Mamata loses the gamble
By Sugato Hazra
When in doubt say perhaps. So did Mulayam Singh Yadav and escaped. Mamata Banerjee failed to do that and has burned her face. What is most critical in the drama that unfolded in Delhi is Mamata managed to burn her face on behalf of some other equally strong anti-Pranab elements. A novice in communication – not merely in usage of language – Mamata failed to read the writing clearly, incensed as she had been with her personal hatred.
The first communication mistake of Mamata was to trust the untrustworthy. Like in life so in politics the first principle is maximize your personal benefits. For a political leader heading a political outfit this means the collective interest of the party. Personal hatred has to be surrendered in case this militates against the collective interest. The second principle in any game is always use others never be used. Mamata blinded by her hatred ended up being used. Third and most critical is speak carefully – don’t say what you feel like saying. Failure to do so coupled with inability to use language brought Mamata to this pass.
Take a careful look at the events that unfolded since Monday the 11th June. Amit Mitra came to Delhi to discuss with Pranab Mukherjee a bail-out package for bankrupt West Bengal. But Mitra clearly did not have the authority to accept or reject the same. In Mamata’s Bengal only one person thinks, decides and talks. Apparently the package offered was acceptable and should have been grabbed by Mamata with perhaps some noises for her constituency. Instead she accepted Sonia Gandhi’s phone call and rushed to Delhi.
Impetuous as she is Mamata failed to realize that she has bitten the bait. The much needed financial package took a back seat. Instead a much-hyped election for a ceremonial post, irrelevant for Bengal as such, came to the fore. This was an unpardonable blunder for Mamata the Chief Minister.
Next she thought she would be the King maker (President in this case) for India. Perhaps the thought of hogging the national limelight clouded her judgment assuming she has some. Her body language said what was unsaid – that the two choices mentioned by the UPA chief did not find favour with her. That also clearly signaled that she had a sure-shot victory formula, which was hatched, inside the residence of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. Her primary mistake – Mrs. Gandhi knew well enough how not to rattle her own boat, an issue Mamata is still oblivious of. The second error of judgment for Mamata was to presume that the veteran Mulayam Singh, too, would not think of his own party’s interest like Mamata does and will do again.
Third error of judgment for Mamata was not to keep her information channel open. The hectic politicking that went on in the capital after her alliance with Mulayam did not reach her. Even if it did she winked at the same. Mamata turned out to be oblivious of the fact that the Prime Minister did not want to relinquish his post. Thanks to her lack of knowledge and intelligence she helped to adversaries to join forces – Manmohan and Pranab grabbed the Mamata-given situation with both hands.
The next morning illustrated the indelible writing on the wall. There was some efforts to manage the crisis by the silent camp of Congress president. Both Dwivedi and Ambika Soni fired salvo at Mamata. Some smart plants appeared in mainstream media in the capital to highlight that Mamata did act whimsically without any prompting from her meeting with Congress President. Curiously Mamata still persisted with her camaraderie with Mulayam – the shortest one in the history of Indian politics.
The events which unfolded on Thursday the 14th June were signals to Mamata. She should have created her escape route then. Instead she sat with her collage of assorted advisors in a flat on Baba Kharak Singh Marg in Delhi. Those who track news will blame her for sacrificing the need for financial rescue package for Bengal just to outsmart Pranab Mukherjee in his bid for presidency. Mamata’s actions in Delhi clearly demonstrate that she is not fit to be the chief minister. Even if she fell into the trap at the behest of somebody, it is her face she lost in the end.
What should she do? If she tries to narrate her part of the story – that she was trapped – she must accept that she was vulnerable due to her intense hatred for Pranab. Can she do that? The other option is to accept Pranab’s olive branch – meet him and then extend her support. She should be the first one to honour the first Bengali President the way she celebrated the Kolkata team’s win in some over-hyped game.
People have a short memory, not necessarily Bengalis. They will keep on discussing Mamata’s failed storming of Delhi. But that will not impact her core support base. They are ever willing to accept intransigencies of their temperamental Didi. She has an escape route. She can still support Pranab and retrieve her loss. (IPA Service)