Background
The 2019 Lok Sabha elections marked the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party winning a second term in a landslide, significantly increasing its footprint nationwide by making major gains in the Lower House of the Indian Parliament. One state where the BJP made major headway was West Bengal where the saffron party won nearly half the contested seats in the Lok Sabha, marking in a change in the political tide of West Bengal and increasing their hold from a mere 2 seats to an astounding 18, significantly diminishing the political foothold of the state’s ruling party, the Trinamool Congress led by Mamta Banerjee. This election ushered in a beacon of hope for the BJP’s chances in the upcoming State polls being held in 2021 and they emerged as serious contenders to deny Mamta Banerjee a third term as Chief Minister. The elections for the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal are scheduled to be held in, for the first time, 8 phases from 27th March to 29th April for its 294 seats.
Political Battleground : Bengal
Thus began the all out war between the BJP and the TMC to consolidate control of the West Bengal legislative assembly with both parties levelling harsh allegations against each other and sharp attacks and numerous skirmishes between the cadres of the two parties. The TMC, with Mamta Banerjee (widely referred to as ‘Didi’) at its helm, launched a campaign to denounce the Citizenship Amendment Act of 2019 passed by the ruling party amid widespread national protests. West Bengal became the 4th state to pass a resolution against the controversial and hotly debated law as Didi raised slogans in political campaigns decrying the Modi Government for passing a law that was ‘discriminatory’ towards the citizens of India. The BJP hit back, slamming the State Government for not putting an end to the influx of illegal immigrants in West Bengal. The BJP further accused the TMC of turning a blind eye to the rapid increase of the “Syndicate Raj” in West Bengal, asserting that illegal immigrants no longer came to the country in search of livelihood but instead formed a massive crime syndicate indulging in dangerous crimes such as bomb-making, land grabbing and running fake currency racquets in the state. The BJP christened this as the TMC’s “Gundaraj” in West Bengal, viciously attacking the party’s anti CAA stance. Several sting operations by notable news outlets and other investigations revealed extensive ties between TMC members and Syndicate Leaders in West Bengal with the latter indulging in violence and voter intimidation to garner votes for the ruling TMC. The TMC government has also been embroiled in other controversies in the past, most notably the Bengal High Court verdict against the Government’s stay on “Durga Visarjan” which incidentally coincided with Muharram. Another similar controversy spawned when Banerjee was criticized for starting controversial stipends to imams (Iman Bhatta) which was overturned by the Calcutta HC which called it “a bit to appease minorities”. The BJP has blasted the TMC government for the same, calling these decisions a blatant attempt to appease minorities and playing vote bank politics in the state.
The Banerjee led government is also defending it’s actions in the Supreme Court for detaining nine CBI officers as they tried to question the Kolkata Police Commissioner in relation to the infamous ‘Sharada Scam’. The Chief Minister in response lashed out at the Bureau for unauthorised trespass by a central agency, and as an attack on her state’s democratic institutions and condemned the centre for launching unethical probes for political gain.
BJP's Campaign
The BJP also launched attacks against the State Government, criticizing its botched up response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the alleged misappropriations of funds for the devastating Cyclone Amphan attempting to develop an anti incumbency sentiment in the state. The BJP has claimed a complete collapse of law and order in the state under its current government. Lack of industrialisation is also one of the key poll planks of the BJP in West Bengal with BJP leaders often comparing the employment generation record of the state with the BJP-ruled Gujarat. If voted to power in next assembly polls, the BJP would turn Bengal into Gujarat emulating its “growth model” so that youth of the state would not have to migrate to other states for jobs, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh has been reiterating in his campaign rallies.
As recently as February, the Enforcement Directorate raided various locations in Kolkata in connection with its ongoing probe into an illegal coal mining case, according to sources. Earlier in the week, the Central Bureau Investigation questioned chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira Banerjee in connection with the same case. Abhishek Banerjee’s sister-in-law MenakaGambhir was also questioned.
The BJP has a quiver full of arrows to attack the incumbent government and it is leaving no stone unturned to turn the tide in West Bengal. A blitzkrieg of BJP heavy hitters have been campaigning across the length and breadth of the state for the upcoming polls. Some of the most prominent figures include the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Amit Shah, BJP National President J.P Nadda among others setting off on a “Poriborton Rally” (rally forchange) to oust the TMC Government.
Another major reason for the TMC to worry is it’s members including current and former MPs and MLAs defecting to the BJP in large numbers. Some of the most prominent and senior members of the TMC including Party leader and Cabinet Minister Suvendu Adhikari who was mentored by Banerjee herself. Adhikari brought with him 35 senior TMC leaders including 6 MLAs and one former MP from the TMC. The tsunami of defection continues as 5 more TMC MLAs joined the BJP last week after being denied a ticket to contest in the legislative polls. The BJP also gained control of the Malda Zilla parishad with 23 of its members jumping ship.
Suvendu Adhikari will be contesting the seat for Nandigram against Banerjee which is expected to be a very tight race since Nandigram has been a TMC stronghold following the Anti Land Acquisition movement led by the then opposition leader Mamta Banerjee against the incumbent CPI-M government.
The BJP has accused the TMC of attacking its party officials several times as the political battle intensifies. Party President JP Nadda’s motorcade was attacked in Parganas district. Nadda later called for the state of lawlessness in Bengal to end and exuded confidence that the BJP would emerge victorious in the upcoming polls.
Ambush or Accident?
As recently as last week, the Chief Minister claimed that she was allegedly attacked by a group of men during a rally in Nandigram. She sustained injuries in her leg, back and
shoulder. However her claim was falsified by a report by the Election Commission of India who denied the existence of a conspiracy and declared it to be an accident.
All these incidents indicate that the upcoming polls in the battleground state of West Bengal will be something to watch out for. As of now, West Bengal is one of the most polarised parts of the nation with the TMC clinging on to power as a major chunk of the party defects to the strengthening opposition and the BJP being optimistic about winning the state and making history by being the first National Party to win in the state that has to this day been led only by Regional parties. But as the polls fast approach, the situation in West Bengal continues to become tense and there are clearly a lot more developments that one can expect before the people of Bengal decide upon whether they give Didi another term as Chief Minister or whether it is time for the “ Asol Poriborton” that the BJP & PM Modi ispromising.
Article by-
Kshitij Saha
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