West Bengal Crisis: Why the BJP Hesitates to Invoke President's Rule

During a recent press conference, the air was thick with tension as I confronted BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on an issue that has been festering in West Bengal—the alarming deterioration of law and order. The question on everyone’s mind was simple yet profound: Why hasn’t the BJP, which claims to champion the cause of justice, imposed President's rule in the state? 

As I posed this question, Poonawalla’s face remained impassive, but his response was far from reassuring. He began by reiterating the party’s commitment to "Rashtravadi Shashan" (Nationalistic Governance), a term that sounds noble in theory but seemed hollow in the context of the current crisis. "Rashtapati Shashan" (President's Rule), he argued, was not a tool to be wielded lightly. Yet, as he spoke, sidestepping the heart of the matter, I couldn’t shake the feeling that his words were meant to deflect rather than address the urgency of the situation.

Unwilling to let the matter rest, I pressed him further. “By the time the BJP’s approach materializes,” I said, “how many more innocent lives, particularly those of Hindus, will be lost?” His response was telling: “Your question will trap me, and I will be answerable... It does not happen like that.” The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the political calculus that often takes precedence over human lives.

This exchange left me questioning whether the BJP fully understands or is willing to engage with the legal precedents that should guide their actions. The SR Bommai judgment, a cornerstone in the legal discourse surrounding Article 356, provides a clear framework for when President's rule is warranted. The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Bommai case was a study in contrasts—it condemned the misuse of Article 356 in Karnataka while upholding its imposition in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, citing the absence of malafide intentions and the presence of sufficient grounds in those cases.

In West Bengal, the BJP had a window of opportunity to act, but hesitation prevailed—perhaps driven by fears of electoral backlash in both the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Yet, as I pondered Poonawalla’s words, I couldn’t help but think of the Keshavanand Bharati case, where the Supreme Court affirmed that the rule of law is a basic feature of our Constitution. In West Bengal, this principle is under siege, with the Chief Minister, Health Minister, and Home Minister themselves taking to the streets in protest against their own government. What more evidence is needed?

The SR Bommai judgment lays out the roadmap for invoking Article 356, and the situation in West Bengal fits squarely within those parameters. The BJP’s reluctance to act is not just a political decision—it raises fundamental questions about their commitment to upholding the Constitution they have sworn to protect.

As I left the press conference, the weight of the situation in West Bengal pressed heavily on my mind. The BJP’s leaders at the centre must recognize the gravity of the situation before it’s too late. The people of West Bengal cannot afford to wait any longer; the time for action is now.