WB Governor meets senior Congress leader, keeps everyone guessing

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has created a buzz in the Congress circles after meeting Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury at his residence in the national capital. Dhankhar, however, maintained that his visit to the President was a courtesy call.

New Delhi:West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is on a visit to the national capital, has created a buzz in the Congress circles after meeting Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury at his residence here. Dhankhar dropped at the Chowdhury's residence on Thursday evening and later tweeted: "While in Delhi today had over a cup of coffee interaction @adhirrcinc Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, leader of the Indian National Congress in the 17th Lok Sabha and the Member of Parliament from Berhampor (sic)."

Though the tweet suggested a courtesy visit, the Congress circles were left guessing about the nature of the meeting. Chowdhury did not respond to the messages on the issue. Dhankhar has been at loggerheads with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the 'deteriorating' law and order situation in the state. He also met President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday morning. The details of the meeting are not known.

"WB Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar along with Smt Sudesh Dhankhar made a courtesy call to President of India Hon'ble Shri Ram Nath Kovind and First Lady Smt Savita Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan @rashtrapatibhvn today at 11.30 am (sic)," Dhankhar's office tweeted on Thursday morning. Dhankhar, however, maintained that his visit to the President was a courtesy call.

Later, Dhankhar met Home Minister Amit Shah. "The Governor of West Bengal, Shri @jdhankhar1 met Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah," tweeted the Home Minister's office along with a picture of both Dhankhar and Shah. This was the first meeting between Dhankhar and Shah after Banerjee retained power in West Bengal following the Trinamool Congress' landslide victory in the Assembly polls.

Dhankhar's meetings with the President and Union Home Minister assume significance because it was expected that the West Bengal Governor, who has been vocal on the 'deteriorating' law and order situation in the state, would brief them about the state government's 'silence' on the issue.

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Dhankhar had visited several parts of the violence-hit state after the announcement of election results on May 2 and had spoken to the people. "The entire details of his experience in the violence-affected state have been given in a report," a source close to the Governor said, adding that Dhankhar is likely to submit the report in Delhi.

(IANS)