One-and-half decade has been virtually suffocating era for West Bengal politics.
As many as 15 years in power -- after dethroning much inefficient and unpopular communists at the end of 34 years of their misrule - has in 2025 left Mamata Banerjee 'changed' and also the 'maati'/ land and perception about her amongst Manush is also transformed a lot.
Her blatant Muslim appeasement has made a Didi - an 'aapa' now. And not without good reasons !!
What's politics all about -- gross minority appeasement often compromising with basics of governance and even nation security and safety and security of women or simple election management ?
Her politics also has economic populism. The consensus is that the Trinamool Congress as a party is far worse than the fading days of the Marxists and the state chief minister will hardly embark on any major policy changes to attract investment. What only counts is votes and her continuance in office.
In her 15 years tenure as Chief Minister; Mamata has been intolerant of media criticism and has more than once justified the wrongdoers. The worst was earlier this year when she linked 'rape' of a medico to late night exposure.
She was also intolerant of the 'sensitivities' of the middle class - who had reposed utmost trust in her. In the first five year stint itself, Jadavpur University professor Ambikesh Mahapatra was arrested for circulating a cartoon about Mamata and her onetime lieutenant Mukul Roy.
She had even called some girls in Kamduni area 'Maoists' just because they complained about the lack of security.
Many such instances can be given. In 2024; the rape of a medico left her red-faced in more ways than one. But like all 'dictators'; she is hardly admitting the lapses. Rather mostly she is busy politicking and finding fault with the BJP, with Narendra Modi and otherwise she will taunt Congress but 'expect' all other opposition parties to make her prime ministerial face against Namo.
A major charge against Mamata Banerjee and her party is that her government's policies and actions were/are designed to secure the significant Muslim vote bank in West Bengal (which makes up nearly 33% of the electorate).
Specific actions cited include government doles to imams (mosque leaders), the formation of the Tarakeshwar Development Board under a Muslim leader, and government orders regarding Durga Puja idol immersion timings which were later struck down by the Calcutta High Court.
But this "appeasement" has today led to a demographic shift and the consolidation of a Hindu vote bank in favor of the BJP. It could go to BJP's credit that its base has expanded in the state; but in reality Mamata's blatant pro-Muslim slant has marginalised Congress and the communists.
Neither the Left nor Congress could win any seat in 2021 assembly polls and 'zero score' by the communists was something unthinkable in the well-known onetime red-bastion.
Mamata Banerjee often says:
“Some accuse me of Muslim appeasement. My question to them is whether loving Hindus means you have to hate Muslims. I respect and love all communities and religions. This country belongs to everybody.”
How many people really believe in that is extremely doubtful.
About Trinamool Congress in power and the adverse fallout in governance and the well penetrated 'syndicate' culture and goorythinndaism; residents in West Bengal say -- "Anti social elements always try to get into ruling party in every state. This was the case with the CPI-M earlier. But in Trinamool; the story is different; the party is made out of anti-socials where few gentlemen have also been given a space".
In 2011 when the communists were ousted; people in rural Bengal also had heaved a sigh of relief. They thought they found freedom back. The 'local committees' of Left parties used to decide on everything to whom to sell agri products and even whom will young people marry.
But under Mamata; this only got 'legitimised' and is almost a rule.
Gradually people are realising the Mamata-led regime has turned more like the Left if not even more.
This has opened avenues for the BJP.
The drawbacks of the Mamata camp today is -- the good old 'Lal-party (Left)' malady.
She and her loyalists have started taking the vote from the people especially poor and Muslims 'as her right'. The Marxism under Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has been now replaced by 'the maxims of individualism'. Here what she/aapa says is always right.
What her nephew Abhishek Banerjee or a few Muslim leaders say -- always right. Self-interest and self-ego have flourished and crept into the politics of the Trinamool Congress.
ends
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