Mistimed!

Timing is very important in our lives and activities. A right job at the wrong time could be no different than a wrong activity at the right time.

The visit of West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee, on a four-day visit to Delhi, though ill-timed, seems a face-saving one for her. Despite being embroiled in many scams, from Sarada, Rose Valley, iCore, Narada sting, the SSC recruitment scams for the last eleven years, the seizure of a huge tranche of illegally hoarded money and assets from an accomplice of Partha Chatterjee, TMC’s General Secretary and a senior cabinet colleague has shaken Mamata badly. The left claims to seek protection from the several investigations that are on.

Mamata was peeved at the nomination of Margaret Alva without consulting the West Bengal CM. The latter was, after all, the most important anti-BJP and anti-Modi face in India, who has managed to win elections, despite the deep pockets and influence of the BJP party. The predictability of Mamata is her unpredictable mood swings, as she is the lone leader to take crucial decisions for the party, which others tamely follow. None opposes her views openly or at her back.

The costly mistake that Mamata may have made is to announce, through her nephew, their decision to abstain from voting in the VP elections. A visibly upset Margaret Alva, the candidate for the 18 opposition parties, outright lamented and criticized the whimsical Bengal CM, reminding Didi that it was not the time for an ego-trip, seeking her to review her decision of abstaining from the VP election voting.

Mamata did the unthinkable, creating a visible fissure in the opposition unity, which will reflect in the 2024 polls. She might have lost any opportunity to offer herself as an alternative PM candidate for the opposition. She did another strange act, visiting the PM at his residence without officials to discuss the pending payments from the Centre to her State. Why the payments were pending could lead to questions like non-fulfilment of accounting compliances, etc. The Government of India could not be singling out West Bengal for denial of legitimate funds.

As I write, Jagdeep Dhankar has won 528 votes, with Alva polling 182. So the Trinamool indirectly helped their bête noire, the NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankar, cruise an easy win, defying all logic. The political circles are speculating a Mamata climbdown and seeking a rapprochement with Modi under the increased pressure from many investigating agencies.

Mamata has refused to respect most constitutional protocols as her State’s relations are concerned with the Governor or the PM. Sadly, her MPs would face Dhankar as the upper house’s chairman for five years.

Co-operative federalism, which Mamata often states, is two-way traffic. Respecting the elected Union leaders or constitutional heads does in no way diminish her stature, but such changes may not come forth anytime soon, her alter ego playing the spoilsport.

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix