The digital war in Bengal between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her head of state-turned- adversary Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has reached the next level as their locking-horn battle has turned to a new low after Mamata Banerjee blocked the Governor on Twitter and even lower when the latter had reached out the former through WhatsApp. The feud between both the leaders have been growing for years and the latest events had suggested that their relationship has been plummeting unprecedently. 

Mamata Banerjee has on Monday - January 31 said that she has blocked the Governor on Twitter by accusing that he has been treating everyone as a bonded labourer. In a press conference, she told that she has blocked Jagdeep Dhankhar's official Twitter handle because of his posts repeatedly targeting her government. She further alleged that Pegasus is being used from Raj Bhawan, Governor's office. Bengal would probably be the only Indian state currently where tensions have been apparently escalating between the non-BJP Chief Minister and the Governor, who is the representative of the Central ruling BJP regime. 

The Chief Minister has been accusing the Governor of threatening senior state government officials like the Chief Secretary and the State DGP and in the press conference, she has claimed that Jagdeep Dhankar has been endorsing BJP goons who are involved in killing people in Bengal every day. According to PTI, Mamata said, "I have blocked the Governor from my Twitter account. I had no option. I am sorry about this because I got irritated by seeing his tweet every day." 

"In his tweet, he used to speak in a way that is not humane. He will tweet every day, abuse officials and sometimes abuse and accuse me. He does these things by speaking in abusive, unethical, and unconstitutional way", Mamata Banerjee added. She further said that the Governor does not consult her on important issues related to the administration of the state which the Sarkaria Commission mandated on Centre-State relations.  

Hitting the Chief Minister back, the Governor has said that Article 159 of the Constitution mandates nobody in the state should block the norms and rules of law. He added that it is the constitutional duty of the Chief Minister to furnish such information relating to the administration of the affairs of the state and proposals for legislation as the Governor may call for. Dhankar, after getting blocked by Mamata Banerjee, took to Twitter and wrote that he had highlighted the importance of dialogue and harmony to the Chief Minister in a WhatsApp message. 

His tweet read, "WB Guv message to Hon'ble CM on her WhatsApp today (February 1st) and read by her at 10.25 am today- Dialogue and harmony amongst constitutional functionaries is essence and spirit of democracy and mandate of the constitution. This can blossom with mutual regard and respect. There has been all through highest personal regard for you from my side. Am sure this will receive your thoughtful consideration. Regards." 

The digital war between both the leaders had spurred mixed reactions from the political parties. West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar said that the Chief Minister is trying to hide facts and that is why she has blocked the Governor on Twitter. This is unprecedented in a democratic country." On the other hand, TMC leaders Derek O'Brien and Sougata Roy had said that they are also blocking the Governor's account and TMC General Secretary Kunal Ghosh has claimed that the Governor has taken over the mantle of state BJP President.