Morning shows the day!

The incident could well have been a storm in a teacup, but storm it indeed was. There has been a late entrant to the Left-Congress alliance, Abbasi, the Pirzada of Furfura Sharif. Abbasi has recently formed a religious-political outfit Indian Secular Front and has announced his entry into the poll-battle. His efforts have received a boost and credibility by the immediate visit of Owaisi, the leader of the AIMIM, the latter announcing support to ISF.

Abbasi has been boisterous of a battle royale and to end the victory run of Mamata Didi, his earlier mentor.  Ever since the visit of Owaisi, closely followed by Abdul Mannan, the State Congress leader and Md. Salim of the CPM, Abbasi has shrilled his opposition to Didi, claiming that her love for Muslims is a political drama and has vowed to dethrone her. It is rumoured that PK, too, had met Abbasi and tried to restrain his political adventure.

Abbasi kept everyone in tenterhooks until the last moment, threatening to boycott the much-touted brigade rally after botched seat-sharing talks with the Congress. The craftier left quickly grabbed him and yielded to much of his demands. After all, the left had little or nothing to lose. Abbasi was nowhere to be seen until the meeting had begun and made an abrasive entry in his vehicle, replete with his ‘whatever plus’ security personnel, donning black dresses and the characteristic dark glasses.

As he entered the dais, the crowd broke into a thunderous roar, and his gesture to everyone to quieten down was unmistakable. It was not the Left or the Congress going to dictate anything to Abbasi but would be the other way around. Abbasi was in charge! 

The State Congress chief Adhir Choudhury was at the mike when Abbasi had ascended the dais. A nervous Biman Basu hurried to him to cut short his speech for Abbasi.  Abbasi obviously had demanded that he be allowed to speak as soon as he enters! A peeved Adhir was ready to leave the podium when Md. Salim hurriedly came and brushed Biman Bose while requesting Abbasi to bear for a few moments until Adhir finished his speech.

Abbasi’s turn came, and he was loud and clear: that he will support the left wherever, which also meant that he could not be extending the same benefit to the Congress. He chided the Congress, “seat-sharing must not be the focus, the people’s mandate should be.” He declared that the alliance would ensure zero votes to TMC and ensure that both the BJP and the TMC are driven out of West Bengal. Abbasi, after a biting and loud speech, left the meeting. He had done his bit decisively and surgically.

Congress has still time and should dare to expose religious zealots entering the political fray, be it MIM, ISF or Shiv Sena and extricate themselves when there is still time.

I can see someone smiling; ‘win you guys, we’ll buy you up eventually!’ Hail democracy!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix