Trinamool MLAs sworn in by Speaker, Governor alleges constitutional impropriety

Trinamool Congress MLAs sworn in by Speaker amid controversy, Governor accuses Speaker of constitutional impropriety.

More than a month after getting elected, two MLAs of the Trinamool Congress were on July 5 administered the oath of office during a special session of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly by Speaker Biman Banerjee. The development triggered a fresh controversy with Governor C. V. Ananda Bose accusing the Speaker of constitutional impropriety.

“A report is being sent to the Hon’ble President about the Constitutional impropriety of the Speaker in administering the oath of affirmation to the newly elected MLAs,” a statement from the Raj Bhavan said.

The statement added that the Governor had tasked the Deputy Speaker with administering the oath to the new MLAs.

On Thursday, Speaker Biman Banerjee announced that a special Assembly session would begin on Friday, indicating that the MLAs would be sworn in then. The same evening, the Governor nominated Deputy Speaker Asish Banerjee to administer the oath of affirmation.

During the proceedings on Friday, Deputy Speaker Asish Banerjee said that it would amount to disrespecting the Chair of the Speaker if he were to administer the oath. Then, the MLAs were administered the oath by the Speaker, in the presence of the members of the Treasury Benches who raised slogans supporting the developments. The BJP MLAs in the Opposition boycotted the proceedings.

The MLAs — Sayantika Banerjee, elected from Baranagar in Kolkata, and Reyat Hussain Sarkar, elected from Bhagwangola in Murshidabad — were elected on June 4 but could not be administered the oath as they refused to present themselves at the Raj Bhavan to be sworn in by the Governor. The refusal to go to Raj Bhavan was further solidified by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying the place was not safe for women, while referring to allegations of sexual harassment brought on by an employee against Mr. Bose.

Mr. Bose, too, stayed away from the Assembly, further pushing the swearing-in. The MLAs held protests on the premises of the Assembly, demanding that they be sworn in.