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President's rule unlikely in West Bengal

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Chances of the Centre imposing President's rule in West Bengal are remote.

Aggressive statements by Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes on the law and order breakdown in the state are meant to pacify Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, a senior ministry of home affairs official told rediff.com.

"The Centre feels that imposing President's rule will be counter-productive. The hype about central rule is to pacify Mamata," said the official, who is involved in the government exercise to appraise the law and order situation in the Marxist-ruled state.

"At best, certain parts of West Bengal can be declared disturbed," he pointed out. He felt that Fernandes' report to the Centre about the Trinamul chief's life being in danger "is no different than it was last year." He, however, emphasised that her security would be beefed up, but added that "she is well-known for jumping into the thick of action in the state."

Mamata met West Bengal Governor Viren Shah on Monday, to urge him to recommend central rule in the state, in view of the "complete breakdown of law and order." Trinamul leader Pankaj Banerjee, part of the delegation that met Shah, expressed fear that Communist Party of India-Marxist-sponsored violence was being targeted at Mamata.

A senior Union law ministry official pointed out that while it was the government's prerogative to summon a parliamentary session, it was unlikely to summon a special session to discuss the West Bengal situation. He, however, clarified that the government was the final judge.

Protagonists of central rule in West Bengal appear to be upbeat following overtures by Vajpayee government leaders to the Congress, which is following the middle path.

Congress spokesman Ajit Jogi told reporters on Monday, "We will take a decision when the need arises", provoking comments that his party had become reactive.

Jogi, however, admitted, "The situation in West Bengal is extremely bad" but reiterated that imposing Article 356 was the government's responsibility.

According to Congress sources, the party's dilemma was fuelled by West Bengal Congress chief Pranab Mukherjee's report to his party chief that "there was no law and order worth the name in the state." Therefore, while ideological differences continue, political compulsions may bring about convergence between the BJP and Congress on the issue.

A BJP vice-president pointed out that if parts of West Bengal are not declared disturbed, the Centre would issue a final advisory (read warning) to the Jyoti Basu-led Left Front government to either improve the situation or "face the music".

'Assessment missions' by National Democratic Alliance leaders infuriated Basu, who has challenged the Vajpayee government to impose President's rule.

Apart from saying that Fernandes' report to the Centre was "full of lies", the octogenarian chief minister has told the chief secretary that he would himself reply to central advisories.

The vice-president pointed out that since West Bengal will go to the polls next year, the Vajpayee government did not want to give the Marxists political advantage by dismissing the state government.

The Bihar fiasco, when Sundar Singh Bhandari was governor, is weighing heavily on the government's mind.

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