. At present, I am just watching the developments.”
Meanwhile, Derek O’Brien said that Tripathi could have followed the rules and regulations laid down in the Constitution instead of not acting unilaterally. Trinamool Congress has sought to raise the issue in the Rajya Sabha.
Chatterjee was quoted as saying –
“By sending a letter to the Malda district administration through his secretary, the Governor has gone beyond his jurisdiction, which is prescribed in the Constitution. His act goes against the Constitution and he has flouted it. By crossing his duty as prescribed in Article 153 of the Constitution, he has not only acted as the spokesperson of the central government but also as a spokesperson of the ruling party at the Centre. He has addressed several issues such as funds granted for central projects and also summoned state government officials.”
“The people of Bengal consider his steps as unconstitutional and undemocratic,” he added. The Governor declined to comment on the issue but said he was keeping a watch on the developments. “I don’t want to make any comment on this issue. Whenever I have to say anything, I will say it to the reporters. At present, I am just watching the developments.”
Reacting to the whole scene, the West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi on Thursday asked TMC leaders to “look at their own faces in the mirror.”