A few hours from now just could be the beginning of a green revolution in West Bengal. The Mamata brigade has already started preparing for what they believe is “inevitable” — a Trinamul Congress victory in the state Assembly elections.
“Badla noy, bodol chai (Not revenge, we want change)” is the slogan written on the walls as one enters the narrow lanes and bylanes to approach Trinamul supremo Mamata Banerjee’s “humble” two-storeyed house with a dirty Kalighat canal flowing behind it. There will be “no victory rallies” and “no retaliation”, Ms Banerjee has already warned her cadres. For her team, “Didi is a victor in waiting.” Yet, the security forces are ready for any eventuality, a senior police officer indicated.
Even before the results are out she has decided to keep four portfolios to herself —industry, police, health and education. The Congress, a Trinamul ally, is watching the situation and might want to join the government if the Trinamul fails to secure a majority on its own.
“We will leave it to the Congress even if we have the numbers to form a government on our own,” a Trinamul leader said. Of the 294 Assembly berths the Trinamul is contesting 225, the Congress 67 and SUCI two.
Depending on the election results, Ms Banerjee could quit as Union railway minister and her trusted aide, Mr Mukul Roy, minister of state for shipping, could take over from her. The Marxists have not yet given up. The Reds and their mouthpiece Ganashakti feel that “Mamata’s projected victory is a media conspiracy”. The Marxists refuse to believe that 34 years of ruling West Bengal might come an end in another few hours.
“When the EVMs will be opened tomorrow it will be found that the Left Front has won by a very good margin,” claimed Left Front chairman Biman Bose. However, despite, the pro-poor image of the Communists, the fiascos in Singur and Nandigram may be the reason for their waning popularity.
This could also be celebration time for the BJP as it expects to open its account in the state. “We will win seats in north and south Bengal,” BJP election in-charge of Bengal Siddharth Nath Singh said.
If the Trinamul wins, Ms Banerjee’s key focus area will be “industrialisation of the state”, which, however, was the Marxists’ nemesis. There are indications that former Ficci secretary-general Amit Mitra, the Trinamul candidate from Khardah, could either take over as minister for finance or industries. A former IPS officer could be inducted as minister of state for the state home ministry while Ms Banerjee will keep the portfolio to herself.
While the CPI(M) continues to maintain a brave front, the majority of its leaders are now gunning for party general secretary Prakash Karat, who, they claim, has “gone into hiding”. They hold “Karat’s immature political sense and arrogance” responsible for the rise of Ms Banerjee. If the Marxists collapse in Bengal, pressure will mount within the party to force the exit of Mr Karat. Sensing that being ousted from the top post could mark the end of his political career, Mr Karat has already swung into action to save himself, sources disclosed.