Kolkata: Accusing the BJP of violating the principles of the Constitution to form a "government at midnight in Maharashtra", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the Supreme Court verdict and Devendra Fadnavis' resignation have shown that the Constitution cannot be subverted.
Fadnavis should not have taken the oath as chief minister of Maharashtra when he did not have the numbers, she said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a special session of the West Bengal Assembly to observe the Constitution Day.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court directed that Fadnavis has to prove his majority in the assembly on Wednesday. The BJP leader then resigned from his post - only three days after he was sworn-in - saying he did not have majority. "The apex court has upheld the Constitution and it is the best gift as we mark 70 years of adoption of the Indian Constitution," she said.
"Efforts are on to destroy the Constitution. We have heard about freedom at midnight but have never heard about government at midnight," Banerjee said. She was alluding to the acclaimed book 'Freedom at Midnight' by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre. It chronicles India's journey to Independence and partition.
"Despite some unethical steps taken by some who are in power, there are checks and balances in the Constitution. Today, it is because of the Constitution that they (BJP government in Maharashtra) have been forced to resign.
"An individual how powerful he may be, doesn't matter, it is the people of this country who matter. We are grateful to BR Ambedkar. The Constitution will show us the way. Maharashtra has shown us the way," the chief minister said. While talking to reporters later, Banerjee said
Fadnavis should have refrained from taking the oath when he did not have the numbers. Asked about the role of certain governors, she said the post is being "badly misused" in West Bengal.
"In my state, the post of the governor is being badly misused. No one should forget that the post of the governor is a nominated one, but the state government is elected. We are not at the mercy of anyone," she said.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee said the resignation of Fadnavis reflects the "beauty of democracy" at a time when certain governors are trying to run parallel administrations.
"We have seen in recent times how certain governors have been trying to run parallel administration," he said without naming anyone.
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and the state government have been locked in a bitter exchange of words on a number of issues since he rushed to the Jadavpur University to "rescue" Union minister Babul Supriyo, who was heckled and manhandled by students.
A tussle had also erupted over the state government's refusal to provide a helicopter to Dhankhar to travel to Farakka in Murshidabad district and Santiniketan in Birbhum recently.
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