Mamata Banerjee may be facing her life's most challenging electoral battle in circa 2026. But 12 years back in New Delhi - she had seen the indifference of crowd and what happens when certain political plans boomerang.
On March 12, 2014 - she faced the mirror on what could happen to a mass leader if the local population decided to turn away their face. Twin factors worked against her that day. These factors are politically important even today - especially for her Do or Die battle against the BJP.
Beating TMC in West Bengal Bengal would be a major and historic strategic win for the Lotus party in 2026.
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| The Statesman report Page 1 (March 13, 2014) |
In 2014, most non-BJP and non-Congress parties knew the chances of return of the UPA was very slim. Arvind Kejriwal dreamt of becoming India's Prime Minister and he took on Narendra Modi in Varanasi. TMC has been always an over ambitious party and their leader - a mercurial mascot - known for overestimating her own capacity.
She wanted to launch herself 'nationally' and hence organised a rally at capital's spacious Ram Lila Ground.
But two issues exposed hollowness of her big claims. One -- Nepotism. Anna Hazare was upset because she had decided to field her nephew Abhishek Banerjee for that year's parliamentary polls.
Secondly, Corruption-Nexus. Hazare was also unhappy as the Trinamool Congress had announced or was seriously considering a "tie up" with AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha -- against whom there were number of corruption cases. Empty chairs greeted her at the Ram Lila ground.
Since then, she has never tried another 'national launch' either in Delhi or in any other part of the country.
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| March 12, 2014 - Mamata's biggest Flop Show - 'Fish Fry Journalism' forgot |
A known crowd puller - that she was; on that 'eventless' day stood almost alone on the stage of the spacious Ram Lila Ground. She and her team wasted no time to put the entire blame on Mukul Roy for poor organising. Nevertheless, he had put up a brave face --
"If we wished we could have filled the Ramlila Maidan with people from Bengal".
A spin was built up.
That the March 12 (2014) show was Anna Hazare's show and not her national ambition. Such display of sheer opportunism is nothing new for her. She went a step further. Never short of giving excuses. Mamata had said while rich parties can spend lakhs and crores, her was a poor party.
A party of Maa, Mati, Manush -- whose "strength is our commitment".
Will March 12th, 2014 disastrous show now greet her on April 23 and 29 --- The answer lies in the ballot box - read EVM.
Her quiz master colleagues may have already drafted a May 4 (2026) statement against Gyanesh Kumar and the EVMs.
About March 12 (2014) -- we can share another anecdote. On that day former Army chief Gen V K Singh had called on Anna Hazare. How much of 'BJP and Narendra Modi politics' figured in the deliberations is not known.
West Bengal’s socio-political fabric stands at a critical juncture.
The voting on April 23 and 29 will decide 'future' of the state and also try resolve issues.
For instance, whether the state’s politics will 'shift' modestly or at a reasonable space ... toward a more right-wing orientation that will uphold Moditva and also Hindutva-backed nationalism ... ?
Will this come potentially at the expense of the Muslim community ?
Or whether the state’s politics will remain centrist, pro-Bangladeshi infiltrators, pro-Muslim and as they say Sickular ?
On the campaign front, there has been a bit of incoherence in Trinamool's strategy-drawing.
In contrast, the BJP is focusing on the Hindu majority’s concerns over the growing Muslim population share and alleged large-scale illegal migration from Bangladesh.
Amit Shah, BJP's self proclaimed Chanakya and now even referred to by that name (in lighter vein) by Prianka Gandhi, has described the alleged infiltrators as “termites”.
Welcome to the poll season of West Bengal.
This facet is also crucial.
According to EC data, around 1,300 incidents of violence took place in Bengal after 2021 polls. In between 2021 and 2026, there were other major mishaps that expose Mamata's misgovernance. - Murshidabad violence
- RG Kar rape case, and Sandeshkhali unrest
These incidents could sway voters away from Mamata giving a huge advantage to the BJP.
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