Bengal Panchayat Polls: Mamata Taking Campaign Plunge Reflects Ground Reality

Kolkata: Opposition parties in West Bengal have been able to file nominations for a good percentage of the nearly 74,000 seats at stake for the three-tier panchayat elections on July 8.  This marks a departure from 2018, when a weak, disorganised Opposition had to be witness to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) activists resorting to malpractices in connivance with officials, intimidation and violence to get party nominees elected unopposed. Thirty-four thousand seats, which then meant nearly 45% the total number of seats at stake, saw no contest in 2018.

This time round, several factors have aided the Opposition parties; the foremost being that in the intervening five years, they have been able to regroup themselves and build up resistance. Though TMC activists did try this time, too, and could to an extent prevent Opposition nominees from filing nominations and forcing withdrawal of filed nominations. But, the strong resistance offered by a better placed Opposition has worked.

The other factors that helped the Opposition this time are: strong intervention by courts [the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court] to ensure deployment of Central paramilitary forces to the full extent needed at the Centre’s cost, a proactive Governor who has taken the unusual step of opening a control room at Raj Bhavan, intra-party differences over TMC top leadership’s ‘approved official list’ resulting in disgruntled workers filing nominations and refusing to withdraw.

Finally, the widespread resentment of large sections of the rural electorate over the corruption of TMC cadres, where extortions and demand for ‘cut-money’ from direct benefit transfers remain rampant.

In the evolving situation in the state, certain observations and TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s moves warrant mention.  Overruling the State Election Commission (SEC), which had rejected the nomination papers of 82 Indian Secular Front (ISF) candidates, Justice Amrita Sinha of Calcutta High Court observed that unopposed election cannot be a matter of right of a person.

Governor C V Bose, himself an ex-IAS officer, has said he is visiting places where violence is erupting as “I am getting from Nabanna filtered reports, which are devoid of facts”.  Bose has held SEC, headed by Rajiva Sinha, a former chief secretary, responsible for the violence, which has so far claimed about 10 lives. Reacting and apparently referring to the Raj Bhavan control room, Mamata Banerjee has accused the Governor of trying to run a parallel administration.

This is the third panchayat poll during the TMC regime. Banerjee herself had campaigned in 2013. “Given the rise in her stature as Chief Minister and importance in national politics”, she excused herself in 2018 and left the campaign responsibility to party leaders. But, this time round, the TMC supremo has decided to undertake campaigns herself in “strategically important and politically sensitive areas”.

According to seasoned political watchers, this is being done for public consumption. Also, perhaps, Banerjee is unable to depend on party leaders.

In the coming days, Banerjee would be seen covering as much of the rural areas as possible. She began on June 26 with Cooch Behar, a Rajbanshi community-dominated Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stronghold. Addressing a rally, she told the audience to remember that even if her party was defeated in the panchayat polls, and that the TMC ministry would remain in office and, therefore, they should not worry.

Political analysts see in this observation Mamata Banerjee’s reading of the change occurring on the ground; people are annoyed with TMC cadres and the Opposition having recouped, if not fully, the space they had lost to TMC.

Of late, there have been desertions from TMC to the Congress in some districts. The Chief Minister’s confidante and Birbhum district strongman Anubrata Mondol, a key election financier, is in Tihar Jail on several charges. A dominant section of the Matua community, electorally relevant in about five districts, is supporting BJP. The Centre’s prolonged brake on release of funds for the 100-day rural job scheme and Grameen Awas Yojana has created a piquant situation for TMC. Dues from New Delhi have exceeded Rs 7,000 crore. Her move to engage MGNREGS job card holders in state PWD projects has not worked.

A more worrying reason for TMC is the suspected rethink in a section of Muslims about their practice of “wholesale vote” for TMC in all elections as a matter of routine. Muslims account for close to 30% of the electorate. This rethink may be attributed to the community’s apprehensions about BJP and the absence of an alternative that they could look forward to.

