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

West Bengal's Education Minister, Bratya Basu, has been 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 vice-chancellor appointments and likened Raj Bhavan to a mere post box. "Let him speak, our caravan marches on," the source remarked.

Basu raised concerns while presenting the Bhawanipur Global University Bill, 2024, in the state assembly. He focused on the governor's role in appointing vice-chancellors for 35 state universities. Despite a Supreme Court ruling allowing the chief minister 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 for vice-chancellor positions. Basu stated, "The governor is sitting on most appointments." He emphasised that while the chief minister remains patient and respectful towards the governor's position, there are limits to this patience.

Basu further criticised the governor for treating Raj Bhavan like a post box and urged Bose to adhere to constitutional guidelines. He expressed concern that delays in appointing vice-chancellors were impacting university operations and accused the governor of behaving childishly.

Meeting Between Governor and Chief Minister

An official mentioned that Banerjee met with Bose at Raj Bhavan on Monday evening after receiving an invitation for tea. The meeting reportedly lasted around 45 minutes. Following this meeting, Bose described his relationship with Banerjee as akin to that of siblings, stating it is a "bhai behen" (brother-sister) relation in Bengal.

Basu warned that if the governor continues his current approach, there will come a time when such actions will be publicly challenged. He stressed the importance of following constitutional provisions to ensure smooth governance and university functioning.

The ongoing tension highlights significant challenges in West Bengal's higher education administration. The situation underscores the need for cooperation between state leaders to address these issues effectively.