Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the West Bengal Congress President, hinted on Friday that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee might take drastic action against Governor CV Ananda Bose amidst molestation allegations.
Chowdhury suggested that Banerjee could follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi's example, who had jailed opposition leaders, by potentially imprisoning the Governor. He referenced recent incidents where opposition leaders faced legal actions initiated by the central government.
Meanwhile, former state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh defended Governor CV Ananda Bose against the allegations, labelling them as tactics of "TMC politics." Ghosh criticised the ruling Trinamool Congress party for allegedly insulting constitutional figures, including the President, Prime Minister, and now the Governor.
The controversy arose when an employee at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata accused Governor CV Ananda Bose of sexual harassment. The woman filed a complaint with the Hare Street police in Kolkata, prompting a ban on the entry of the state Finance Minister, Chandrima Bhattacharya, into Raj Bhavan premises.
In response, the Governor issued an order banning Bhattacharya's entry into Raj Bhavan premises in Kolkata, Darjeeling, and Barrackpore. He cited defamation and anti-constitutional media statements made against him by the Minister. The matter has escalated further, with legal steps being considered against the Minister.
Trinamool Congress leader Shashi Panja expressed shock over the allegations, stating that they have tarnished the reputation of the Governor's post and his office. She highlighted the irony of the situation, given the Governor's previous advocacy for women's rights.
The timing of this controversy is significant, with polling for remaining parliamentary seats scheduled on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, and results expected on June 4. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP made significant gains in West Bengal, winning 18 seats against the TMC's 22.
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