Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu Accused of Creating Rift Between Governor CV Ananda Bose and CM Mamata Banerjee

Updated: Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 23:30 [IST]

West Bengal's Education Minister, Bratya Basu, is accused of intentionally causing discord between Governor CV Ananda Bose and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, according to a source from Raj Bhavan. Earlier, Basu criticised Bose for allegedly making arbitrary decisions regarding vice-chancellor appointments and likened Raj Bhavan to a mere post box.

Bengal Education Minister Creates Rift Between Leaders — Representative image

Basu raised concerns while presenting the Bhawanipur Global University Bill, 2024, in the state assembly. He focused on the governor's involvement in appointing vice-chancellors for 35 state universities. Despite a Supreme Court ruling granting the chief minister authority to appoint VCs from a search committee's list, Basu claimed the governor continued to make arbitrary selections.

Governor's Role in University Appointments

The education minister alleged that the governor often approved only two or three names at a time. Basu remarked, "The governor is sitting on most appointments. The CM continues to show patience and respect towards his post, but patience has limits. If the governor continues to act this way, a day will come when such behaviour will be called out."

Basu further criticised the governor for treating Raj Bhavan like a post box and urged Bose to adhere to constitutional guidelines. He highlighted that delays in appointing VCs are disrupting university operations and accused the governor of behaving immaturely.

Meeting Between Governor and Chief Minister

An official mentioned that Banerjee met with Bose at Raj Bhavan on Monday evening following his invitation for tea. The meeting reportedly lasted around 45 minutes. After their discussion, Bose stated, "It is bhai behen brother sister relation between the governor and the chief minister in Bengal."

The ongoing tension between state officials raises questions about governance in West Bengal's educational sector. As both sides navigate these challenges, the impact on university administration remains a concern.