WEST Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has warned the State’s newly-elected Trinamool Congress (TMC) Government to “not force me to use my constitutional powers”, sparking a fresh artillery exchange with the ruling party. “He forgot his constitutional position by calling for a change in the State. His appeal was rejected, so old man is now obviously frustrated,” said Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, while reacting to the Governor’s warning. Governor Dhankhar has been touring ‘violence-hit areas’ since the Trinamool returned to power with a landslide.

 

His visit to Sitalkuchi in Northern Bengal provoked angry response from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who reminded Dhankhar of his constitutional obligations of working on the ‘aid and advice’ of the elected Government. The trip to Sitalkuchi, hit by poll-time violence where some voters were killed in firing by Central forces, was followed by Dhankhar’s visit to makeshift camps in Assam where ‘victims of political violence’ in West Bengal were sheltered.

 

His comment that this was a ‘blot on governance’ in West Bengal provoked accusations that Dhankhar was ‘less a Governor and more a BJP functionary.’ Dhankhar on Saturday said he was shocked at the condition of several families who were rendered homeless after they had allegedly faced atrocities at the hands of ruling TMC workers. He wondered whether the Chief Minister has heard the cries of women and children, who took refuge in camps after clashes.