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Bengal for Banerjee?
The Marxists knew the weakness of the Central Congress leaders and exploited it. Several post Independence Congress leaders from the state had played double roles - making public speeches and statements through the media condemning the Communist Party of India (Marxist) led Government to hoodwink the public and extend support to prolong its longevity in cooperation with the Central Government.
However, the political scenario in the state has undergone a sea change after the arrival of the fiery leader called Mamata Banerjee who has proven herself as the genuine fighter against the establishment which has lost all touch with the common people in the state. She has taken away the huge vote banks that the Congress had in West Bengal and this is a clear indication that the people trust her. It is not that the people in the state had rejected the Congress’ ideology but what must be conceded to is that they have no faith in its leadership. Some Congress leaders are influential in their own constituencies but none of them are known to 5.60 crore voters let alone the over 10 crore population as per the last Census in the state.
Therefore, it is praiseworthy that the Congress leadership at 24 Akbar Road and 10 Janpath have understood the ground realities and taken the wise decision to maintain electoral understanding and contest the Assembly elections as allies. The Congress, despite its glorious tradition and history during the freedom struggle has lost the sympathy and confidence of the people due to its inability to put up a meaningful fight against misrule in the past 34 years. There will hardly be a political analyst who will take Congress as a genuine and strong willed fighter against the mighty Marxist party as it is steadily losing ground due to its own foolishness and lack of foresightedness.
In this context, the mood of the Bengal voters was expressed through a survey conducted by the well-know research agency MaRs is correct although it is along expected lines. It is not a fact that the people in the state are opposed to all the Left parties. However, these have failed to carry the masses with them, people who had too much expectation from the CPI(M) Government. It will, however, be erroneous to say that the Marxists have not done anything for the state where more than 75 per cent people are descendants of the refugees from erstwhile East Bengal and who had been the main supporters of the Left Movement.
The people of Bengal are for a change and it is almost certain that Trinamool Congress headed by the fiery leader is poised to take over the Writers’ Building located in the heart of Kolkata. The Marxists who captured power 34 years ago by overthrowing the Congress Chief Minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray, have failed the people. It is rightly stated that they failed to create jobs, tackle corruption in the administration, maintain law and order, ensure proper functioning of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and prevent the people, especially the younger generation from abandoning moral values and ethics in the name of a modern outlook. Youngsters have started aping the western way of life at the cost of their parents’ meager earnings as the ruling parties could not project any iconic figure worth emulating!
The survey mentioned above has rightly revealed that they have faith in Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and ability to pull the state out of decay. They are also fed up with revolutionary speeches. It is noteworthy that most of the young people are not interested in politics as they have become careerists and are all for the pursuit of education for this purpose unlike the post independence young Bengalis who were used as fodder by the Left to build their organizations while assuring them the moon.
It is interesting that voters aged between 18 and 25, estimated to be 37 per cent of the total electorate are dissatisfied with the elements that controlled the CPI (M). However, whether or not Mamata Banerjee delivers on the aspirations of the people is another story, one that will write itself within a few months.
However, the political scenario in the state has undergone a sea change after the arrival of the fiery leader called Mamata Banerjee who has proven herself as the genuine fighter against the establishment which has lost all touch with the common people in the state. She has taken away the huge vote banks that the Congress had in West Bengal and this is a clear indication that the people trust her. It is not that the people in the state had rejected the Congress’ ideology but what must be conceded to is that they have no faith in its leadership. Some Congress leaders are influential in their own constituencies but none of them are known to 5.60 crore voters let alone the over 10 crore population as per the last Census in the state.
Therefore, it is praiseworthy that the Congress leadership at 24 Akbar Road and 10 Janpath have understood the ground realities and taken the wise decision to maintain electoral understanding and contest the Assembly elections as allies. The Congress, despite its glorious tradition and history during the freedom struggle has lost the sympathy and confidence of the people due to its inability to put up a meaningful fight against misrule in the past 34 years. There will hardly be a political analyst who will take Congress as a genuine and strong willed fighter against the mighty Marxist party as it is steadily losing ground due to its own foolishness and lack of foresightedness.
In this context, the mood of the Bengal voters was expressed through a survey conducted by the well-know research agency MaRs is correct although it is along expected lines. It is not a fact that the people in the state are opposed to all the Left parties. However, these have failed to carry the masses with them, people who had too much expectation from the CPI(M) Government. It will, however, be erroneous to say that the Marxists have not done anything for the state where more than 75 per cent people are descendants of the refugees from erstwhile East Bengal and who had been the main supporters of the Left Movement.
The people of Bengal are for a change and it is almost certain that Trinamool Congress headed by the fiery leader is poised to take over the Writers’ Building located in the heart of Kolkata. The Marxists who captured power 34 years ago by overthrowing the Congress Chief Minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray, have failed the people. It is rightly stated that they failed to create jobs, tackle corruption in the administration, maintain law and order, ensure proper functioning of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and prevent the people, especially the younger generation from abandoning moral values and ethics in the name of a modern outlook. Youngsters have started aping the western way of life at the cost of their parents’ meager earnings as the ruling parties could not project any iconic figure worth emulating!
The survey mentioned above has rightly revealed that they have faith in Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and ability to pull the state out of decay. They are also fed up with revolutionary speeches. It is noteworthy that most of the young people are not interested in politics as they have become careerists and are all for the pursuit of education for this purpose unlike the post independence young Bengalis who were used as fodder by the Left to build their organizations while assuring them the moon.
It is interesting that voters aged between 18 and 25, estimated to be 37 per cent of the total electorate are dissatisfied with the elements that controlled the CPI (M). However, whether or not Mamata Banerjee delivers on the aspirations of the people is another story, one that will write itself within a few months.
P.K. Chakravarty
