The swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Nirmal Chandra Roy, has given rise to a fresh dispute between the West Bengal government and the Governor. The Trinamool Congress government prefers to administer the oath to the MLA within the state assembly rather than at Raj Bhavan.
State Minister Sovon Deb Chattopadhyay, on behalf of the government, wrote a letter to Governor CV Ananda Bose, requesting that the ceremony be allowed within the Assembly. Minister Dev Chattopadhyay expressed his desire for the Governor's presence at the assembly during the oath-taking, believing it would enhance the assembly's significance.
Sources have revealed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee instructed the minister to write the letter in an attempt to convince the Governor that the delay in Roy's oath-taking is adversely affecting public services.
However, the Governor had already communicated to the Chief Minister his desire to preside over the oath-taking ceremony at Raj Bhavan.
Biman Banerjee, the Speaker of the state assembly, also wrote to the Governor, making the same request.
Roy emerged victorious in the Dhupguri assembly seat by-election in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district earlier this month.
Speaking to India Today, MLA Roy regarded the matter as "very simple." He explained that it is customary for an MLA elected through by-elections to take the oath in the Assembly under the Speaker's authority. He emphasized that he had never witnessed an MLA taking the oath at the Governor's residence during his tenure, and conventionally, the Chief Minister and Cabinet ministers receive their oaths from the Governor.
According to a statement from Raj Bhavan, the Governor had scheduled Roy's swearing-in for September 23, but the MLA failed to attend.
