Mamata in Nandigram!

There has never been a strong pre-poll challenge in Bengal, except for some routine processions and street-corner meetings. Perhaps the first time, a formidable opponent has emerged and sent shivers in the ruling party. Never before a ruling party had felt threatened as now, not even in 2011, when TMC dislodged the thirty-four year left front rule. 

What was Didi’s mantra of win? Was it her fast against the forcible acquisition of farmlands for the nano car project? Or is it the long-infused hatred for Tatas and Birlas into the minds by the left?  In any case, Mamata was crowned, more as default and has been ruling Bengal, undisputed and unchallenged for the last ten years. The flight of youth in search of jobs and the lack of industries could not be hidden for long, as the youth began earning by ‘other’ means, extortion, syndicates et al. The murmur of disenchantment became louder and transformed into a protest as ‘Jai Shri Ram.’ 

Small tricks and poll ‘management’ helped solidify TMC’s win n 2016, despite serious allegations of bribes and scandals in her party. If the left crafted witch-hunt on opponents were further honed, safeguarding alleged scamsters and the tainted also became a new normal. Mamata, the CM, broke all the protocols, guarding against central sleuths raiding her favourite policeman, accused of hiding crucial chit fund related evidence. As a show of defiance against the Centre, he was later promoted as well.

Sadly, Bengal has taken an anti-Centre stand, which was evident even during the Congress rule in the sixties. Was it due to the undying fighting spirit of Bengalis right from the time of the British? PM Modi, an equally aggressive leader from Delhi, sends his team to challenge the might and makes a serious dent in the last Lok Sabha elections. Political wisdom should have opted for a political compromise, which was not to be. Smallness was evident in disallowing helicopters with leaders to land, permission for opposition meetings declined and so on. BJP occupied the political void created by Mamata, ostracizing the Left and Congress as untouchables.

Didi’s Himalayan blunder was believing her shortsighted MPs that she was the natural choice of the PM in 2019. A few imagined the Maidan rally with the national opposition as the oath-taking ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan. She grossly underestimated the deep pockets and the vicious attacks of the BJP under Dilip Ghosh’s combative leadership. Thrusting Prashant Kishor over her hitherto unbridled party men was the last folly as was her controversial nephew’s entry.

Mamata seemed to have played her trump card in a hurry, and spent her most potent weapon, the Brahmastra, too soon by announcing her fight in Nandigram. She has a penchant from taking risks, but no one takes a risk, where her loss could disintegrate her party. Every important leader in India looks for safe seats like Rahul Gandhi’s Wayanad. A Gujrati concentrated Bhowanipore, may not have taken kindly to her ‘outsiders’ barb, which she should’ve abstained from using. Choosing Nandigram instead is a coin-toss game and not a reasoned political action.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix