Dhankhar expresses gratitude to Mamata for abstaining in VP election

By ANI

JAIPUR: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has expressed his gratitude to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her transfer to abstain from voting within the vice presidential election in August this yr.

The Vice President mentioned that whereas he was the Governor of West Bengal, he didn’t utter a single phrase in opposition to Mamata’s dignity “irrespective of whatever she said”, including that he did every little thing “in open and in writing”.

Dhankhar was addressing the felicitation programme within the Rajasthan Assembly on Tuesday.

“I told her (Mamata) that I am no more the Governor of your state. Keep your hand on your heart and think if I have anything which is against the Constitution. Have I ever uttered a single word against her dignity, irrespective of whatever she said? Whatever I did was in the open and in writing. Still, through this House, I thank her for her move for the first time,” he mentioned.

Notably, throughout his tenure because the Governor of West Bengal, Dhankhar and Mamata have been believed to have clashed on numerous events.

Dhankhar additionally recalled his interplay with former Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje on Mamata Banerjee, during which, he joked, had sought “help” from her within the type of a “magic spell”, whereas he was the Governor.

“Vasundhara Raje started in the parliamentary area in 1989. I also got this opportunity. Since then my relations with her have been personal. I even sought help from her after becoming the Governor of West Bengal and my Chief Minister is Mamata Banerjee. Please tell me some magic spell,” he mentioned.

The pleasant banter was additionally seen in the course of the programme after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot requested in a lighter vein throughout his tackle “what magic did Dhankhar do on a tough lady like Mamata?” that she abstained from voting in the course of the VP election.

“Your relations were the topic of discussion in the country till the time you were there for three years. What magic did you do that when you became the vice presidential candidate, the same Mamata Banerjee abstained from voting? Please tell us the secret. What magic did you do on a tough lady like Mamata? I am the magician,” Gehlot mentioned.

He additional requested if there was a “bigger magician” in India than him.

Responding to it, the VP jokingly mentioned, “I remember when the Rajasthan Assembly elections were underway, Rajendra Rathore was the candidate from Churu. I went to his rally. The magic of the magician is okay (pointing towards Gehlot), but even I did magic that he never lost an election till today.”

“The Chief Minister (Ashok Gehlot) asked what was that magic that Mamata Banerjee took the decision (to abstain from voting in vice presidential elections). I am beyond politics. Why are the political decisions taken, how are they taken and on what basis are they were taken, Ashok Gehlot, Vasundhara Raje and others can throw light on this,” he added.

Dhankhar, former West Bengal Governor, was elected because the Vice President in August. He defeated the opposition’s Margaret Alva to emerge because the winner.

The BJP-led NDA candidate gained the election comfortably with 528 votes in opposition to Alva’s 182. The Vice President can also be the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Dhankhar secured 74.36 per cent of the votes. He has the very best profitable margin within the final six vice presidential elections held since 1997.

JAIPUR: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has expressed his gratitude to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her transfer to abstain from voting within the vice presidential election in August this yr.

The Vice President mentioned that whereas he was the Governor of West Bengal, he didn’t utter a single phrase in opposition to Mamata’s dignity “irrespective of whatever she said”, including that he did every little thing “in open and in writing”.

Dhankhar was addressing the felicitation programme within the Rajasthan Assembly on Tuesday.

“I told her (Mamata) that I am no more the Governor of your state. Keep your hand on your heart and think if I have anything which is against the Constitution. Have I ever uttered a single word against her dignity, irrespective of whatever she said? Whatever I did was in the open and in writing. Still, through this House, I thank her for her move for the first time,” he mentioned.

Notably, throughout his tenure because the Governor of West Bengal, Dhankhar and Mamata have been believed to have clashed on numerous events.

Dhankhar additionally recalled his interplay with former Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje on Mamata Banerjee, during which, he joked, had sought “help” from her within the type of a “magic spell”, whereas he was the Governor.

“Vasundhara Raje started in the parliamentary area in 1989. I also got this opportunity. Since then my relations with her have been personal. I even sought help from her after becoming the Governor of West Bengal and my Chief Minister is Mamata Banerjee. Please tell me some magic spell,” he mentioned.

The pleasant banter was additionally seen in the course of the programme after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot requested in a lighter vein throughout his tackle “what magic did Dhankhar do on a tough lady like Mamata?” that she abstained from voting in the course of the VP election.

“Your relations were the topic of discussion in the country till the time you were there for three years. What magic did you do that when you became the vice presidential candidate, the same Mamata Banerjee abstained from voting? Please tell us the secret. What magic did you do on a tough lady like Mamata? I am the magician,” Gehlot mentioned.

He additional requested if there was a “bigger magician” in India than him.

Responding to it, the VP jokingly mentioned, “I remember when the Rajasthan Assembly elections were underway, Rajendra Rathore was the candidate from Churu. I went to his rally. The magic of the magician is okay (pointing towards Gehlot), but even I did magic that he never lost an election till today.”

“The Chief Minister (Ashok Gehlot) asked what was that magic that Mamata Banerjee took the decision (to abstain from voting in vice presidential elections). I am beyond politics. Why are the political decisions taken, how are they taken and on what basis are they were taken, Ashok Gehlot, Vasundhara Raje and others can throw light on this,” he added.

Dhankhar, former West Bengal Governor, was elected because the Vice President in August. He defeated the opposition’s Margaret Alva to emerge because the winner.

The BJP-led NDA candidate gained the election comfortably with 528 votes in opposition to Alva’s 182. The Vice President can also be the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Dhankhar secured 74.36 per cent of the votes. He has the very best profitable margin within the final six vice presidential elections held since 1997.