After the BJP’s parliamentary board elected Jagdeep Dhankhar as its vice-president candidate, speculations arose as to who would be the next governor of West Bengal. Especially after two years of Lok Sabha elections. The BJP camp is desperate to get good results in the state this time too. In such a situation, speculations have started in the national politics about who can be appointed as the governor there. According to a section of BJP sources, the party is eyeing Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, a Shia Muslim leader from Uttar Pradesh who recently resigned from the Rajya Sabha and the Union ministry for the post of West Bengal governor.
Jagdeep Dhankhar was appointed as the Governor of West Bengal in 2019. Usually, the Union Home Minister consults with the Chief Minister of a state before finalizing the name of the Governor. Although this discussion is not mandatory, it is customary in the federal structure. But in Dhankhar’s case there were allegations that after his name was announced as governor, Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to inform him about the governor’s appointment. Mamta openly expressed her anger. As a result, the rift that had initially arisen around Dhankhar’s appointment widened over time. Bitterness reaches its peak. Angered by the role of Dhankhar, the state also brought a censure motion against the governor in the assembly in an unprecedented manner.
So the question is, what will happen this time? Will Amit Shah call Mamata before appointing Governor? The Center is believed to have sent a positive message to the Trinamool leadership by removing Dhankhar ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The question is whether the new governor who will come in the coming days will not maintain the path of struggle or will not follow the path of reconciliation. According to BJP sources, at this time Naqvi is leading the race to go to West Bengal. He is a senior leader. He was also a one-time aide of Mamata in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet. As a politician, Naqvi is more efficient and shrewd. Many politicians think that he will not walk the way Dhankhar used to openly oppose Mamata. Besides, a direct attack on Naqvi is likely to adversely affect the minority votes in the state. This thing will make Mamta uncomfortable on one hand.