Without a Governor’s Address to Open the Bengal Budget Session? Every Eye on Potential TMC Flashpoint
There might be yet another confrontation between the Trinamool Congress and Governor CV Anand Bose over the latter’s address at the Bengal Assembly’s Budget Session, which is scheduled to begin on Monday.
This week is the scheduled reconvening of the previous assembly session, which concluded sine die (without specifying a future date) in December 2023. However, there is talk in political and administrative circles that the governor’s address may not be included this time around.
The governor’s address usually opens the budget, but Raj Bhawan sources said they haven’t received a copy of the budget yet.
The governor is reportedly closely monitoring the situation, but the Raj Bhawan has not yet commented on it. Talks are also ongoing with the legal team and constitutional experts to go forward if needed.
In the meanwhile, assembly sources reported that the protocol was being adhered to. “The previous session ended sine die so that session is continuing,” a senior TMC MLA said to News18. Everything that happens in the assembly complies with the law.
But according to Raj Bhawan sources, there are two crucial questions. First, how can there be two budgets if this current session is an extension of the last? Second, can the budget be implemented lawfully without the governor’s approval?
A significant issue resulted from Jagdip Dhankar’s attempts to include a number of items in his budget address during his tenure as governor but being rejected by the state administration. To stoke the flames even further, Dhankar attempted to exit the parliament without having read the budget.
Political insiders claim that the TMC has prepared the sine die hypothesis without the governor’s approval.
With the government and the governor now engaged in a spat over violence during panchayat elections and the appointment of temporary vice chancellors at state-run institutions, all eyes are on whether the most recent problem will turn into a flashpoint.
