Mamata keeps options open
By Ashis Biswas
If necessity is the mother of inventions, effective strategising is indispensable for the success and survival of political parties.
In this context, even Mamata Banerjee’s unfriendliest critics cannot deny her current success as a wizened politician in the true time-tested Machiavellian mold. Her morphing from a screeching opposition Cassandra to the present day Mafia-style ruler, ranks among the more riveting episodes of recent Indian politics.
Her new found bonhomie with veteran civil rights campaigner Anna Hazare has caused many eyebrows to rise. Given her ill-concealed pre-poll hubris, what made her fall at Harare’s feet, while spurning calls from the UPA and the NDA camps?
The official, if hackneyed, explanation from the Trinamool Congress is that their supreme leader has always stood for her high principles and pro-poor causes — a claim that sounds less than resounding in the wake of the massive Saradha chit fund scam in West Bengal, among other things. “It is natural for an honest crusader for social justice like Mamata Banerjee to align herself with Hazare,” say TMC leaders.
They do not mention that only months ago Ms Banerjee refused to share a platform with the same Hazare, exasperated by his strident denunciation of political parties in public meetings. Within her own party, she did not hesitate to spell out in detail exactly what she thought of the old man. Public figures like Ms Kiran Bedi and others had mimicked certain leaders at Harare’s meetings which particularly offended Ms Banerjee.
Given these facts what explains the present TMC’s volte face?
An interesting explanation from the Left has emerged. According to this, the TMC would have no choice but to align with the NDA after the polls. (Note the implicit assumption that the UPA will lose!). The BJP has no problems with approaching the TMC to join a coalition. Witness the party’s offer to write off West Bengal’s massive loans pending with central Government — (loans that have increased even faster during the TMC’s rule, incidentally). Given the state’s finances, the BJP offer is akin to a lifetime invitation to royal banquets to a beggar.
On her part, Ms Banerjee, usually all fire and brimstone against the Congress, the Left and the BJP, has not attacked or referred to Mr Narendra Modi by name, even once so far!! This, despite constant prodding from the Left to spell out her stand on Mr. Modi. “Her reticence on the BJP’s prime Ministerial candidate is truly remarkable for someone who once mimicked the Prime Minister on a national TV show and wondered aloud, whether she should beat him up over West Bengal’s pending demands!” says a CPI(M) state Committee member.
Recall also the big favour conferred on the TMC during the last Howrah Lok Sabha seat by poll. Prasun Banerjee won the seat by around 20,000 votes, defeating his nearest CPI(M) opponent. The BJP, which commands some 50,000 votes locally, did not contest! In the 2009 LS polls, the BJP might have won no seats, winning only around 4% of the total votes cast. But the votes they won proved effective enough to deprive a resurgent TMC of five seats, reducing its tally to 19!
A section of the Left feels that the supporters of the BJP may attend the proposed Anna-TMC rallies in large numbers, creating an illusion of mass support. According to this line of thought, the Anna-TMC axis can win votes only at the expense of the other new kid on the block, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP, leaving hard core Cong, BJP or Left votes largely unswayed. The Anna- Kejriwal fallout and their subsequent distancing has prompted Hazare to undertake a bolder political role than he would normally relish.
“In any case, Harare’s own motives may not be Simon-pure either. Questions have been raised about his life-style and movements. His stance opposing all political parties is political in itself. Notice that no other social worker or activist, no matter how eminent, has ever tried to acquire such an overarching political persona, in such a hurry,” says an RSP leader.
What brings Anna and Ms Banerjee together is a symbiotic combination of mutual convenience, according to him. “Mamata desperately needs to showcase her acceptability at the nation’s political centrestage — so far not a single party of note has responded to her call for a so-called federal front. As for Hazare, well, with even Kejriwal walking out, he is a prophet without a following. Out of 17 questionnaires he sent out to political parties seeking answers, no one responded. The lone exception was the TMC, itself languishing in political wilderness. It’s more an instance of two lonely hearts coming together, not two forces linking arms to march forward,” he adds.
Needless to say, the TMC does not agree. As its general Secretary Mukul Roy puts it, “We will contest at least 100 seats all over India. Common people want to see Ms Banerjee as the next Prime Minister and are calling for a change.” He then spells out future campaign details at length to newsmen. It’s business as usual at the TMC office. (IPA Service)