In the last three years since Jagdeep Dhankhar became Governor of West Bengal on July 30, 2019, there has been an ongoing and intense battle between the Trinamool Congress government and the Raj Bhavan. The previous regime also had conflicts with the Governor, but the hostility has been unprecedented. The State government has repeatedly accused Dhankhar of excessive interference and misusing his position to undermine their authority. These differences were evident at the recent Bengal Global Business Summit, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Dhankhar exchanged veiled barbs in front of representatives from 19 countries.
At the summit, Dhankhar hinted at governance and administrative shortcomings in the State while praising the Chief Minister. He urged her to foster a positive development atmosphere and avoid a confrontational stance with the Centre. Banerjee responded by humorously suggesting that Dhankhar should inform the Centre not to disturb industrialists.
Since assuming office, the Trinamool Congress government has accused Dhankhar of constant interference in legislative and administrative matters. They criticize him for attacking the Chief Minister’s stance on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, criticizing the government’s COVID response, summoning administrative officials, withholding assent to legislative Bills, and highlighting government failures on social media. This constant opposition has made Dhankhar one of the State government’s most vocal and persistent critics.
One specific instance of disagreement was the Governor’s refusal to give assent to the Howrah Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, resulting in the postponement of elections. The government alleges that Dhankhar deliberately delays clearing files and giving his assent, hampering their work.
Dhankhar has consistently clashed with Mamata Banerjee on various issues, including administration, law and order, relations with the Centre, and the selection of university Vice Chancellors. He has accused the administration and police of being politicized. Even on National Civil Service Day, he criticized the State administration and police for their political involvement.
The Trinamool Congress accuses Dhankhar of being biased towards the BJP, while the Governor maintains that he follows the principles of the Constitution. Political analyst Surajit C. Mukhopadhyay draws parallels between Dhankhar and former Governor Dharma Vira, emphasizing that the Governor’s office can be constructive or obstructive. Mukhopadhyay suggests that Dhankhar’s actions reflect the Centre’s tendency to centralize power.
The Trinamool Congress and the State government have responded to Dhankhar’s attacks, often resorting to personal attacks. In June 2021, Banerjee referred to the Governor as a “corrupted man” charge-sheeted in the Jain hawala diaries case. Trinamool MPs wrote to the President requesting the withdrawal of Dhankhar’s appointment as Governor due to breach of oath. In April 2021, Firhad Hakim, the Mayor of Kolkata, referred to Dhankhar as “Dadu” (granddad) when discussing the delayed Howrah Municipal elections.
Despite the personal attacks, Dhankhar continues to put pressure on the State government and has not shown any signs of backing down. He emphasizes that he adheres to the Indian Constitution and does not make personal attacks. However, both Mamata Banerjee and Dhankhar need to respect their constitutional roles and refrain from interfering in each other’s domains.