2021 Nandigram’s Seat – A Battle of Ego or Masterstroke of Mamata Banerjee
TMC Leader SuvenduAdhikari cut off all ties with TMC and joins BJP in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a public rally organized at West Midnapore on 19th December 2020.
Retaliating in her classical style, West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee surprises by announcing herself as the contestant from Nandigram along with South Kolkata’s Bhawanipore for 2021 State Assembly poll at Nandigram rally.
This has popped up a high voltage question as to why Nandigram?
Suvendu Adhikari – who himself and his entire family served across Midnapore (East & West) under TMC over the years earned him not only the face of Nandigram but also the name “Adhikari” itself is enough to grasp the entire Midnapore under its spell. This further ensures his seat for Nandigram even after switching to BJP.
Later following the footstep of brother SuvenduAdhikari, SomenduAdhikari also switched over to BJP on 1st January 2021. TMC MP Sisir Adhikari (who remains with TMC) had not delivered any public comments after his son joined BJP. As the war of words raged TMC labeled the entire Adhikari family as “Cheatingbaaz” (traitor) and compared the family to the dubious historical figure Mir-zafar who had betrayed the Nawab of Bengal during the battle of Plassey with the East India company. 
Nandigram – it can be recalled that 14 villagers were killed in police firing under the Left front Government’s forcibly acquiring fertile land for a special economic zone for a chemical hub of Indonesia’s Salim group at Nandigram in East Midnapore. Mamata Banerjee then jumped into the Nandigram issue with a slogan ‘MaaMatiManush’ that worked positively to rally against Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. The ruthless killings aided Mamta Banerjee in mobilizing the intellectual class of well-known writers, artists, activists like Mahasweta Devi, Aparna Sen, Madha Patkar against the forceful land acquisition. This led to the rise of Mamata Banerjee to power in 2011.
Again in 2008 at Singur, Banerjee emerged as a savior for farmers against Tata Motor’s forcefully Land acquisition for Nano Project. She even held an indefinite hunger strike to force Ratan Tata to withdraw his Nano project in October 2008.
Within a month Mamata Banerjee gained attention from Lalgarh Movement. It was time to get the support of the poor tribal Adivasis. Lalgarh came into the media limelight in November 2008 when the Maoist- backed People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) mobilized Adivasi villagers against the police. The bonding with the Maoists helped the Trinamool in Maoist Supporters of Jangalmahal. The Maoists regularly targeted the CPM cadres and more than 200 party members were killed. The repeated attacks by the Maoists against the CPM cadres led to their departure from the villages leading to the fall of the Left Front’s feared machinery in the villages in Purulia, Bankura, and West Midnapore districts. The Trinamool reciprocated by demanding the withdrawal of the joint security forces from Jangalmahal. Mamata has even promised to release all political prisoners (including Maoists).
Also in 2021, farmers are no more scared or angry about the Land issue in Nandigram. And in Singur, farmers are unhappy as there are no takers of their infertile land.
Ashok Jana, a Golgappa seller of Contai aged nearly 40 said, ‘Situation is worst, we want peace back. We did not get any support from Suvendu Adhikari till now. However he switches from TMC that doesn’t impact the party, we believe TMC will win the 2021 assembly election and support us.’
When asked about the current situation, Sujit Samanta, a resident of Tekhali, Nandigram said, ‘I am a hell-bent follower of Suvendu Adhikari. Nandigram will breathe free only if Suvendu Adhikari is present no matter what Party he joins. I would not comment on anything, you will get the answer about what progress he did to Nandigram’
Meanwhile, a TMC leader Anupam Hazra has been given BJP’s National Secretary Post in September. Rahul Sinha was naturally upset by the team’s decision. ‘I have served BJP as a soldier for 40 years. This is the reward I got for serving BJP from the very initial stage. There can be no greater misfortune than this. This time I will decide my future course of action’ said Hazra.
There were rumors that he could leave BJP. But Central Leaders tactfully handled the situation. Rahul Sinha and Dilip Ghosh were the pillars of BJP in West Bengal. But gradually it seemed to dwindle after Mukul Roy Joined BJP. Dilip Ghosh’s conflict with Mukul Roy was publically seen many a time, especially with the organization of Durga Puja last year. Dilip Ghosh was hell bent on no political party organizes such event. But Mukul Roy claimed BJP would organize Durga Puja.
