Heeding the advice of the Election Commission of India, West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Thursday called off his proposed visit to Cooch Behar.
Cooch Behar in north Bengal is going to polls on Friday and the Governor had intended to “oversee” the polling process.
In a press statement, the Governor alleged that an attempt was being made to “politicise the Governor’s office”.
“ I will not let anyone lower the dignity of the office of the Governor... I will not allow anyone to use me as a pawn on the political chessboard,” Mr. Bose said in a statement released by the Raj Bhavan. “Under the Constitution, no one can restrict the movement of a Governor. However, I do not want to get involved in the unsavoury political controversy around me,” he said.
After the Governor had intimidated the Election Commission about his visit to Cooch Behar, the poll body had advised him against it. The proposed visit by the Governor to a poll-bound constituency had sparked strong reactions from the Trinamool Congress leadership.
Polling will be held in Cooch Behar as well as Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri Lok Sabha seats on April 19.
The Governor had stated that he will be on the streets during the election and had started a portal ‘Log Sabha’ where people can lodge poll-related complaints. The Trinamool Congress had written to the EC saying that the Governor was interfering in the domain and the functioning of the Commission.
