The Bengal Assembly on Monday passed a bill that seeks to install chief minister Mamata Banerjee as chancellor of state-run universities replacing the governor, amid opposition from BJP MLAs.

On May 26, the state cabinet had taken a unanimous decision to make the chief minister chancellor of the state-run universities.

The West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, was introduced in the House by higher education minister Bratya Basu and received 167 votes in favour. FIfty-five BJP MLAs voted against the bill.

The Opposition parties and a section of civil society have been criticising the government’s attempt to appoint the chief minister as chancellor of the state-run universities.

“If the Prime Minister can function as chancellor of Visva-Bharati, a central university, why can’t the chief minister be chancellor of the state-run universities?” he said during the debate on the bill.

The bill will now be sent to governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for his assent.

It remains to be seen whether Dhankhar, given his strenuous relationship with the state government, gives his assent to the bill. Government sources said if the governor sat on the bill, an ordinance might be issued installing the chief minister as chancellor of the state-run universities.

Opposing the bill, BJP MLAs said political interference in the functioning of the universities would increase if the chief minister became chancellor.

Taking a dig at Mamata, the leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, said her dream to become chancellor would remain unfulfilled.

“The bill will now go to the governor for his assent. He will send it to Delhi where it will remain stuck,” Adhikari said outside the House. He could not attend the proceedings as he has been suspended.

Reacting to Adhikari’s statement, Basu wondered whether the governor was acting on the BJP’s orders.

Voting on the bill was marked by controversy with Adhikari alleging rigging after it was initially reported that only 40 MLAs had opposed the bill. He threatened to move court saying 57 BJP MLAs were present in the House during the voting. Later, an official of the Assembly admitted an error had crept into the voting process. He said 55 MLAs had voted against the bill and 167 in favour of it.

Suspension

The Speaker rejected on technical grounds an application moved by BJP legislative party to revoke the suspension of seven of its MLAs.