“The governor raised the issue in the manner Mahatma Gandhi did so many times during our freedom struggle,” state PWD minister Kshiti Goswami of RSP told newsmen at the state secretariat here.

Upping the ante further against the governor, CPM Central Committee member Shyamal Chakraborty said:  “With the departure of the British Raj, Viceroys had gone, leaving behind a lot of vices. Except governors,every one starting from President, Vice-President and MPs and MLAs are elected. Hence, we’ve raised the demand for removal of the governor’s post.”

The governor apparently stirred a hornet’s nest by deciding to share the power problems of the mass when he ordered switching off electricity in the Raj Bhavan for an hour each in the afternoon and evening peak hours.

Darkness envelops the Raj Bhavan every evening even as surroundings are garishly lit.

Reacting to CPM Politburo member Biman Bose’s demand for the abolition of the post of the governor, union information & broadcasting minister P R Dasmunshi regretted the manner in which the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi was attacked.

“It’s unfortunate that Bose hasn’t read the Indian Constitution properly. If the CPM leader could organise necessary numbers to change the Constitution, I have nothing to say,” Dasmunshi told reporters here before leaving for North Bengal.

A suave governor who is  unperturbed by the angry attack from the party and government, told students at a function here: “ Trust a man’s intentions instead of suspecting him. Praise a man,but don’t indulge in adulation. It seems hurting others has been turned into a performing art by us.” Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee decided to switch off power at her home daily for two hours from Friday.