Jagdeep Shankar, the VP candidate!

Nomination of the West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar as the NDA vice-presidential candidate mush have come as a shocker to Didi and her Trinamool Congress party. On the contrary, the news must have poured honey into the ears of the West Bengal BJP party.

Dhankar was appointed as the Governor of West Bengal in 2019, and his legal background had a judicious approach to various Centre-State issues. However, the Trinamool led by Didi quickly inferred Dhankar to be a stooge of the BJP, partial and scheming to overthrow the State government.

Rarely has a governor of a State in independent India been so much insulted, mocked and hated. The ostracization of the Governor exceeded the ignominy of a southern state governor who was forced to resign ingloriously. Dhankar was otherwise dignified and maintained due decorum of his gubernatorial office. The State barred its bureaucrats from visiting the Governor in regularity. The Governor’s meeting with the DMs became a contentious issue of needless interference in the State’s administration.

The tenure of Dhankar witnessed a steep dive in the Centre-State relationship as he continued to fire salvos at the State government for the various acts of omission and commission from the eyes of the Governor. Dhankar was a disciplinarian from the Sainik School background and practised as a lawyer in the courts for 40 years and could have missed the ferocity and independent mindset of Bengalis, which could have been the reason for his periodical outbursts and laments.

The State’s recent removal and replacement of the Governor as the Chancellor of Universities and visitor to the private universities by the West Bengal Assembly, appointing the Chief Minister Mamata in his place, has further distanced the government and the Governor. It had become customary for even the lowest political ranking worker in Bengal to abuse the Governor to be in the good books of the party leadership.

For Didi and the Trinamool party, it could be a relief that Dhankar is finally leaving, and that too before the ending of his term in 2023. However, his departure from the Raj Bhavan has two unwelcome angles. First, Dhankar’s elevation as the vice-president could be a foregone conclusion with the adequate number of electoral votes in the hands of the BJP. The second drawback is who the next Governor of West Bengal could be? If it is someone like Kiran Bedi, it will not make the situation any better for the ruling party in West Bengal.

In all, the BJP has caused disarray and confusion among the opposition party with the announcement of Draupadi Murmu as the presidential candidate. Jagdeep Dhankar, as the VP, is an as clever and crafty political move.

May India opt for the wisest and statesmanlike persons to the highest offices in the land.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix