Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Sunday issued a letter to chief secretary H.K. Dwivedi on the legalities of the ongoing Trinamul dharna in front of the Calcutta Raj Bhavan, in a virtual echo of concerns flagged by the Bengal unit of the BJP.

The letter came a day after a Trinamul delegation after meeting the governor in Darjeeling, claimed he agreed that the demand for central funds for the 100-day job scheme by the Bengal government was “just” and "reasonable" but he would be “helpless” to retrieve the money in case of “political obstruction.”

Sources said that the Trinamul delegation's claim had pushed the state BJP on the back foot.

Sources said that Raj Bhavan has now sought a prompt response from the chief secretary to three questions.

“A response has been sought on whether Calcutta Police allowed a dharna with a dais within an area (Raj Bhavan) under Section 144. Secondly, if the permission was given, who gave it, and under which law of the land?” said a source. “Thirdly, if it has been going on without permission, what action have the police taken against it?”

Trinamul general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has been leading the dharna on the 100-day job funds issue for four days.

The delegation had claimed that Bose would go to Calcutta and meet the agitators “soon.”

However, the Raj Bhavan letter provided a new ground for the BJP and Trinamul to dig their heels afresh.

Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, wrote on X that he had information that the governor has “formally instructed the chief secretary to remove the agitators” from within the prohibitory area around Raj Bhavan where Section 144 is in force.

"For the last 4 days the illegal agitation has been facilitated by the Kolkata Police in complete violation of the law. Commissioner of Police; Shri Vineet Goyal should remember that his salary is paid by the taxpayers and not by the Banerjee family of WB,” wrote Adhikari.

He alleged that the police were discriminatory in their action.

"I hope the Hon'ble Governor would ensure that the law is equal to everyone and no special treatment is extended to anyone, however mighty the person thinks of himself,” wrote the BJP Nandigram MLA.

Trinamul reacted strongly to “discrimination”.

“LoP @SuvenduWB you got one thing right - Law is equal for everyone,” Trinamul spokesperson Kunal Ghosh posted on X. He asked why Bengal didn't get 100-day job funds “while other BJP-ruled states" got them "despite irregularities.” “Every time we oppose your Party’s Zamindari politics, Central law enforcement agencies come charging.... When @BJP4Bengal leaders assemble in front of Raj Bhavan, imposition of section 144 automatically disappears,” he wrote.

Bose went to flood-hit Teesta Bazar in Kalimpong before leaving for Calcutta on Sunday evening.