The poll scenario of West Bengal became more thrilling with AIMIM chief, Asaddudin Owaisi visiting Furfura Shariff, an important religious and Islamic political centre. He met a handful of important leaders including the Furfura chief, Pirzada Abbasuddin Siddiqi. Abbas had earlier voiced his discontent over the Trinamool Congress continuing to ignore his community. He had threatened to float a political outfit for his minority brothers.
In the last five decades, the left and later the TMC have been benefitting from the Muslims’ block-voting habits in West Bengal. Any change in their voting pattern would severely upset poll outcomes particularly for TMC, which is heavily dependent on the consolidated support of the minorities.
The BJP has made no bones of its lack of interest in the minority votes and has concentrated on the majority Hindus, polarizing them greatly. Gone or the days of the Bengali’s secular mindset and progressive thoughts, as the rants of either Jai Shri Ram or La illaha Illallah define one’s identity or location. Any consolidation of the Hindu votes, which in Bengal was never expected, would doom the TMC and the left, benefitting the BJP.
Mamata and her many non-Muslim Cabinet colleagues have never failed to appease the community, appearing in the right attire, hijab, kifaya, skull caps or karakul topis. Huge banners of the TMC leaders appearing in prayer mode or breaking fast in Iftar parties used to dot the State but are scarcer now. None missed the lax law enforcement for misdemeanours by the minorities for long. TMC and Mamata Banerjee have realized the overkill of the Muslim card, without fulfilling their ever-increasing demands, thus leading to discontent.
Amid this scenario, the AIMIM chief’s arrival, exploring electoral understanding with the Furfura sheriff Chief cannot be dismissed as insignificant, as made out by a few TMC leaders. In the last many years, Didi has moulded a great relationship with the Muslims, and it may not be easy to believe that her party would lose all this in one go. However, if AIMIM succeeds to break the Muslim votes, it is bound to push TMC to a second position.
Owaisi rubbished all allegations that he is a plant of the BJP and stated that the BJP’s win in the 2019 West Bengal Lok Sabha polls was due to his absence. He would ensure a correction in the Assembly polls now. One cannot dismiss the fact that his contesting in the recently held Bihar elections had directly helped a BJP, NDA win.
TMC faces a double whammy, the exodus of his party leaders to BJP, and now the challenge to her stranglehold on the Muslim votes. The electoral battle of West Bengal is getting more interesting by each passing day!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
