In a rare display of courtesy amid a prolonged tussle between the Raj Bhavan and the state government, Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday attended the Budget Session of the Assembly, briefly outlining the government’s development roadmap and sharing a warm exchange with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Speaker Biman Banerjee.
The Governor reached the Assembly shortly before 12.30 p.m. and paid floral tributes to the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar on the premises. Speaker Biman Banerjee accompanied him during the visit.
The Chief Minister, who was present in the House after her argument on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, briefly exchanged pleasantries with the Governor displaying political courtesy which is significantly missing in Bengal politics.
Soon after the national anthem marked the beginning of proceedings, the House witnessed exchange of slogans and counter-slogan between the ruling and opposition Benches.
In contrast, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari raised slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” echoed by BJP legislators, while Trinamul Congress MLAs countered with “Joy Bangla,” underscoring the sharp political divide that continues to dominate Assembly sessions.
Though Governor didn’t read the whole text but in his concise six-minute address he highlighted key aspects of what he described as the state government’s inclusive development agenda.
Stressing social harmony, he said: “The state had taken all necessary steps to maintain communal peace and fraternity” adding that law and order remained under strict control and that Kolkata continued to be regarded as one of the safest cities in the country.
Acknowledging financial constraints and pending dues from the Centre, the Governor said: “The far-sighted leadership of the chief mister, the government is steadfast in its commitment for holistic development of the state and the welfare of the people.”
“The government had launched 94 welfare schemes aimed at improving the quality of life across sections, particularly among marginalised communities,” he said, adding that the state has secured leading positions nationally in areas such as women-led micro, small and medium enterprises, skill development, social welfare indicators and e-governance.
The Governor said the state’s Gross State Domestic Product had grown five-fold since 2010-11, with per capita income registering a more than threefold increase.
“Over 1.7 crore people had been lifted above the poverty line through sustained economic and social progress. Agriculture, irrigation expansion and diversification, along with major infrastructure spending have been the key contributors to growth,” he claimed.
The address also touched upon flagship outreach programmes like ‘Duare Sarkar’ and ‘Amader Para, Amader Samadhan’, which, according to the Governor, reflected the government’s emphasis on participatory governance and last-mile delivery.
Special focus was placed on women-centric schemes such as ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’, ‘Kanyashree and Rupashree’, as well as health sector reforms that ensured free diagnosis, treatment and medicines in government hospitals.
Education, minority welfare and social security for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes were also mentioned, with the Governor highlighting scholarship schemes, institutional expansion and targeted development boards.
He further referred to industrial growth initiatives, proposed economic corridors, port-led development, and large-scale investments in steel, cement, leather and information technology sectors as drivers of employment generation.
Tourism, cultural heritage and inclusive development found mention towards the end of the speech, with references to Durga Puja’s UNESCO recognition, religious tourism circuits and infrastructure projects aimed at boosting connectivity and regional growth.
What stood out, however, was the visible cordiality that followed the address. After concluding his speech, Governor Bose was seen holding a brief, friendly conversation with Chief Minister Banerjee inside the House.
In another notable gesture, the Chief Minister personally accompanied the Governor outside the Assembly, along with the Speaker, before proceedings were adjourned.
The exchange marked a rare moment of civility in an otherwise strained relationship between the constitutional head of the state and the elected government.