Kolkata: In a continuing feud between the West Bengal government and Governor CV Ananda Bose over the appointment of interim vice-chancellors in state universities, tensions escalated as the governor hinted at significant action to be taken at midnight. This development came a day after West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu accused the governor of undermining the higher education system and operating a "puppet regime" in universities.
As midnight approached, a Raj Bhavan official disclosed that Governor Bose had signed two confidential sealed letters, one intended for the state secretariat, Nabanna, and the other for the Central government. The content of these letters was not revealed at the time but was expected to pertain to the recent clashes between the governor and the state government. The signing of these letters occurred after Governor Bose had an extensive meeting with Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi at Raj Bhavan, although the subject of their discussion remained undisclosed.
Earlier in the day, Governor Bose had cryptically warned of significant action to be taken at midnight in response to Education Minister Bratya Basu's harsh criticism and attacks. Basu, in response, referred to the governor as the "new vampire in town" and urged the public to remain cautious. The ongoing conflict between the West Bengal government and Raj Bhavan revolves around the appointment of interim vice-chancellors for state universities. Basu accused the governor of attempting to dismantle the higher education system by appointing individuals arbitrarily and satisfying personal interests. This move by Governor Bose, who serves as the chancellor of state-run universities, has been met with strong opposition from the chief minister, who views it as interference in the universities' administration.
In response to the governor's actions, the West Bengal Educationists’ Forum characterized Bose's reference to midnight action as "threats" and expressed concern over the potential consequences of such actions on educationists and state education officials. The appointment of interim vice-chancellors for eight universities, including prestigious institutions like Presidency University, MAKAUT, and the University of Burdwan, has sparked a contentious debate between the state government and the governor's office. It has been reported that the interim vice-chancellors for eight additional universities have also been selected, and appointment letters are expected to be issued soon.
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