West Bengal plunged into constitutional crisis Wednesday as Governor CV Ananda Bose dissolved Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's cabinet, triggering the most severe center-state confrontation in India since emergency rule.
The unprecedented move—which effectively removes Banerjee from power after 13 years leading West Bengal—came without warning at 11:30 PM local time, according to Hindustan Times. Governor Bose invoked Article 356 provisions, citing "breakdown of constitutional machinery."
A billion people aren't a statistic—they're a billion stories. For Dipali Chatterjee, a municipal worker in Kolkata, the dissolution means uncertainty about her government salary. "I have two children in school," she told local reporters. "What happens to us now?"
Constitutional scholars question legality
Legal experts immediately challenged the governor's authority. Gautam Bhatia, a constitutional law expert, called the move "legally dubious and politically motivated." Article 356, known as President's Rule, requires presidential approval and typically follows extensive consultation—neither of which occurred here.
West Bengal, home to 100 million people—more than Germany—now faces potential central government takeover. The state has been governed by Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party since 2011, ending 34 years of Communist rule.
The timing raises questions. Governor Bose, appointed by the BJP-led central government, has clashed repeatedly with Banerjee over police appointments, university administration, and federal investigations into state officials. Critics see this as the latest escalation in that conflict.
