Bengal Governor says no to power, CPI-M sees red

POWER OFF: Raj Bhavan is engulfed in total darkness to show solidarity with residents suffering power cuts.

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Kolkata: Showing Gandhigiri, West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi went without light on Wednesday after deciding to have voluntary power cuts at Raj Bhavan triggering a spat with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) which felt the gubernatorial post should be abolished.

The action of Mahatma Gandhi's grandson came as an embarrassment to the Left government with whom he had a run in last year on its handling of the Nandigram issue and provoking sarcastic reactions from the Left as the Raj Bhavan was enveloped in darkness in the evening.

"Raj Bhavan's power supply was stopped from 1.30 PM to 2.30 PM and 6-7 PM initially, it was decided that Gandhi will observe the power cut from 7-9 PM. But he changed his schedule for unknown reasons," Gandhi's media spokesperson Dhruba Gupta told IANS.

"In the first phase of the power cut, the governor was outside Raj Bhavan for official work. The employees present inside did their work in daylight. In the evening, Gandhi spent the one-hour of darkness in the balcony of his suite," Gupta added.

The Governor had announced on Tuesday that the premises would go without power for two hours daily from Wednesday to show solidarity with Kolkata residents reeling under power cuts.

"What is the necessity of the post of governor in this federal system? After 60 years of Independence, the time has come to think about the necessity of the post," CPI-M state secretary Biman Bose told a press conference in West Midnapore district.

"Why is he staying in a palatial building? A large number of people in West Bengal are living without shelter. He should move to a smaller building or a flat," Bose said of the Governor's action.

Bose however said if the Governor's post is to be retained it should be an elected one as in the USA.

The Governor sat in his office from 1800 hrs IST to 1900 hrs IST in total darkness as people gathered on the brightly lit road outside to view the unprecedented scene as lights went off in the marble and throne rooms and the Durbar Hall.

Power was earlier switched off from 1330 hrs IST.

West Bengal Power Minister Mrinal Banerjee said, "If a person chooses to have a single meal because of food crisis, what can we do?"

"If anybody switches of electricity, saves electricity it is a good thing. Why should we object to that," CPI-M leader Prakash Karat, who is in Madurai, said.