Even after 13 years, Mamata Banerjee's charm with the mantra 'Mother, Land, and People' continues to enchant West Bengal. Neither the Sandeshkhali incident nor the CAA found traction in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 'Didi' single-handedly neutralized both arrows from BJP’s quiver. Doing even better than the alliance of Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh, she managed to pull off a massive feat in Bengal, all on her own and without the aid of Congress or Left parties. Let’s delve into those strategies that pulverized every move by the BJP, not only saving her stranglehold from weakening but also causing BJP to fail in repeating its 2019 performance, reflecting in the reduced seat count. Even the Left and Congress were summarily dismissed by Didi in Bengal.
1-Solo Flight
Mamata Banerjee opted not to share seats with any alliance parties, convinced that TMC alone was enough for Bengal. A merger with Congress might have compelled them to support TMC on moral grounds on certain issues, but Mamata knew that alliance could make her vulnerable. Despite incessant demands for a caste-based census by Rahul Gandhi, such politics had not fully blossomed in Bengal where OBC reservation is still limited to 17% instead of the maximum 27%. Mamata surmised that Congress's involvement could resurrect itself in the state. Nevertheless, she generously offered two seats to Rahul Gandhi knowing well that this could have earned him at least two MPs from Bengal. Without forming an alliance, Congress ultimately had to settle for one seat, while TMC reaped benefits in constituencies where BJP leaders emerged.
2-Organizational Strength
The most robust organizations claim power in Bengal. For about 22 years, CPI(M)'s dominance was evident. Today, TMC offices stand firm across every locality mimicking government departments, dictating when legal complaints can be lodged, and where societal and familial disputes can be resolved. This close interaction between party workers and citizens implies that for any work pending in government departments, the nod first comes from the party’s office, ensuring swift execution. Unless BJP penetrates this local stronghold as TMC did, conquering West Bengal remains a distant dream.
3-Staying True to 'Mother, Land, and People'
Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal and head of the All India Trinamool Congress, coined this slogan to obliterate the Left Front government and the political entities. Using this mantra, she has erected a formidable wall obstructing BJP's entry into the state. The slogan, made iconic prior to the 2009 general elections, inspired repeated success for Banerjee and her party. Each word represents 'motherland', 'state', and 'people,' respectively, ensuring that neither Sandeshkhali nor CAA-UCS could influence the electorate. Basirhat, a constituency covering Sandeshkhali, witnessed BJP candidate and face of the Sandeshkhali movement, Rekha Patra, leaving no mark, nor did any other parliamentary region feel the impact.
4-Acumen in Grasping Public Pulse
Currently, no leader in Bengal matches Mamata's grasp of public sentiment, which is precisely why BJP continues to face defeat. Suvendu Adhikari, once second in command at TMC, also holds limited understanding of Bengal’s political fabric. Despite powerful positions within BJP, he faced defeats in both assembly and local body elections. Mamata’s campaigning against CAA portrays her experience, assuring that no government could enforce it in Bengal while alive. Though this stance could have been damaging in areas populated by Rajvanshi and Matua communities, the election outcomes reaffirmed Didi's pre-eminence over issues like refugee citizenship and infiltration. Central ministers like Nishith Pramanik failed to secure votes even with the promise to grant citizenship to Hindu refugees from Bangladesh. Ananta Maharaj, a leader among the Rajvanshi community, was appointed as an MP by the BJP but could not influence the election's outcome in Cooch Behar.
