West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday asked the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led state government to remove Education Minister Bratya Basu from the cabinet for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

The governor said that Basu ‘deliberately’ held a meeting with politicians on the campus of Gour Banga University, which is a state-run institution.

“In light of the meeting held in Gour Banga University under the leadership and presence of Basu with other ministers, MPs, MLAs, and political leaders on March 30, the chancellor has directed the state government to take strict action against him for deliberately violating the MCC, including his removal from the cabinet,” a Raj Bhavan statement to Bengal government read.

Bose, the chancellor overseeing all state-run universities, further commented that Basu’s decision to convene the meeting on the institute’s grounds has brought “discredit to the university system”.

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Reacting to CV Ananda’s order, Basu said the recommendation of his removal from the Cabinet was “laughable” and that the Governor “misused his constitutional post and proved his political identity”.

“It was the prerogative of political parties to bring it to the notice of the poll body if he had violated the election code,” the Trinamool minister wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Basu also asserted that even if he breached the poll code, it falls within the political party’s jurisdiction to raise the matter with the Election Commission, which will then proceed with necessary measures.

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“By raising such an accusation, he (governor) has misused his constitutional post and proved his political identity. Secondly, the Indian Constitution clearly states that the recommendation of appointment or removal of any minister lies with the Chief Minister. He has not only shown his true colours, he has exceeded his constitutional limit as well,” he added.

Earlier, Bratya Basu had criticised Governor Bose’s decision to remove Gour Banga University’s interim vice-chancellor, Rajatkishore Dey. He had termed the governor’s decision as “illogical and mere antics”.