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The Lok Sabha Polls 2024 dates are yet to be announced by the Election Commission . So to gauge the mood of the people on the ground it was imperative to know what it is like in a state which is widely seen as a vocal and aggressive critic of the BJP Led NDA government at the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And the state is West Bengal .
To get away from the icy winter chill of Delhi in December , this writer has been regularly visiting the ‘City of Joy’ for several years now barring one winter courtesy COVID and the lockdown . And the city which at one time earned the adage of city of darkness thanks to it’s load- shedding image has now turned out into a gleaming bright city with life, lights and energy. A massive change.
And when one arrives at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and drives towards the city . One thing strikes you instantly – large cut- out pictures of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and likely heir apparent Abhishek Banerjee along with party flag. Well, welcome to Kolkata , This is West Bengal the bastion of the Trinamool Congress. The message is loud and clear and visible.
The mega pictures of the TMC supremo, party flag and nephew are in- fact all over the city in every street, every nook and corner. Other parties the Congress, BJP and Left are nowhere to be seen . West Bengal is TMC and TMC is West Bengal . A cab driver with a keen interest in politics says , BJP is trying hard to gain ground in the state but Didi is a formidable opponent. One who took on the mighty Left regime is not a easy one to beat.
Moreover. What is hurting BJP’s chances here is the absence of a strong leader to take on Didi. Suvendu Adhikari is trying his best to emerge as a contender . But on the corruption issue , the BJP is on the back- foot as the visual images of Suvendu Adhikari in the Narada News Tapes (this writer was then the Associate Editor ) of 2016 refuses to go away from public memory. Having switched sides from TMC to BJP , there has been no headway to the Narada Tapes issue by the agencies. It has been conveniently put in cold storage. This has resulted in BJP often been slammed as a washing machine by the opposition. So BJP despite attacking Mamata on host of issues has it’s task cut out. Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent rally in Kolkata and it’s attendance has given the BJP reason to feel enthusiastic. But how much will this translate into votes remains a question mark?.
BJP had won 18 seats out of 42 in the 2019 Lok Sabha Polls TMC won 22. This time though the BJP is upbeat with the Ram Temple issue and hopes to improve it’s tally in the Lok Sabha Polls 2024. The TMC in- fact has gone ahead and said NO to Congress and INDIA alliance and rather preferring to to go Ekla Chalo in the polls. It had blamed the non- serous Congress for the failure in clinching the seat sharing deal .
TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee slammed Congress for taking too much time to decide. Seven months wait he lamented. This belligerence of the TMC towards the Congress threatens to mar the unity of the INDIA alliance . Already battered and bruised by the dramatic return to the NDA fold by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The main architect of the INDIA alliance. Now with Mamata’s firm resolve in going alone it’s headache for the INDIA alliance.
The massive turn- out at the all- religion rally led by Mamata Banerjee on the very day of the Ram Temple PranPratishta, indicates that TMC is firmly in pole position in the state and Didi’s clarion call has the support . It is this support that one believes is the reason behind Mamata’s bold move of fighting the Lok Sabha 2024 polls alone. The way the city was readied for the TMC rally was a sight to see . Party workers in trucks with enthusiastic young men were putting up giant pictures of Mamata and the party flags on the route she would walk. It was power show. .
The Ram Temple inauguration was nevertheless was celebrated in the city with diyas and crackers as a Diwali as urged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This positive mood has given the BJP the reason to be optimistic as they have often slammed Mamata for her appeasement politics . The onus is now the BJP to halt the TMC juggernaut . Will they succeed? only time will tell. So a bitter battle is on the cards given the strong acrimony between the two parties on several issues. So watch this space!
