West Bengal TMC MLAs Face Swearing-In Delay Amidst Standoff with Governor

Two newly elected Trinamool Congress MLAs, Sayantika Bandyopadhyay and Rayat Hossain Sarkar, plan to wait for West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose at the legislative assembly for four hours on Wednesday. This comes amid ongoing complications regarding their swearing-in ceremony. The Raj Bhavan insists that the oath-taking should occur at the Governor's House, while the MLAs have requested it be held in the assembly on June 26.

Bandyopadhyay, who won from Baranagar in the June 1 bypolls, expressed her frustration. "I am a member of the Legislative Assembly, and I need to work from here. It is a general practice that in the case of a by-election, the Governor writes to the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker to administer the oath. That is why I had written to the Governor, for his initiative," she told reporters.

MLAs Await Governor's Decision

Rayat Hossain Sarkar, who secured victory in Bhagabangola, echoed Bandyopadhyay's sentiments. He stated he would wait with her from noon to 4 pm for either the Governor to conduct the ceremony or give consent for it to be done by the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. "Already three weeks have passed since my win but I am yet to start working for the people of my constituency. Only one-and-a-half-years remain for the next assembly polls. I don't have much time," Bandyopadhyay added.

Speaker Biman Banerjee commented on the situation, highlighting its unusual nature. "Oath-taking ceremony is a constitutional protocol and it is very unfortunate that we have to experience this kind of situation. If the Governor is interested, he can come to the Assembly and conduct the oath-taking ceremony. We will make all the arrangements. We do not have any problem. But there should not be any impasse," he told reporters.

Constitutional Norms and Traditions

The Governor had invited both MLAs to attend their swearing-in at Raj Bhavan on June 26. Although constitutionally permissible for him to administer their oaths, it is customary for him to delegate this task to the Speaker or Deputy Speaker in cases of by-elections.

Bandyopadhyay emphasised her need to begin her legislative duties promptly due to limited time before the next assembly elections. She plans to wait until 4 pm on June 26 at the assembly compound for Governor Bose's presence at their oath-taking ceremony.

The ongoing impasse has drawn attention to procedural norms and traditions surrounding oath-taking ceremonies in West Bengal's legislative framework. The resolution of this matter remains crucial for both MLAs as they seek to commence their responsibilities towards their constituencies effectively.

The situation underscores a broader discussion about adherence to constitutional protocols and established practices within legislative processes. The outcome of this standoff will likely set a precedent for future by-elections and their associated formalities in West Bengal.