Despite Central’s effort of setting leaders together & instruction to walk together could not melt their differences. Still, tension exists. However, neither side has opened their mouth in front of the media &Dilip Ghosh was seen visiting Hospital to greet Mukul Roy. Similarly, Mukul Roy stated the rumored conflict as baseless.
Even in the recent frame, a conflict between Dilip Ghosh and Suvendu Adhikari has been witnessed. Suvendu is getting special importance since he enrolled in BJP cornering Dilip Ghosh. Although Suvendu has been talking about working together from the beginning, in every meeting, Suvendu is seen praising Dilip Ghosh. But the real picture seems to be different. A few days ago, Suvendu was supposed to join Dilip Ghosh’s event in Howrah where he did not turn up. He indicated that even he is new to the team, his importance is not less. Mukul Roy was also supposed to be present at the event, but he left before Dilip Ghosh arrived. From this, it is evident that Dilip Ghosh is having a cold war with Suvendu Adhikari.
In terms of the Last Lok Sabha elections, BJP was leading in 121 assembly seats in the state. BJP won 16 seats in Loksabha. After this victory, those who joined BJP are considered as ‘New’ by some sections of the BJP who were with BJP from the early stage. They are the ones who are raising their voices stating that the leaders who fought for the last Lok Sabha elections should be the candidates in the 121 seats that are ahead. And those who joined after the last Lok Sabha will fight for the remaining 163 seats and strive for victory. This indicates that even before coming to power, factionalism has reached such a stage that old leaders are left out with deprivation.
On 3rd February 2021, two BJP factions clashed openly at Canning’s Raibaghini intersection in the South 24 Parganas district. The program was organized by Canning West No 1 zone. Allegedly, the president of this constituency Tapas Chatterjee had arranged this meeting with a few of his favorite leaders, carrying out all programs with the just joined BJP leaders. The Mandal Youth Morcha, Mohila Morcha, KrishakMorcha were not invited. This led Mohila Morcha to protest at the place with placards causing quarrels between two groups to throw chairs at each other. The matter was handled by Canning Police with the rise of tension. Two BJP groups lodged a written complaint against each other, yet nothing had been heard from district BJP leaders about the same.
Factionalism has also been seen in TMC. Ever since TMC took the assistance of Poll Strategist – Prashant Kishore, seasoned TMC leaders went on their ego trip. They are unable to accept that someone who himself has never contested an election is going to teach politics to seasoned politicians , resulting in TMC leaders’ exodus. Nevertheless, Kishore’s enticing ideas namely “Chai Pe Charcha” for Modi, “PhirEkBaarNitish Kumar” campaigning can hardly be overlooked. Even reports from “Didi Ke Bolo” (tell Didi – an outreach program) will be taken into account for the elections ahead.
Alongside these cascading phases, Mamata Banerjee’s “Duare Sarkar” – 11 state-run welfare schemes seem to play a major role in an upcoming poll which drew mass attention by ensuring people get government-led services at their doorstep. Over 2000 beneficiaries are seen queuing for availing the services near each camp set up in all Panchayat and Municipal areas from 10 am-4 pm under 5 phase offering Kanyashree (cash transfer for a girl child to retain in school & restrain from child marriages); Khadya Sathi (Ensuring food security); Ruposhree (one time grant of Rs. 25k for daughters marriage of poor family); Sikkhashree (one time grant to SC, ST students till class 8 to combat dropouts); Swasthya Sathi (Rs. 5 lakh health scheme per family), which precisely emerged as a boon in current pandemic phase. Though opposition parties especially the BJP criticized it as a last-minute outreach program for the Polls ahead. To which Mamata Banerjee clarified as being the 3rd stage of the district review meeting. Nearly 2.5 crores of people have visited the camps set up under Duare Sarkar Scheme.
With the BJP declaring Suvendu Adhikari as it’s contestant from Nandigram, it would be an interesting battle between TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee’s masterstroke of herself contesting from Nandigram against heavy weight turncoat Suvendu Adhikari. This makes battleground Nandigram as the most closely watched contest in this high voltage election season.
Photo & Videography: Arpan Das
Information & Content: MousumiDiyasi