West Bengal House passes resolution to create Legislative Council

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, July 6

The West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution to create a Legislative Council in the state under Article 169 of the Constitution. Of the total 265 members present in the Assembly, 196 MLAs voted in favour of the resolution while 69 voted against it.

‘Didi trying for backdoor entry’

Some TMC ministers, including the Chief Minister, have lost in the Assembly elections. They are trying for back-door entry through the Vidhan Parishad. – Suvendu Adhikari, BJP Leader

The formation of a Legislative Council was one of the poll promises that featured in the TMC manifesto. Soon after the Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had approved the proposal.

Mamata was not present in the House during the voting.

BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari opposed the resolution saying it would not be good for the exchequer and that it was a move to accommodate TMC leaders in the council.

“Vidhan Parishad is not there in 23 states. This is not good for smart governance. Some TMC ministers, including the CM, have lost in the Assembly elections. They are trying for backdoor entry through the Vidhan Parishad,” Adhikari said.

“The BJP has a majority in Parliament. Our stand is to oppose this resolution,” Adhikari added. In order to set up the council, a Bill has to be passed in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Banerjee said, “The Centre has failed to meet the vaccine requirements of the state, forcing her dispensation to make purchases on its own and described Narendra Modi as “a shameless Prime Minister” who has his picture pasted everywhere — from hoardings to inoculation certificates.

Banerjee, during her address in the Assembly, said, “Bengal has received two crore shots so far, which is very inadequate, given the state’s population, and administering free doses to all under such circumstances was a challenge for her government.”