Saffron juggernaut pushes sworn enemies closer

By Shubhadeep Choudhury

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Will the CPM-led Left Front and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of West Bengal, considered bitter foes, ever join hands to stall the progress of the BJP?

Such an alliance—quite unthinkable at this point in time—has been mooted by more than one speaker at a condolence meeting held here recently to pay respects to departed CPI leader Prabodh Panda, former member of the Rajya Sabha.

CPM state committee member Rabin Deb, TMC leader and West Bengal Power Minister Sovandev Chattopadhyay, Samir Putatunda of the Party for Democratic Socialism (PDS) were among the speakers who felt the TMC and the Left should come together to stop the BJP juggernaut.

Chattopadhyay was the most outspoken of the lot. “The party that wants to break apart the country in the name of religion must be stopped. Some of us here belong to opposing political parties, but history will not forgive us if we do not forget our petty differences and unite against the reactionary forces,” he said.

G Devarajan, general secretary of the Forward Bloc, also recently said he was in favour of all secular parties coming under one umbrella for the next year’s Lok Sabha elections. In a social media post, Devarajan said the Modi government had scant regard for democratic and constitutional rights of the people. In view of this, Mamata Banerjee’s call of all non-BJP parties coming together must be extended support, he said. Forward Bloc is a member of the Left Front. Devarajan, though, said the views expressed by him were personal and did not reflect the party’s position.

Ritabrata may join TMC

Expelled CPM leader and Rajya Sabha member Ritabrata Banerjee may join the ruling Trinamool Congress. An indication in this regard emerged when Banerjee met TMC supremo and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee during her recent trip to Delhi. Ever since he got expelled from the party on disciplinary grounds, Ritabrata has been meticulously cultivating Mamata Banerjee.

In his new avatar as an MP without any party affiliation, Ritabrata has become a champion of West Bengal’s interests in the Rajya Sabha. Mamata apparently does not want Ritabrata in the TMC right now because the time allocated to the TMC in the Upper House will remain the same even if the party has an additional member.

On the other hand, as an unattached member, Ritabrata gets to speak in the House. It is learnt that if Mamata is happy with Ritabrata’s performance in the Rajya Sabha, he will get a TMC ticket for a Lok Sabha seat when the elections are held next year.

Asansol Imam and Babul Supriyo

The Imam of the riot-torn Asansol, who overcame personal grief and urged his co-religionists to exercise restraint, has made a deep impression on people and won accolades from all quarters. Babul Supriyo, BJP MP from Asansol and Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, has also saluted “Imam saab” and said he spoke to the cleric and would have met him had he not been prevented from going to Asansol by the police.

Supriyo’s claim has been challenged by people who are in the know of things. The Imam apparently had clearly told the media that Supriyo never tried to reach him.

Is Governor partisan?

West Bengal Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi is being accused of singing to the tunes of BJP. The Governor, who visited the riot-affected Asansol and Raniganj areas on Saturday, met local BJP leaders during his visit. Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said the Governor had openly started flaunting his association with the BJP. “If he goes on like this, people will start doubting his neutrality,” Chatterjee alleged.

CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty said the Governor should be careful about his actions since he was occupying a constitutional post. “It would have been alright if the Governor had held an all-party meeting in Asansol. But instead of doing that, he only met local BJP functionaries,” he said.