West Bengal Governor R N Ravi is seeking constitutional experts’ advice before calling the BJP’s legislative party leader to form the new government, sources in Lok Bhavan said on Wednesday.
Ravi has met Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal and Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala.
After the meeting, Agarwal said, “The Election Commission of India (ECI) has already published the gazette notification of the winning candidates. Now, the governor will take all decisions as per constitutional provisions.”
A senior Lok Bhavan official said, “As per Article 172 of the Constitution, the West Bengal Assembly will dissolve on Wednesday midnight. After that, this government and its Cabinet will dissolve. This Cabinet can then work as a caretaker government till a new government is sworn in.”
“If the governor wants, he can replace the existing government with a caretaker government. But then also, new ministers have to be sworn in. He can also impose President’s rule for a few days. However, after the Assembly is dissolved, the governor will call the largest party to form the new government. Meanwhile, the largest party has to elect its legislative party leader,” he added.
According to sources, the BJP is yet to decide the swearing-in venue, although three places are under speculation: the Brigade Parade ground, Netaji Indoor Stadium, and RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
However, BJP sources said all such decisions would be taken after Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives in Kolkata on Thursday.
It was already decided that the new government will be sworn in on May 9, the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.
The confusion about government formation began after outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she would not resign. She alleged that the elections were stolen by manipulating electronic voting machines (EVM).
“We have not been defeated. I have not been defeated. I will not resign. There is no question of my going to Raj Bhavan. In this election, the BJP and the Election Commission played a dirty game… They forcefully grabbed (votes),” she said at a press conference on Tuesday, a day after the votes were counted.
Banerjee lost to the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari by over 15,000 votes in Bhabanipur, as the saffron party swept the Assembly elections.
“I was assaulted inside the counting centre. They hit me in my belly and on my back. I was not allowed to enter. My agent was also not allowed to enter. If such atrocities were committed against me, imagine what happened to other candidates,” said Banerjee.
Alleging EVM manipulation, the Trinamool Congress chief said, “How can EVMs have 90 per cent and 95 per cent battery (during counting)? We have all the proof,” she said.
Banerjee said the Trinamool Congress was planning action against the BJP and the Election Commission. “We have an action plan which is being prepared. But we can’t share that with you now,” she said.