The unending seizures!

Bengal has seldom suffered seizures, and this one from Partha and his close-accomplice Arpita is giving a jolt to all in the Trinamool party. Mamata has always brushed off scam accusations against her partymen and has even turned some accusations to her advantage, calling them a conspiracy by Delhi to dethrone her government. The invincible Mamata plays the Bengali, ‘atma sanman,’ self-respect timely and effectively, with the scared Bengali voters too crying with emotion.

This time the hills of currency seized so far from the accomplice of Partha Chatterjee, the Gen. Secy, and a senior Cabinet Minister bodes serious damage to the image of Mamata, if not her party colleagues. Her immediate reaction during an awards ceremony that it was a conspiracy by the BJP may not find many takers, even within her party. The flood waters have gone above the head, and it is the job of the party supremo Mamata to pull the plugs and save the situation. She even threatened retaliation if her name is ever whispered in the present scandalous scam.

Didi seems to have calmed down after weighing the consequences for her party arising out of Partha’s SSC recruitment scam. Yesterday, she stated at an industry event that whoever is guilty will be punished. While this is a welcome climbdown, it is hard to believe that the CM was blind to the happenings around her, perpetrated by her closest and senior partymen. The change could be just the beginning as Mamata was earlier overconfident or was carless about the rumblings within her party.

The party spokesman, Kunal Ghosh, has thrown the first punch, demanding that Partha Chatterjee must be removed from all the posts he has been bolding, giving a taste of things to come in TMC’s cabinet meeting. Kunal’s voice can be Abhishek’s too, the latter wanting to curtail dual roles for many leaders, severely opposed by a few, including Partha.

Mamata must realize that any mass support to her party is primarily from the many avenues of earnings created for the cadres, which are not necessarily all legal. If that tightens, the support base will shrink. Secondly, the notoriously corrupt image the leaders have created for the party and themselves, disregarding Mamata Banerjee’s future political aspirations. Thirdly is the wolf-like surrounding by a poaching-ready BJP on her weaker flock.

This time, the ED did a thorough groundwork, almost like a war preparation, when they swept Partha’s residence out of his deep sleep at night. Taking him to AIIMS, Bhubaneshwar has further revealed the nexus between the State and the doctors who work in SSKM. Everyone in TMC talks of legalities, and none about morality. As alleged, the bribes taken have found their way from the arrested Minister to chit funds, which shows the unspeakable decadent values.

Kunal Ghosh’s dare is an eye-opener, and Mamata di must wake up and sack Partha Chatterjee from all the posts without waiting for further evidence and verdict from the courts, which I guess will happen soon.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voice

In pic: Arpita, the close acquaintance seen campaigning for Partha Chatterjee.