The first sign of Banerjee’s fears and suspicion was visible at the last Red Road Eid congregation where she fervently pleaded with Muslims to remain with TMC. The Left-Congress combine has made itself visible through joint and individual public programmes. A number of new youth and student leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have made a mark in agitation programmes. After a long gap, the Left-Congress alliance is visible on social media. Straightforward appeals and intelligently coined slogans form part of the campaigns targeting widespread corruption during the TMC rule.

Also adding to TMC’s woes is the slow but steady rise of ISF’s MLA Naushad Siddiqui, who talks of social change and preference for non-BJP, non-TMC forces. The tie-up with the Left and the Congress for the 2021 Assembly election bears out his second point. After a rally at Esplanade in Kolkata on January 21 last, Naushad was arrested “on attempt to murder charges” and had to spend 41 days in jail. This has caused resentment in the community.

Mohammed Yahya, president of Bengal Imams Association and Welfare Trust, told NewsClick: “I myself and many like me were not well disposed toward Naushad. But, him being forced to spend 41 days in jail on charges yet to be established, has certainly not gone down well. People have become sympathetic to him. His acceptance among young Muslims is visible, I have learnt. In general, the community is disenchanted with Mamata for two reasons – social and political.”

Airing the resentment of the Muslim community, he said, “On occasions that are socially important, examinations are scheduled, ignoring our request to adjust the dates. Also, she does not allow Muslims to grow politically; responsible positions are not assigned to Muslims showing promise and commitment. She liberally inducts BJP leaders in TMC; example Babul Supriyo, who has also been made a minister, despite his suspected involvement as Asansol MP in an incident in which a Muslim youth was a victim. This was a talking point for many days within the community.”

Admitting that TMC has introduced several welfare schemes for Muslims, Yahya said, “We know she has introduced several welfare schemes. But a time comes, when the appeal of welfare schemes wears out and stronger grievances force a rethink”, adding “that’s how I see it”.

A situation-check revealed that in South 24 Parganas district, reckoned as a stronghold of TMC, the Left-Congress alliance has been able to file nominations for 52% of the seats, according to CPI(M)’s district secretary Shamik Lahiri.

“We had to resist attempts to scare away our nominees. We are being cautious about July 8, the polling day when TMC netas (leaders) will try to prevent our supporters from casting their votes. There are signs of a rethink on the part of Muslims, Lahiri told NewsClick.

In Birbhum district, the absence of Anubrata Mondol appears to have affected the morale of the TMC rank and file. Mamata Banerjee has given charge to one Sheikh Kajal but TMC people are suspicious about his credentials.

The Left Front-Congress alliance has been able to file nominations for over 60% of gram panchayat seats and 75% of panchayat samiti seats. “We could not do much for ZP seats. Police siding with TMC is a disadvantage for us, but we hope to fare better than in 2018 because people want change. We have to be on our guard on the voting day, CPI (M)’s district secretary Goutam Ghosh said.

In Cooch Behar district, the Left and its partners have been able to file nominations of over 70% of the gram panchayat and panchayat samiti seats. It is, of course, much lower for ZP seats.

TMC leader Udayan Guha, son of former Forward Bloc minister Kamal Guha, has emerged as the ‘Anubrata Mondol of Cooch Behar’. TMC’s disgruntled workers and Independents also queered the pitch. “We will resist TMC’s bid to prevent our supporters from exercising their right to franchise on July 8”, Ananta Roy, CPI(M)’s district secretary, told NewsClick.

Hafiz Alam Sairani, state Congress vice-president, whose political base is in Uttar Dinajpur, is of the view that if their leaders are able to ensure participation in voting by their supporters, there is a possibility of TMC losing quite a number of seats at the lower level. The chances of the Left bagging some ZPs are bright. “People are shifting away from TMC; Mamata is trying hard to prevent that message from spreading,” he said.

BJP’s top brass, led by president Sukanta Mazumdar, is also campaigning actively. But, it seems the party is seeing this election as preparatory to the 2024 Lok Sabha election. In Darjeeling (first two tiers, no ZP) and areas with concentration of Matuas, the BJP may bag seats, say informed quarters.    

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Kolkata.