Mamata Banerjee Accuses BJP of ‘Larger Plan’ to Trigger President’s Rule After Malda Incident

Kolkata, April 2, 2026:
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is attempting to create conditions that could lead to the imposition of President’s rule in the State, following the tense situation involving judicial officers in Malda.

Addressing a public gathering, Ms. Banerjee appealed to citizens to maintain peace and avoid any form of confrontation, particularly with members of the judiciary. She cautioned that acts of violence could play into the hands of those seeking to destabilise the State’s administration.

The remarks came a day after seven judicial officers were reportedly surrounded by a group of locals at a Block Development Office in Mothabari area of Malda district on April 1. The situation escalated for several hours before police and security personnel intervened and safely evacuated the officials later that night.

Expressing concern over the handling of the situation, the Chief Minister said she was not immediately informed about the incident and learned about it through media reports. She also pointed to a communication gap within the administration, stating that senior officials had not briefed her promptly.

Ms. Banerjee linked the incident to ongoing political tensions in the State, alleging that recent electoral roll revisions — reportedly involving large-scale deletions — have created unrest among the public. She claimed that such developments are being used to provoke instability.

She further warned against “communal forces” and urged people not to be influenced by divisive rhetoric. Reiterating her appeal, she stressed that any obstruction of judicial work could have serious consequences for governance and law enforcement.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India took a stern view of the incident, questioning the State administration over the safety of judicial officers involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The court reportedly described the situation as a serious lapse in maintaining law and order.

Officials involved in the exercise are currently handling a significant volume of cases, with a substantial portion reportedly being rejected — a factor believed to be contributing to public dissatisfaction.