Gour Banga University witnessed a series of dramatic developments within 24 hours of the conclusion of the state convention and exhibition of the West Bengal College and University Professors' Association (WBCUPA) held on its premises on March 30.

Rajat Kishore Dey, a professor of the varsity's Bengali department who was asked to act as the vice-chancellor (VC) by chancellor-cum-governor C.V. Ananda Bose, was removed by his appointing authority on March 31.

However, the state government, on Monday issued a directive to the GBU 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".

Biswajit Das, the registrar of the GBU on additional charge, said: "Prof Dey, who was acting as the VC of the university informed me about his removal by the chancellor on Monday morning. However, I received a letter from the state government on Monday afternoon and learnt that he would be continuing to exercise the duties and responsibilities of the VC."

Dey, however, was not available for a comment since he was not in his office. Dey was asked to act as the VC by the governor on August 22, 2023.

His removal by Raj Bhavan was made within 24 hours of the Trinamul-backed WBCUPA holding its state conference on GBU premises. The conference was inaugurated by education minister and organisation's president Bratya Basu. The 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.

Dey, however, was not present at the convention.

The Congress and the BJP lodged written complaints alleging that the convention "grossly violated the model code of conduct (MCC) as determined by the Election Commission of India".

Sources said Raj Bhavan took cognisance of the complaints and acted upon those promptly.

However, the removal of the acting VC was termed "unilateral and unjustified" by the government.

A source in the district election department said that after receiving complaints from the Congress and the BJP, a letter had been issued to the GBU authorities asking them to show cause the reason for allowing the WBCUPA to hold the convention

"We have already responded to the letter received from the district election department," said the registrar.