If the Leftists grabbed power in 1977, it was the land issue and the reforms that the government did after that and kept the rural poor contented for the next 34 years. The youth, born in the intervening years, enjoying the ownership of the government gifted lands had nothing to be grateful as it was a matter of right by then.
Mamata, a politician for long, sniffed an opportunity in Nandigram and Singur and rallied her force to dislodge the leftists, in the wake of a clamour for a change by the people. This was even though Buddhadev Bhattacharya was, by far, the most industry-friendly Chief Minister and I had close opportunity to work with him. He was a victim of an internal power-struggle of an old group within his party, severely opposing him, without realizing the changes happening elsewhere in the world and in the country.
Be that as it may, Bengal seems to have lost the initial affable and approachable Mamata, who now is walled by a few crony capitalists, a few colleagues from her party and many film stars and favoured media-persons. After her initial trial of fielding Tapas Paul and Shatabdi Roy resulting in impressive victories for both, a long list of actors, sportspersons, poets and artists, thus conquering the culture space of an awestruck state. Her closeness to the film industry was perhaps by a few film producers and financiers, sadly not necessarily with a spotless image.
What happened in the seven years are endless shows, cultural, music, dance, sports and of course political and a few industrial. Bengal’s industrial decline started in the seventies and had not been reversed ever since, despite, great talks and endless hopes. The state suffers no different from the country in its failure to create employment, forcing the youth to empower themselves on street corners as unauthorized hawkers, driving auto rickshaws-most of which are unlicensed, or vending noodles and egg-rolls. This, despite the five years of the state-run business summits making a business proposal announcement running into several lac crores.
Mamata’s anarchist and street fighter role refuses to leave her and so is the stigma of the chit fund controversies, embroiling her many colleagues. She is ready to take on any and everything remotely challenging her authority, the latest being a notice slapped on the editor of a leading news channel. Such incorrigibility must end if she must attempt to portray herself as an alternative face of Modi.
Notwithstanding, her love for all her colleagues and her subordinate officers, the chair of Chief Minister has certain limitations. I guess by sitting in a dharna recently, she dared to breach it, regardless of the unpardonable delay of four and half years of hibernation in the investigation of the chit fund scams by the Centre. It’s widely believed that the BJP ostensibly sought TMC’s tacit support in the parliament for a closure of the scam files but had to strike suddenly and severely and if I may add, unintelligently at the police chief on a Sunday evening at his residence. Such things should not provoke a PM material!
I guess the advisory team around CM Mamata becomes mature and not let her indulge in brawls and acts, unbecoming of a state head. They could field a second face for such trivialities if they have one!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide voix
