Lessons not learnt!

Today was a busy day in West Bengal politics, as 9 MLAs besides Suvendu Adhikari, the former minister and MLA from TMC joined the BJP in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

I had been consistently writing that the time of theatrics is over. I heard the Hon’ble CM stating in one of her meetings that 90% of all poll commitments are fulfilled. If that is true, why then have a flagship ‘Duarey Sarkar,’ with only four months left for the polls? Durarey is financially unsustainable. One crore persons have enrolled in the last fifteen days.

On the desertions from rank and file of TMC, it cannot hide under pretentious valour as if nothing is happening and everything is under control. They are not. Serious dent has taken place and will continue to take place. Suvendu is not the only minister who has switched over to the BJP. There could be more in the waiting.  The news of such a large number of leaders quitting was a closely guarded secret is a slap on the intelligence gathering of the loyal cops of the ruling party. 

TMC is not the only loser. An MLA each from the CPM, CPI and the Congress have also switched over to the BJP. It indicates that the attempted ostracization of BJP as a far right and divisive force is not gelling. Is it because of the sudden love of Bengalis to BJP? I guess it as much the growing disenchantment of the TMC leadership or its attempt as the self-anointed guardian of Bengal’s pride.

I am sad to state that Bengal lost out the day when they stooped to appraise low or the non-talented. Undeniable political virtues of Didi made her also the best and the most expensive painter until the CBI sniffed a rat.  She was equated with Tagore and Nazrul Islam over her poetic affluence (sic.). Her literary knowledge was supreme. She was featured alongside Vivekananda, Ramkrishna Paramhamsa and Netaji. Didi was made to believe that she was born to lead India. There were non-stop and impulsive attacks between the State and the Centre, affecting the State and its citizens. It had to end somehow.

Mamata is a polyglot by her own admission, claiming to know many international languages, which I seriously doubt. The party’s sycophants were laughably attempting at creating a mythical image of their leader. The banners that came up or which are right now dotting the streets, be it in for business summits or literary meets has only one picture, hers, a sickness that TMC must’ve caught from Tamil Nadu. The Hon’ble High Court of Madras has forbidden depicting any leader alive on the street banners.

None of the leaders that Mamata is featured alongside were Bengalis. They were far greater. Some had a national profile, some international and a few spiritual, but no one confined themselves to Bengal or considered anyone else as outsiders. They were all epitome of universality. But where have we now led ourselves to merely thrilled by the Nandigram fights or the Singur protests? Did these bring glory and convert our State into a Golden Bengal in the last ten years? If there was prosperity, it was for only a few of her party men. The appeasement politics of TMC badly needed a balance, and therefore, I believe the exodus from the party rightly has begun.

Even after the serious threat, there is not a noble face to explain and give confidence to the many good members of TMC. Ignoble faces spew venom at those who have left, which is not going to help Didi and her party in any manner and will bring further disrepute among the voters.

It is time for serious introspection, but who will dare to bell the cat?

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix