In an attempt to break the ice between Raj Bhawan and the State’s ruling party, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar on Saturday said that he will visit the residence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to participate in the Kali Puja celebrations on Sunday. Ms. Banerjee has extended an invitation to the Governor and his wife.
“The Hon’ble Governor Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has conveyed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister on 25.10.2019 that he and his wife will be privileged to be at her place on the auspicious occasion of Kali Puja on the evening of 27 October, 2019 as indicated by her,” a press statement from Raj Bhawan said.
Earlier in the day the Governor told journalists that he had written to the Chief Minister asking her that he wanted to come her residence on October 29, on the occasion of Bhatridwitiya. Popularly known as Bhai Phonta in Bengal, Bhatridwitiya falls on the second day of Diwali, is a festival ti celebrate the bond between brother and sister.
“She was on a tour to north Bengal. After her return, I got a letter from her. She had invited me and my wife on October 27 during the Kali Puja. The Kali Puja at her residence is taking place since 1978. We are happy to participate in the Puja at her residence,” Mr Dhankar told journalists.
The development assumes significance as the Governor on several occasions has been critical of State government, particularly when the State government officials did not turn up to meet him when he visited the district. Mr Dhanakar had also raised questions on law and order situation in the State and the functioning of the State’s Universities and higher education department. From the Trinamool Congress, State Education Minister Partha Chaterjee has accused the Governor of “over stepping his constitutional jurisdiction”.
Mr. Dhankar also tried to play down the strains that seems to have appeared between him and the State’s ruling party. “ I think that after the letter from the Chief Minister and our acceptance to the invitation. I need not to answer any more questions,” he said.
Ms Banerjee organises Kali Puja at her 30B, Harish Chatterjee Street residence every year and almost the entire top brass of the Trinamool Congress remains present there on the occasion.
“The essence of the Indian Constitution lies in communal harmony and the issue is also very close to the Hon’ble Governor’s heart. In the Nation, all of us need to work both for harmony and communal harmony and the Hon’ble Governor would interact on this issue with the Hon’ble Chief Minister,” the statement from Raj Bhawan also added.
