Updated: December 19, 2020 8:16:35 am
Union Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah (File photo)
On the ground floor of the West Bengal State Government Employees Federation office in the city of Midnapore, near the ground where the Union Minister of the Interior, Amit Shah, is scheduled to address a public meeting on Saturday, a group of TMC workers sat on plastic chairs, their eyes glued to the TV. What they saw was a series of leaders leaving their party.
The low buzz within that small office captured the mood within the ruling party in the state: despair, anger, speculation, criticism and confusion.
After heavyweight leader Suvendu Adhikari and MLA Jitendra Tiwari gave up the party, the exodus continued on Friday with two more MLAs, Silbhadra Dutta and Banashree Maity, and the secretary general of the minority cell Kabirul Islam walked away from the TMC.
And while there was a twist late Friday night, with Tiwari stating that he is still at the TMC, the verdict at the Midnapore party office was clear: time for introspection.
“Can’t you see what’s happening? It is true that Suvendu is a great leader. The party should have resolved their complaints. So many people leave. But I continue with the game. I have seen Mamata Banerjee and I believe that she can overcome this crisis. There’s time. But it is true that there are many complaints and the BJP is taking advantage of them, ”said Sukhen Samaddar, a TMC worker.
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Like Samaddar, TMC workers and leaders have been brave. But they also acknowledge that Shah’s visit may be a key milestone in the territorial dispute that has developed with just a few months to go until the Assembly elections.
Shah is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata late at night with Adhikari, who has been given Category Z security by the Center, before arriving in Midnapore for the meeting. On Sunday, he is scheduled to visit Visva Bharati in Shantiniketan followed by a tour in Bolpur.
In a tweet posted in Bengali, Shah said that he is “looking forward to interacting with my West Bengal brothers and sisters.” Meanwhile, TMC management held an emergency meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence.
With a photo of Banerjee hanging on the wall behind him, Subrata Sarkar, 67, district secretary general in Paschim Midnapore, said: “We ask everyone not to panic. Suvendu is a popular leader and many of his ‘Anugamis’ (supporters) will leave the party. It is also true that leaders and workers have complaints against PK (Prashant Kishor). But like you, we are waiting tomorrow … to see who joins and what impact it will have on the party. “
At another TMC office about 1 km away, Nirmalya Chakraborty, councilor and district vice president of the Trinamool Youth Congress, which is headed by Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek, echoed the party line: “Good trip”.
“They became who they are through Mamata Banerjee and the party. Those MLA and others that you will see leaving tomorrow were exposed by PK and his team. They know they won’t get tickets at the Assembly polls, ”said Nirmalya, who was also glued to the television.
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The assembled workers agreed. “The main leader Mukul Roy left the party, nothing happened. Suvendu is leaving the party, nothing will happen, ”said Sheikh Rocky, a 24-year-old party worker.
In Mirabazar, a 20-minute drive away, the CPM party office remained open, with only three people inside, all watching television. “We are looking and laughing. See how leaders leave TMC. Both TMC and BJP are misleading the people of Bengal. But now, TMC has found its match, “said Mohammed Jallauddin, 60, a party worker.
On Thursday, incidentally, CPM’s Haldia MLA Tapasi Mondol had hinted that he would join the BJP.
Back in the heart of Midnapore city, several BJP flags have appeared. Shah is expected to visit the Siddheshwari Kali Mandir in Habibpur first. He is also scheduled to have lunch with a farmer’s family in the village of Balichuri along with the leaders of the BJP. After the public meeting, you will return to Kolkata and meet with the state leaders of the BJP.
At Shah’s meeting place, the Midnapore College grounds, BJP leaders and police personnel gathered in groups. A treasure that appeared on Friday read: ‘Itihaser Dorgoray Medinipur’ (Midnapur on the threshold of history).
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