TMC vs Governor: Fresh Tussle Over Legislator Oaths in West Bengal

Sayantika Banerjee, newly elected TMC MLA, defies a governor-mandated oath-taking at Raj Bhavan and seeks to take oath in the Assembly. The ongoing dispute between the Bengal Governor and TMC revolves around the traditional protocol for swearing-in assembly members, potentially affecting Banerjee’s service to her constituency.

In an escalating dispute, newly elected TMC legislator Sayantika Banerjee announced her desire to take her legislative oath in the West Bengal Assembly rather than at Raj Bhavan, countermanding Governor CV Ananda Bose's directives.

After meeting Speaker Biman Banerjee, she officially communicated her decision in writing to Raj Bhavan, though officials there claim no such letter has been received.

The controversy began when the Governor invited Banerjee and Reyat Hossain Sarkar, who also won a by-poll, for the swearing-in ceremony, bypassing traditional customs where the Assembly Speaker usually administers the oath.

TMC alleges that such deviations undermine procedural norms, with Banerjee emphasizing the urgency to commence work for her constituency. State minister Firhad Hakim backed her stance, criticizing the Governor for obstructing democratic processes.

Speaker Biman Banerjee also condemned the Governor's intervention while challenging him to conduct the ceremony within the Assembly, asserting adherence to constitutional conventions. The latest episode exemplifies the contentious relationship between the ruling TMC and the Governor's office over procedural governance in West Bengal.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)