The battle formations!

Mahabharata is a great epic and teaches a lot about ethics, principles, and the technology of warfare. The armies of Dwaraka, Kasi, Kekaya, Magadha, Chedi, Matsya, Pandya and Yadus allied with the Pandavs.  The armies of Pragjyotisha, Kalinga, Anga, Kekaya, Sindhudesa, Avanti in Madhyadesa, Gandharas, Bahlikas, Mahishmati, Kambojas allied with the Kauravas.

Rukmi, the king of Vidarbha and Vidura, the ex-prime minister of Hastinapur, were the neutrals in this war. The powerful Balarama refused to fight at Kurukshetra because he was Duryodhana’s coach and his brother Krishna is on the other side. The Mahabharata had all the essence of loyalty, betrayal, deceit, and bravery, each with a logical reason and the prevailing truth over evil.

The present elections are no different, and Mahabharata, though in smaller dimensions, are enacted repeatedly. I confine to West Bengal for the present. The formation of the armies is underway as more allies are trooping in to strengthen their respective bases. Unlike the Mahabharata, the epic battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, the current election seems to have seemingly evolved into a multi-dimensional battle. The plot seems in defeating the opposition than winning for their candidates.

As the BJP and TMC lined up face to face, the TMC gave a clarion call to the Left and the Congress to join her, support her, and defeat the BJP. She had even sacrificed a Rajya Sabha seat in favour of INC’s Abhishek Singhvi by helping him get elected. But the Left-Congress combine decided to go it alone in defiance of Didi. Mamata dumping the Congress after consolidating her first win in 2011 has not been forgotten by the INC.

Then came the ISF to stake their claim, followed by the unpredictable MIM chief Owaisi, who promptly agreed to join the ISF. Though staunchly opposed to religious fundamentalism, the Left finds fine in allying with the ISF. Their target is to defeat the BJP. Then came the announcement of Shiv Sena that they too will join the fray. They are allies of Congress in Maharashtra. Congress is opposing TMC in Bengal. Shiv Sena is close to Mamata and cannot join Congress, which is flirting with ISF. Any alliance with a Muslima party will see the rout of Sena in Maharashtra. The position of Sena is like a jalebi, a sweet pretzel!

The Jharkhand Morcha too would be testing the Bengal waters. After all, a lot of the derided ‘outsiders’ could be from the neighbouring state.

AAP is also likely to join and is clear in its direction. It could join TMC as an ally, just like the RJD. Yes, Lalu could chip in to ensure his Bihari votes remain with his sister, Didi. Wait! We are not finished yet! Rakesh Tikait has just announced that he will join the Bengal battle. I guess the win by Congress in the  Punjab Panchayat elections, or rather the bad loss for the BJP, could have pumped his adrenaline levels. He can only stand together with Didi and his forever ally Arvind Kejriwal.

So the armies seem to be: TMC, AAP, BKU, RJD and Sena on one side; Congress, Left and ISF on the other; JMM, for now, is like the neutral King Vidura; and the BJP is fighting with Jai Shri Ram! I only wonder why the south of Vindhya states doesn’t see their future in Bengal yet?

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix

In Pic: Two important players in Mahabharata!