Combat in Bengal

 It is a war of sorts in West Bengal where both the ruling Trinamool and challenger BJP are leaving no stone unturned to win the election due in April-May. From religion, to communalism, goondaism and violence- it is war with no boundaries where anything and everything goes. Scores of political activists from both parties have been killed or injured in violent clashes. Since 2011 when Trinamool wrested West Bengal from the ruling Left Front, it has not stopped winning as both Left and Congress have been pushed to the political periphery. The Left has been decimated by the Trinamool and has not recovered since 2011.  The Congress, which last ruled the state in 1977, is a pale shadow of its former self. The party is a minor player and compelled to forge alliances either with the TMC or the Left. This left the Trinamool with no challenger till the BJP arrived on the scene. Until the 1980s, the BJP in West Bengal used to get around 2 per cent of popular votes in both Lok Sabha and assembly elections. From 2 per cent in 1989 to 40 per cent in 2019 is a quantum jump. With 18 seats which BJP won in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, it has emerged as a serious threat to the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, so much so that it is now eyeing to unseat the ruling party in the forthcoming electoral battle. The BJP which owes some of its origins to Bengal has never been in power in Bengal and is therefore it is one of the biggest prizes for the BJP. A totally dominant BJP at the Centre and a fast growing worker base on the ground are all helping BJP mount a massive challenge against Mamata Banerjee. TMC is losing its big faces every day. After Suvendu Adhikari, considered a very close aide of Mamata, West Bengal’s Minister of Forest Affairs Rajib Banerjee also resigned from Mamata cabinet. Recently sitting MLA from Haldia too resigned. Added to this was the surprise resignation of former union minister and Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Trivedi. TMC chief minister Mamata Banerjee is still the most popular among all other politicians but her personal popularity isn’t going to benefit the party. The Trinamool not only faces anti-incumbency but also a hostile governor who is at loggerheads with the chief minister. The BJP has pressed all its top leaders to the state and it looks like a fight between the government of India and the BJP. There are several reasons for Mamata to feel threatened. One is the perceived poor governance in Bengal where Mamata’s outbursts and on the spot directives have become like the order of the day. No one dares to question her. The other is the perceived appeasement of TMC to Muslim minorities which the BJP has exploited to the hilt to rouse the anger of Bengali Bhadraloks. The poor want jobs and the Nandigram episode has made them angry at Mamata. Both TMC and BJP are determined to win and that could mean resorting to every means and this is a serious concern. The only hope is democracy survives the onslaught from two determined and desperate foes but it is certainly going to be at a high price.