Mamata sought a meeting with PM Modi and was granted time today, raising eyebrows all over. Just a few months ago, she swore at an election meeting that “Modi is not my PM, and I shall meet the new PM after the elections.” She had to eat the humble pie and uncharacteristically swallow her alter ego, though I am wondering who could have initiated the meeting. It could be Prashant Kishor or the rattled party old-timers, who can see the dwindling fortunes of the party.
No Chief Minister, in their one-upmanship to grab the limelight as an alternate PM had stooped to such unparliamentary levels, Chandrababu Naidu running a close second. Mamata brazenly blocked the landing of the chopper in Bengal carrying her bête noire Amit Shah among other leaders. Amit Shah is now the Union Home Minister and has been invited to Bengal by the CM. He will be in Bengal on 1st October, but not in response to the CM’s invitation, but on his agenda.
What she described as a courtesy call and carrying Kurta and sweets for the PM, Mamata requested the PM to expedite the renaming of the state to Bangla, a matter pending for approval with the centre. She has now invited the PM to attend a programme for world’s second-largest coal block Deocha Panchami in Birbhum district.
I guess the problem began with a mega rally at Maidan, where many national parties and leaders participated. The crafty inner circle of the CM, consisting of a few leaders as well as a few officials were always making her believe that Modi will face defeat and that she will be the best choice as the alternative prime minister of India. I had then written that she stands no chance, which proved to be correct.
There has been a bit of change, post the Lok Sabha elections, as a few leaders from her party have been changing over to BJP. Though it is not critical, I guess the deserting of TMC would happen closer to the election, as the temperature hots up.
Mamata erred on two counts. She thinks West Bengal is a sovereign nation, forgetting that it is one of the many Indian states. She conveniently reminds of ‘co-operative federalism,’ forgetting her responsibilities as a leader of a state. Modi and Shah knew well that Mamata Banerjee would eventually have to come and meet them and not the other way.
There could not have been a more inopportune time to seek a meeting with the PM and the HM, while her trusted cop is in hiding, the High Court withdrawing the protection against his arrest. The CBI has sent special teams to trace and arrest the law evading cop. Investigations over Sarada scam have peaked, and many of her leaders are on the crosshairs.
The Chief Minister is known for her abrupt maverick turns, embracing or shooing away political parties, the beleaguered CPM and the congress proof of her machinations. Right now, nothing seems to be working fine for the TMC, despite the usual confident posture by her deputies. The invincibility of BJP as the challenger to an increasingly vulnerable TMC is no more a debatable issue. Mamata must realise that she is the sole face of her party and constitutionally obliged to serve the state and maintain a cordial relation with the centre, regardless of party and isms.
The question remains in everybody’s mind as to the real agenda of the CM’s meeting with the PM, which could cost dear for her party. However, I appreciate Didi’s initiative in breaking the ice, which would augur well for the state.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix