Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has “directed” the Mamata Banerjee government to remove education minister Bratya Basu from the council of ministers for allegedly holding a political meeting on a university campus on March 30.
The governor contends that the minister deliberately violated the election code of conduct.
The minister had presided over the first convention of the newly constituted West Bengal College and University Professors’ Association (WBCUPA), which is loyal to the Trinamul Congress, on the Gour Banga University campus in Malda.
Basu on his X handle raised the question whether the governor has any authority to remove a minister.
Basu wrote: “The Indian Constitution clearly says the recommendation of appointment or removal of any minister lies with the chief minister. The chancellor has not only shown his true colours, he has exceeded his constitutional limit as well.”
“This is as laughable as myself recommending the removal of the governor to his HE (His Excellency) the President of India. If I have violated the poll code, it is the prerogative of a political party to bring it to the notice of Election Commission of India, which will take appropriate action. By raising such an accusation, he has misused the constitutional post and proved his political identity.”
Senior officials in the education department this newspaper spoke to iterated that the chancellor could not direct an elected state government to remove a minister.
“The chancellor can at the most take it up with the chief minister if he has received any complaint against the minister. It is clearly mentioned in the Constitution that it is the sole prerogative of the chief minister to decide whether to appoint or remove a minister,” the official said.
The chancellor’s office said in a press statement on Thursday evening: “In the light of the political meeting held in Gour Banga University under the leadership and presence of Shri Bratya Basu (Minister of Education) with other Ministers, MPs, MLAs and political leaders on 30th March, 2024, the Chancellor and Governor has directed the state government to take action against the erring Minister who has deliberately violated the election code of conduct, including his removal from the Cabinet.”
The governor said: “Be you ever so high, the law is above you.”
The complaint will be forwarded to the Election Commission of India, said a source at Raj Bhavan.
Basu told news channel ABP Ananda: "I didn't commit any offence by attending the convention at the university. I can still attend similar conventions. The vice-chancellor appointed by the chancellor allowed the convention to be held.”
The tension between the education minister and the chancellor has been simmering ever since the conference was held at Gour Banga University.
The day after the WBCUPA event was held on March 30, the governor removed Rajat Kishore Dey, a professor in Gour Banga University’s Bengali department, from the position of officiating VC. Dey had been appointed to the post by the governor himself.
However, the education department on April 1 issued a directive to the university’s registrar informing him that Dey would “continue to exercise and perform the duties in the interest of students in particular and the university in general”.
The WBCUPA convention was inaugurated by the education minister, who is also president of the organisation.
Ministers of state Sabina Yasmin and Tajmul Hossain, along with the Trinamul Congress candidates of Malda North and Malda South parliamentary constituencies, were present at the convention.