The West Bengal Cabinet on Thursday passed a resolution to nominate Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the Chancellor of all State universities. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar is the Chancellor now. The development can add a fresh twist to the already strained ties between Raj Bhawan and the government.
“It was unanimously decided at a Cabinet meeting held today that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be appointed as Chancellor of all State universities. An Act to this effect will be tabled in the Assembly soon,” Education Minister Bratya Basu told media persons after the Cabinet meeting.
The government had given hints a few months ago that it is going to nominate the Chief Minister as the Chancellor of all universities. In December last, the government took note of the tussle between the Kerala government and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan over appointment of Vice Chancellors. Mr. Khan has asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take over as Chancellor of the universities, a post held by the Governor in respective States. Recently, the DMK government in Tamil Nadu tabled two Bills that sought to empower itself to appoint the Vice Chancellors to 13 universities.
