In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, the TMC alleged Governor Ananda Bose was “seen to be wearing a BJP logo” on his chest while attending the event at Ram Temple in Kolkata in January this year. The Mamata Banerjee-led party urged the poll panel to take appropriate action against the Bengal Governor and to restrain him from “interfering” with the electioneering process.

“In particular, on 23.01.2024, the Hon’ble Governor while attending a public function at Ram Temple, Central Avenue, Kolkata was seen to be wearing a BJP logo on his chest, for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections to solicit votes for BJP. The conduct of the Hon’ble Governor is not only undemocratic and violative of the Constitutional values attached to his office but also impairs free and fair elections in the State,” the TMC said in its complaint.

The TMC also pointed out that, in the past, the Election Commission has taken action against governors who have used their offices for canvassing for the political parties. “For instance, in 1993, the Commission has taken action against Gulsher Ahmad, former Governor of Himachal Pradesh, over the misuse of official machinery for his son’s poll campaign. Soon after the action by the ECI, Ahmad resigned from his post,” the ruling party said in the letter.

“More recently, in 2019, when the then Governor of Rajasthan, Kalyan Singh had remarked that Narendra Modi should be re-elected as prime minister, the Commission forwarded a complaint to the President over violation of MCC and requested appropriate action against Hon’ble Governor. Similarly, it is imperative that this Commission take appropriate action against the Governor of West Bengal to maintain a level playing field for the ongoing general election,” it added.