A huge political row erupted in Bengal on Saturday after Governor CV Ananda Bose marked the completion of his two-year tenure in the state by unveiling a statue of himself at Raj Bhavan.

The ceremony, which began with the planting of saplings, also featured a painting exhibition and drawing competition for school students.

However, the unveiling of the statue sparked controversy, with many criticising the Governor for installing a statue of himself while still in office. The videos and pictures of the unveiling have gone viral on social media, with netizens accusing the Governor of eulogising himself.

According to sources, the statue was gifted to the Governor by artist Partha Saha, who is affiliated with the Indian Museum in Kolkata. Saha created the fibre statue based on a picture of the Governor, without meeting him in person.

The Governor’s office has clarified that the statue was not installed by Governor Bose himself but rather was a gift from the artist and the Indian Museum. Despite this, the incident has sparked a political debate, with many questioning the propriety of installing a statue of a person while they are still alive.

Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has attacked the Governor. “Our governor, CV Anand Bose, has inaugurated his own statue is something unheard of. He has done it because he wanted some kind of publicity. But the point is, what is the next step? Will he garland his own statue? It’s a sign of a megalomaniac,” TMC spokesperson Jayprakash Majumder said.

CPM central committee member Sujan Chakraborty expressed his displeasure, saying, “This is a disgrace. The disgrace is sitting with the Raj Bhavan lit up. This is unfortunate for our state.” Congress spokesperson Soumya Aich Roy echoed the views and said “It is a matter of great shame. A small game is being played on the culture of Bengal.”

Governor Bose, during the statue unveiling ceremony on Saturday, described Bengal’s current political situation as “very bad”.

“This situation is only for the politicians. Although the people of Bengal will not accept the matter for long,” he said. He described his two-year experience as the Governor of Bengal as “sweet and sour”.

The incident has highlighted the ongoing political tensions in West Bengal, with many accusing the Governor of being out of touch with the people of the state. As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the Governor will respond to the criticism.