West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (Image: File)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s showdown with the Enforcement Directorate following raids at the offices of I-PAC, the political Consultant of her party, has multiple dimensions. There is no doubt that the Trinamool Congress stalwart has been engaged in a prolonged confrontation with the Centre, and the ED raid is being portrayed as an onslaught by the New Delhi dispensation, with the political aim of defaming her, ahead of the Assembly polls later this year. However, politics has its own complexities and the protests carried out in Kolkata and the national capital by leaders of the TMC, also pose a number of questions. In a way, this face-off between Mamata and the Centre, also intentionally or inadvertently, has repercussions for the Congress as well.
The Congress had decided to launch a countrywide stir for the restoration of MNREGA, a scheme which was introduced during the UPA tenure but now stands superseded by the government’s new legislation. The Congress agitation commenced from Saturday but all that happened on the IPAC raid, a day earlier, has made the headlines.
It may appear far-fetched to some but in one way, the TMC-Centre fight could completely eclipse the Congress stir, or at least, push it to the footnote space in media coverage. Cynics are wanting to know how the TMC MPs managed to stage a protest at the Home Minister’s office in the capital when no such agitation has ever been allowed at the spot for so many years. And why were the Delhi police so lenient on them, and instead of arresting them for breaching the prohibitory orders, merely detained them and let them off after some time?
There are Congressmen who are opposed to both the TMC and the BJP, who are short of claiming that there could have been a tacit understanding on the issue, thus raising doubts over the sincerity of the slogan shouting outside the Home Minister’s office.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was the leader of the Congress group following the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, has launched a scathing attack on Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of letting the people of the state down, and indulging in large scale corrupt practices. He has also questioned the sudden rise of Humayun Kabir, who was a political lightweight but for some odd reasons finds himself propelled to the political centre-stage.
There may be some analysts who may not take Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury seriously, but he is the lone Congress leader, who for the past several years, has been speaking openly against both Mamata and the BJP. He may be bitter at losing the election in 2024 to World Cup cricket star, Yusuf Pathan, who was specially drafted from Gujarat to contest against him, the last time. Adhir has insinuated that this was done to play the communal card for making Muslims vote for Pathan.
In any case, Mamata Banerjee has always pursued her own kind of politics, and she has been ruthless while dealing with her opponents. But at the end of the day, she is a politician who can take decisions which may sound unbelievable but are possible. For instance, Mamata has, on several occasions, declined to support her I.N.D.I.A partner, the Congress. In fact, she has taken contrary positions which have amounted to weakening the alliance, or at least creating that perception, by her unpredictable actions.
The West Bengal CM is a street fighter and has not conceded an inch to the BJP, doing her best to keep the party out of the power circles in her state. However, those who have followed her closely, feel that while she has been extremely harsh on the BJP, she has never ever seriously attacked the RSS, something which the Congress needs to learn from her.
There is a strong section in the RSS, which, also secretly supports her, and while there is no evidence, the Left parties and the Congress, have this belief that this was a part of the understanding. Needless to say, the minorities in Bengal back her in large numbers and she has been taking care of their interests as well.
The situation in neighbouring Bangladesh has been very grim, and it is obvious that the fallout of the violence against the Hindus in that country, could influence politics in West Bengal during the run-up to the elections. This is also a matter of fact that if there is one leader who the Muslims of the state somewhat listen to, it is only Mamata Banerjee.
Those in the RSS who support her covertly or overtly, are of the view that if Mamata was defeated in the elections, and if a BJP lad government comes into place, there would be no one who would be able to reach out to the large Muslim segment, and this could contribute to tensions, which could escalate.
It may be recalled that when Mamata Banerjee was waging a long but focused battle against the leftists in the state, the RSS had backed her. She was, in the end, successful in dismantling the 30-odd years of Left rule in Bengal.
Mamata is also a leader, whom many in the I.N.D.I.A bloc also consider to be a potential PM candidate in the future. She is a Brahmin, a woman and a tested politician, who has survived many attempts to marginalize her in the past. She has a dim view of the Congress leadership, and believes that it does not have the ability to lead a coalition against the BJP. Between us.
