"The conduct of the Hon'ble Governor is not only undemocratic and violative of the constitutional values attached to his office but also impairs free and fair elections in the state," asserts the All India Trinamool Congress party as they registered a complaint against West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on charges of allegedly canvassing for the Bharatiya Janata Party at an event in Kolkata.
The TMC, which has been at loggerheads with the Governor's office over alleged sexual harassment charges against the Governor, in a complaint to the Election Commission on Thursday, alleged that he (C.V. Ananda Bose) solicited votes for the BJP by intentionally wearing a BJP logo while attending a public function at Ram Temple, Central Avenue, Kolkata.
"It is to bring to your kind knowledge and attention that C.V. Ananda Bose, the Hon'ble Governor of the State of West Bengal, has been using his good office for canvassing for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the ensuing general elections to the Lok Sabha," the TMC said.
"In particular, the Hon'ble Governor while attending a public function at Ram Temple, Central Avenue, Kolkata was seen to be wearing a BJP logo on his chest, for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections to solicit votes for BJP," it added.
Further, it is pertinent to note that in its complaint, the TMC also pointed out the Election Commission's action in the past against governors who have used their offices for canvassing for political parties.
For instance, referring to the 1993 Commission's action against the then Himachal Pradesh Governor Gulsher Ahmad, it said, "For instance, in 1993, the Commission took action against Gulsher Ahmad, former Governor of Himachal Pradesh, over the misuse of official machinery for his son's poll campaign. Soon after the action by the ECI, Ahmad resigned from his post."
Also referencing the EC's action in 2019 against then Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh, the TMC added, "More recently, in 2019, when the then Governor of Rajasthan, Kalyan Singh, remarked that Narendra Modi should be re-elected as Prime Minister, the Commission forwarded a complaint to the President over the violation of the MCC and requested appropriate action against the Hon'ble Governor."
"Similarly, it is imperative that this Commission take appropriate action against the Governor of West Bengal to maintain a level playing field for the ongoing general election," it added.
Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that this isn't the first time that the TMC has filed a complaint against the Governor. Earlier, last month, the TMC filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, accusing him of unlawfully meddling in the upcoming Lok Sabha poll process and trying to run a parallel office similar to the EC.
Hitting out at the Raj Bhavan occupant for launching a new portal 'Log Sabha' to listen to the grievances of voters and directly connect with them during the polls, the TMC said it not only undermines the power of the EC but also takes away its authority to address grievances, leading to unnecessary confusion among the masses.
"In such circumstances, we call upon you to restrain C.V. Ananda Bose from running a parallel electioneering system of so-called reporting of complaints and supervising the elections under the name and style of Log Sabha," the letter said.
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