Assembly elections are three years away, but the air of polarisation in West Bengal would suit a pre-poll scenario. And the phrase ‘President’s rule’ is beginning to be uttered. A year after the Malda riots, the state is in the grip of violence again—this time over a Facebook post by a class 11 student, deemed derogatory to the sentiments of the Muslim community. As incidents of rioting continued to be reported from towns in North 24 Parganas district, CM Mamata Banerjee made an impassioned plea to both communities to help keep peace. Critics were not satisfied, though.