Dhankhar on Didi skipping PM meet: Ego prevailed over public service

Governor says Chief Minister had objected to the presence of Adhikari in the meeting

In a startling revelation, West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday claimed that chief minister Mamata Banerjee had hinted during an urgent talk between them at the “boycott” by her during the review meeting by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the devastation of Cyclone Yaas on May 28.

He alleged that the Trinamul Congress supremo’s “ego prevailed over public service.”

Stumped by his revelation in a series of tweets, the ruling Trinamul swung into damage control mode before countering him.

Mr Dhankhar tweeted, “Constrained by false narrative to put record straight: On May 27 at 2316 hrs CM @MamataOfficial

GETTING INTO A DAMAGE CONTROL MODE, Senior TMC MP Sougata Roy, however, claimed, “The Governor’s comments are irresponsible.

messaged “may i talk? urgent”. Thereafter on phone indicated boycott by her & officials of PM Review Meet #CycloneYaas if LOP @SuvenduWB attends it. Ego prevailed over Public service. With unparalleled trampling of constitutional values & affront to the office of PM, May 28 will go down as ‘a dark day’ in India’s long-standing ethos of cooperative federalism.” (sic)

“At PM Review Meet #CycloneYaas democracy was shredded @MamataOfficial and Chief Secy @IASassociation. All constitutional principles were torn asunder by CM @MamataOfficial and functionaries @IASassociation at PM Review Meet #CycloneYaas. Democracy imperilled by such unconstitutional stance. Time #Media to introspectively check fear quotient in WB that threatens rule of law.” (sic)

Senior TMC MP Sougata Roy, however, claimed, “The Governor’s comments are irresponsible. The CM did not boycott the meeting of the PM. She rather met him and submitted the state government's demand to him. As the CM, she however has the liberty to question Mr Adhikari's presence at the meeting. Since he is not a government official, why would he attend it? And why would a CM, whose party has come to power, tolerate their politics? The constitution does

not give the governor any scope to tweet. He should stop it.”

Another TMC

Kalyan Banerjee

MP wondered,

“The PM had destroyed the federal structure in democracy. In that sense, May 28 will be seen as a 'Dark Day.' Since when has the leader of the opposition been a member of the state government that he would attend it's meeting?”