West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Thursday launched a scathing attack against Governor C.V. Ananda Bose for the delay and confusion over the swearing-in ceremony of two newly-elected Trinamool Congress legislators — Sayantika Banerjee from Baranagar and Reyat Houssen Sarkar from Bhagawangola, saying that “women are scared to go to Raj Bhavan.”
The Governor’s House released a statement saying, “Even while the Hon’ble Governor is considering the situation, there is a stunning news item quoting the Chief Minister: “women don’t feel safe to go to Raj Bhavan.” The newly-elected MLAs had requested the Hon’ble Governor to consider shifting the venue to the Assembly because of their personal preferences and never expressed any (other) apprehensions… It may be pointed out that a winner of an election is recognized as MLA with the issuance of the Certificate of Election…Nothing prevents the newly elected MLAs from serving the people of their constituencies.”
It also stated that all issues are addressed by the Governor with “ with promptitude and constitutional propriety as also this one”, and responses that are “unjustifiably critical of the Governor” were “least expected from an experienced public representative”. It further read, “It is expected of public representatives to abide by the Constitution and not generate erroneous and slanderous impressions.”
“As regards to the Chief Minister’s malicious tirade reported in newspapers today, Raj Bhavan neither cares for the absurd machinations nor deems it appropriate to respond to waste-bin material,” it said.
The Chief Minister had said on Thursday, “Either the Governor should nominate the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker to administer the oath, or he should go to the Assembly himself and do the needful…As it is, after what happened in the Raj Bhavan, women are scared to go there. I have received complaints,” she added, a clear hint at the recent police complaint filed by a temporary female staff of the Raj Bhavan accusing the Governor of molestation.
“The two legislators have been elected by people’s mandate. What right does the Governor have to stop them from taking oaths? It has been almost a month that uncertainties are shrouding the issue,” the Chief Minister had said.
The Governor’s House further wrote in their statement that on June 26, “the Hon’ble Governor waited for the arrival of both the elected MLAs. During this course no further communication was placed before him and he had to leave for New Delhi to attend to prior commitments.”