Please, with grace!

The Assembly elections in West Bengal seems to be a do-or-die matter both for the ruling Mamata’s TMC and the opponents BJP. Mamata seems to break down under the intense rallies and roadshows of the BJP and the taunts of PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Rarely have any Chief Minister been under such stress and from different directions like Mamata does. Many of Mamata’s colleagues have quit, and her nephew has become a burden on her and her party. The feedback from the first four phases of the elections has been anything but encouraging. Mamata’s win seems to be hanging by a thread.

No wonder the battered CM sought the once-loyal Muslims to stand by her and not divide their votes. She further erred in demanding the women take on the CAPF with their ladles, spuds and knife and restrain them. In another instance, she alleged that outside goons are roaming with guns, threatening TMC supporters. The Election Commission took note of these comments, banning her from campaigning for 24 hours beginning today at 8.00 pm. 

The EC concluded, quoted verbatim, “Now, therefore the Commission hereby condemns such statements portent with serious law & order problems across the State(s) and sternly warns Ms. Mamata Banerjee and advises her to desist from using such circumstances while making public utterances during the period when Model Code of Conduct is in force. The Commission also imposes a ban of twenty four hours on Ms. Mamata Banerjee from campaigning in any manner from 8.00 m of 12.4.2021 till 8.00 pm of 13.4.2021.”-Unquote.

Mamata reacted to the ban intensifying her attack on the BJP and the PM in particular. She tweeted, “EC should rename MCC as Modi Code of Conduct! BJP can use all its might, but NOTHING in this world can stop me from being with my people & sharing their pain. They can restrict me from visiting my brothers & sisters in Cooch Behar for 3 days, but I WILL be there on the 4th day!”

Lashing out at the EC over the “undemocratic and unconstitutional decision” Mamata announced a sit-out dharna at the Gandhi Murti, Kolkata, from tomorrow noon. Needless to say, the media will be in full strength at the venue, and her silence could state more than her words. It certainly will not win her or her party motormouths any friends in the EC.

Meanwhile, a few State BJP leaders have been vitiating with acerbic remarks on the sad loss of lives from the firing by security personnel at  Cooch Behar. They must end their rants as well.

I am left wondering as to how Gandhi would have reacted now, had he been alive!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix