The Central government has not issued any orders to implement Articles 256 and 257 in West Bengal.
Meanwhile, rumors started circulating that the Central Government imposed articles 256 and 257 of the Indian Constitution on West Bengal due to the post-election violence. Rumors about the Mamata government losing all of its authority due to the Center's actions also started circulating.
Article 256 states, "The executive power of every State shall be so exercised as to ensure compliance with the laws made by Parliament and any existing laws which apply in that State, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of such directions to a State as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose."
Article 257 states, "The executive power of every State shall be so exercised as not to impede or prejudice the exercise of the executive power of the Union, and the executive power of the Union shall extend to the giving of such directions to a State as may appear to the Government of India to be necessary for that purpose."
In May 2021, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court alleging widespread violence after assembly polls in West Bengal and sought imposition of the President's rule. However, the Center did not issue any order imposing these two articles in the state. Additionally, a five-judge special bench of Calcutta high court on May 12, 2020, appreciated the steps taken by the state government to bring back normalcy in the state as no violence was reported since May 11.
Therefore, the Central government has not limited West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's power.
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