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Congress, CPM ‘Left’ Cold:MAMATA MANTRA: YES WE CAN!, by Poonam I Kaushish, 5 June, 2010 Print E-mail

Political Diary

New Delhi, 5 June 2010


Congress, CPM ‘Left’ Cold

MAMATA MANTRA: YES WE CAN!

By Poonam I Kaushish

 

Political India was a mixed bag of colour hues last week. West Bengal was a sea of green as Trinamool swept a majority of the municipalities across the State. Its arch rival, the CPM was ‘red’ in the face over its defeat and in Delhi the Congress green with envy over ally Mamata’s “historic success”.

 

Predictably, stormy petrel Mamata is over the moon with her Daniel-like success, having demolished the ‘Reds’ in their municipal den. Her TMC emerged the biggest winner with 24, Left Front retained a mere 18 and Congress netted seven out of 81 across 16 districts in the State. In Kolkata alone it won 95 of the 141Municipal Corporation wards. Dubbing it a victory of ma-mati-manush she now demands pre-poning the Assembly elections slated early next year.

 

Questionably, what’s the big deal about a State civic poll? Everything. Importantly, Mamata has unveiled a new brand of politics. She has shown that if one has the courage of conviction, belief in a cause and single-minded pursuit nothing can stop one from achieving one’s goal – Yes We Can. Two, it is set to change the political equations between the Congress-Trinamool, within the UPA at the Centre. Three, it is being seen as a semi-final before the crucial final State poll lap in 2011. Wherein, it could be the beginning of the end of the road for the Left.

 

Like her or hate her, but Bengal’s stormy petrel has shown nothing is impossible. From a street fighter in the early 80’s and vanquished pugilist of the 2005 Assembly polls who took on the Left single-handed, Mamata has today emerged as the beacon of change. With sheer perseverance and shrewd manipulation Bengal’s tigress has turned the "one-woman party" into a vibrant alternative force in Bengal. A mass leader who usurped her arch rival’s strength, farmers and minorities, and beat them at their own game.

 

Riding the winds of political transformation, Mamata’s triumph is set to alter equations to her advantage vis- vis the Congress and within the UPA. Not only will her bargaining power go up but she may well arm-twist the Congress to give in to all her demands, even those unjustifiable, flimsy or unnecessary. Already the Centre has acceded to her request and ordered a CBI probe into the Jhargram train mishap despite the State Government’s opposition.

 

However, Mamata also knows that she cannot always dictate terms. The Trinamool too needs the Grand Dame of Politics on her side to ensure a clear victory in the 2011 Assembly polls. With the electorate giving a hung verdict in 32 municipalities the writing is on the wall. If the TMC and Congress had aligned and fought these municipalities they would have won.

 

Thus, Mamata would need to give up her gun-boat politics and tantrums, "In this election we had to fight against the ruling Party and three to four other forces," read Congress. Behave maturely, continue being part of the UPA, abide by the coalition dharma and agree to seat-sharing with the Congress in the State polls.

 

That the need for each other’s partnership was “mutual” was also clear from Mamata’s statement saying, “I am part of the UPA.” Indicating that her party would cobble up a majority in at least 23 of the 31 municipalities where there was a hung mandate. Her words of seeking "a broad alliance against CPM" also hinted towards a post-poll tie-up with Congress after the civic boards.

 

True, her blind opposition to the CPM has driven her yo-yo like to the BJP and Congress. But now she faces the biggest challenge in her career. She knows she has been walking a razor's edge in her headlong charge against the Left and it's time to make a few changes. With eyes set on the 2011 Assembly polls, Mamata needs to mend bridges with the industry without which it would be difficult to run the State smoothly. Along with going in for an image make-over: from a rabble-rousing Opposition to a dependable Party with a vision. Given that the civic polls are a barometer for people to gauge the worth of the Left and the TMC.

 

For the Congress, W Bengal is another wake-up call. Like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bihar it has failed to make inroads among the State’s electorate and has to play second fiddle to regional players. Already, Mamata has dared the Party to decide which team, CPM or TMC, it wanted to play for. Sonia needs to rein in her State satraps and make certain they don’t rub the mercurial leader the wrong way. They will have to learn to play second fiddle to the mercurial Didi. Not a few continue to treat Mamata as a junior, notwithstanding her stellar performance. Add to this, the TMC Chief is not an easy ally. Like her ilk, she is well versed in making national parties twirl to her tune.

 

For the first time after 32 long years the powerful Left has been pushed into a corner in Bengal. With the curtain ringing down on its rule over Kolkata’s municipalities. This third consecutive match-up is a clear indication that the political momentum is with Mamata and might sweep it off Writer’s Building. A serious and timely warning for it to tighten its belt, set its house in order or else be prepared to exit the State Government.

 

Prakash Karat and Co have only themselves to blame. Post the controversial land acquisition in Singur and Nandigram, which translated into a huge poll debacle for the Left Front in the 2009 Lok Sabha election down from 62 to 22 seats it did nothing to heal the scars. Instead of taking any development or industry-related steps, Karat turned a blind eye which further alienated them from the people.

 

Also, the Left has developed alarming cracks. Today, it is on a slippery slope in Kerala and its rein may end in the next State poll.  A defeat in Bengal would be a massive setback for a Party that defied the decline of Communism world-wide to command clout. Simultaneously, it can say sayonara to dreams of putting together an anti-NDA and anti-UPA Third Front. It brand equity as a viable option as an alliance partner stands considerably diluted. Be it regional parties or the Congress and BJP.

 

All eyes are on Mamata as a new political hope in Bengal. Will she emerge as a long-term political player in the State and Centre or will her temper, tantrums and capricious ways destroy her. She needs to remember: Its easy to reach the top but difficult to retain one’s numero uno status. She has to deliver the goods. Otherwise go. A long hard battle lies in store for her. Will she make her mark?

 

For Sonia-Rahul’s Congress, it needs to get its act together. Even as exit polls show him as the people’s choice as Prime Minister he has yet to earn his spurs .If the Congress wants to go it alone in the 2014 General Elections it’s going to be tough.

 

The Left should be gracious in its defeat, cut its losses, move aside and let Assembly election be advanced. It needs to learn from its mistakes and reinvent itself. If it continues it dogmatic ways it would not only be fooling itself but worse people who believe in it. After burning its electoral fingers in 2009-2010 can it afford another defeat at the hustings? It remains to be seen if the Red brigade sphinx-like rise from the ashes.

 

Undoubtedly, history will decide what lies in store, good or bad times. But at the moment, a change is what was needed the most. All have miles to go before one of them reaches the winning Red tape and asserts: Yes we can! INFA

 

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)

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