Kolkata: West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee said Monday it was for Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to decide on the date for the swearing-in of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Babul Supriyo. Biman Banerjee also said that inordinate delay in the swearing in of Supriyo will cause suffering of the electorate of Ballygunge constituency. Incidentally, Supriyo was elected from Ballygunge.
Dhankhar had said that his constitutional job concerning Babul Supriyo’s swearing-in was over. This is because he had nominated deputy speaker Asish Banerjee to do his part. The deputy speaker, however, said that the responsibility should be given to Speaker Biman Banerjee.
“It is for the governor and the state parliamentary affairs minister to decide when the oath-taking ceremony will take place. There is no place for controversy in it as the governor himself can administer the oath. Personal likes and dislikes should not be a hindrance while performing constitutional duties,” Biman told reporters here Monday.
Also read: Babul Supriyo resigns as BJP MP after meeting LS Speaker
The by-election was held April 12 and the result was declared April 16. Supriyo, a former minister of state in the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, had quit BJP in a huff after being dropped from the post and joined TMC.
Supriyo then gave up his Lok Sabha membership, which he had bagged on a BJP ticket. The playback singer-turned politician was nominated by the ruling TMC for the Ballygunge Assembly seat by-election and won the seat.
Dhankhar and Supriyo had engaged in a Twitter feud over oath administration a few days ago.