Our envy, neighbour’s pride!

The first phase of voting and the relative incidents seemed trivial as two other events occupied the media and the minds in Bengal. One, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Bangladesh to participate in the Fiftieth foundation day of our neighbouring nation. The usual vociferous spokespersons of the TMC lost no time in criticizing his visit, given its impact in the West Bengal elections just the very next day. They were even more furious with his visit to Matua Thakurbari, which could help BJP in the Bengal elections.

The 50th anniversary of the Liberation of a country, which happened in 1971, could never have happened with a farsighted synchronization of West Bengal election dates with his visit. The idea is not only preposterous but is silly to the core. Secondly, as the one country to have helped Bangladesh liberate from Pakistan, India had a stellar role to play. The PM was gracious in mentioning the name of Indira Gandhi.

While addressing, Modi revealed that he was on a Satyagraha and was jailed during the Bangladesh liberation war. Soon the troll brigade, suspecting and deriding every statement of Modi, erupted with a vengeance, doubting his or his then parties, the RSS and the Jan Sangh, participating in any form of protest. The fun of battles on the Social Networks are, both factions have a phenomenal ability to dig out documents and evidence right from the Vedic period to bolster their arguments. The protests soon ended in a whimper.

The second was about Modi’s visit to Matua Thakurbari in Bangladesh. The PM could’ve attended the Bangladesh anniversary celebrations and flew back. The added itinerary could have been political and could have a bit impact in Bengal elections as well. So what? Election battles are meant to be won and not to yield to the opponents quietly. Mamata’s chose to settle in a wheelchair, losing the opportunity to exhibit statesmanship by keeping aside petty politics and visiting the neighbour in her helicopter. 

The second highlight is a purported audiotape of Mamata’s pleading for support from a former party colleague and now belonging to the BJP. In the ‘Yudh dharma,’ the philosophy of warfare, to seek the help of anyone who could help her turnaround from an impending defeat must be sou and appropriate. One must interpret the tape deeper to understand the TMC’s present wobbly position. 

Many booths in the first phase have seen voting over 80%. The inputs received speak of trouble for Didi. Mamata’s strategist, Prashant Kishor seems to be running out of ideas but has a new job waiting in Punjab with a Cabinet rank. The leader of the opposition in West Bengal also incidentally bears a Cabinet Rank!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix