West Bengal Cabinet approves making CM chancellor of state universities, replacing Governor

The West Bengal cabinet on Thursday took a unanimous decision to appoint Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the chancellor of all state-run universities, replacing Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as the Chancellor, state Education Minister Bratya Basu said. With this, the tussle between the Governor and state government reaches a new height.

“We will be introducing a bill with the necessary amendments in the assembly soon,” Basu said, addressing the media at the State Secretariat Nabanna, following a cabinet meeting. It is pertinent to mention that Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan had voluntarily asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take over as the Chancellor of the state universities.

“The cabinet has decided to make the CM as the Chancellor for State-run universities replacing the Governor. Amendment to be moved in the Assembly before Governor’s ascent.If a scenario arises that the Governor doesn’t give his nod to the appointment and clear the Bill, West Bengal government could take the ordinance route, Basu said.


"Today we have taken a decision that all state-run universities will have the CM - and not Governor - as the Chancellor. This will be taken to the Assembly for the Act to be amended," Basu said.

In last December, state Education Minister Bratya Basu claiming on Friday that the Governor should be replaced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as Chancellor of all the state Universities, citing “his non-cooperation and hostility” as the reason.