In West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) slogan is “Khela Hobe” (game on). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) picked it up and used it. Now the Congress and Left activists are repeating this. The game is truly on. But will it be just a game if it is stripped of all morality? It becomes a mockery of the people’s aspirations. But that is the way things are going at the moment? On Sunday at a massive rally at Brigade Parade ground in Kolkata Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “TMC ka khela khatam, vikas shuru” (game is over and finished, development begins). Prime Minister Modi was received by a huge crowd at Brigade ground and while addressing the rally, said, “I have never seen such a large gathering blessing me, ever.” The ‘khela hobe’ slogan was coined by Narayanganj (in Bangladesh) MP Shamim Osman about four years ago. TMC picked up this “Jai Bangla” slogan. BJP insists that their slogan is “Bharat mata ki jai” and “Jai Shri Ram”, an anathema for Mamata Banerjee. In West Bengal stakes are high and so is the fervour.
West Bengal seems to be garnering disproportionate attention in the upcoming assembly elections, though there are three other states (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam) and the Union Territory of Puducherry, which are also poll-bound. The decade-long rule of Mamata Banerjee and her theatrics is falling apart when Modi took a jibe at her on Sunday on her “trial” two wheeler ride. PM Modi slammed the policies of Mamata Banerjee by saying “You have pushed Bengal towards separation instead of development, and thus the lotus is blooming. You have divided people on religious lines, and thus the lotus is blooming,” realising little that it will give enough fodder for the parties like Congress and Left to hold the straw in these turbulent waters.
Veteran actor and popular son of the soil Mithun Chakraborty also turned saffron from blue, even though he was a member of Rajya Sabha from TMC bandwagon. Turncoat from TMC and now a BJP leader Shuvendu Adhikari has now said the TMC is keen on turning West Bengal into another Kashmir. The party’s Nandigram candidate, who in all likelihood will contest against the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the upcoming State Assembly polls, also cited that Shyama Prasad Mukherjee that if not for the late Jan Sangh founder, India would have been an Islamic country like Bangladesh.
The omission from the TMC ticket list includes Sonali Guha, Satgachia MLA and close confidant of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “Why did she do this to me. I was like her family member and she did not even call to tell me why I was denied ticket,” Guha expressed before the media. She said she approached BJP leader Mukul Roy and was keen on joining the saffron party. Dipali Saha, MLA from Sonamukhi in Bankura, who was also denied the ticket, joined the BJP on Saturday. It looks like the many internal TMC members are nervous and the other MLAs who could not hide their emotions include Moinuddin Shams (Nalhati), Naresh Barui (Dubrajpur) and Shampa Daripa (Bankura). Jatu Lahiri, 84, MLA from Shibpur in Howrah district, also announced his decision to quit the TMC. Party strongman and former MLA Arabul Islam has also made his disappointment public after being denied ticket from Bhangar in South 24 Parganas.
Not only were there protests but supporters blocked prominent roads and national highways and in places like Bhangar attacked party offices. For BJP, it is time to garner all leaders from TMC to bring them to their own fold. None of the disgruntled elements from TMC have expressed their willingness to join the Congress or Left. It seems to be a problem of plenty at this moment but TMC political advisor Prashant Kishor seems to be busy now in Punjab where he has been appointed by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh as his political advisor.
Meanwhile, as it is time for announcement of candidates for polls several leaders of the TMC, including half a dozen MLAs, have come out in the open protesting against the party decision to deny them ticket. Some of them broke down before media while expressing disappointment and some expressed willingness to join the BJP. The issue with TMC is that many are jumping off the ship and BJP has nothing to lose, except pride of losing the elections in West Bengal.
