Shiban Khaibri
shibankhaibri@gmail.com
“We know that no one ever seizes power with the
intention of relinquishing it , tyranny is a habit , it has its own
organic life , it develops finally into a disease, blood and power intoxicate;
return of the human dignity, repentance and regeneration become impossible.”
Most of the countrymen must be celebrating the power of ballot , especially in much sensitive West Bengal where the saffron surge – the saffron wave – has swept away Trinnamool Congress by 203 to 84. Majority of Bengalis must , therefore, be heaving a sigh of relief over seeing a dispensation clung to the seat of power for the last 15 years, thriving on extreme levels of appeasement of vote bank even at the cost of the genuine rights of the majority community coupled with threats, intimidation, and coercion of the genuine dissent and opposition — one-upmanship , allegations of corruption and mismanagement and the like, having been thrown out by the matured but frightened, fatigued, wearisome and desperate Bengalis . Unprecedented , the levels of anger, the resolution to bring in the change , the determination to brave threats and reprisals , the voter turnout this time has been historic as it has broken all time records – a massive 93% – more than 11% as compared to 2021 Assembly elections wherein BJP had secured a vote percentage of 38.15 against a decisive 48.02 of the TMC . In other words, the gap of 9.87% has not only been achieved this time but surpassed by 1.13%. It is worth noting , again , that on May 2, the re-polling in one of the troubled places – Falta in 24 Parganas District, Hindu voters especially the women, were allegedly openly threatened of dire consequences if they dared to cast their vote resulting in massive protests by the aggrieved voters who were assured of security by the central forces. Again , taking into view several electoral offences, the polling in large number of 285 polling stations of Falta including auxiliary polling stations , fresh polling is now ordered by the ECI on May 21, 2026 between 7 am to 6 pm and the counting scheduled to take place on May 24, 2026. So, the constitutional authority — the ECI– ensured only free, fair, transparent and fearless process of polling in the state irrespective of the wishful thinking of some people treating their particular areas as their fiefdoms , or the arrogance of “pitting” Pushpa against the “Singham” referring to deputing an IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma to help in containing the element of ruffianism during polling. This event is symbolic of how the elections were treated by the Party in power — assembly, parliamentary or the Panchayat – where large scale violence was treated as one of the inseparable constituents. This time, no incident of major violence , particularly no death took place – a great achievement of the ECI. This time, twin ”SS ” factors played a considerable part in largely conducting transparent polling. One is Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the other is Security Forces in the absence of which the much aspired for Poribortan or a change would have not been as spectacular and unprecedented. Add to it and admit it without reservation, that Hindu awakening, even if belated, played an unprecedented part.
The citadel of the Trinamool Congress, therefore, has finally got demolished the same way its predecessor, the Left Front was defeated by the Trinamool wave spearheaded by Mamta Bannerjee. When she, on May 20, 2011 registered a historic win and became the CM, this writer, through these very columns , had attributed the splendid victory to hard work, simplicity, honesty, and a spirit of service by Mamta Bannerjee , clad in a simple cotton saree and wearing a Hawai chappel. Hopes were high and great expectations from her as she raised three slogans – ”Joy Bongla,” “Ma, Matti, Manush ” and “Khela Hobe ” . The slogan of “Ma, Matti and Manush” was expected to fructify into regaining of the great Bengali culture, traditions, values and correcting historical wrongs and its manipulated recordings besides correcting economic and social inequalities and making Bengal an industrial and manufacturing hub again. With the passage of time, the TMC rule proved no better than the Left Front rule , in fact , it turned out to be the worst. Each day witnessed an accelerated spree of Muslim appeasement to an extent of having soft corner for hundreds of thousands of illegal Bangladesh immigrants and later Myanmar Muslim immigrants too. Mamta Ji never spoke a word against atrocities and persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and now the ”tremors” of the defeat of the TMC are reported to have been felt there too.
The CAA and NRC were openly declared never to be implemented in West Bengal by Mamta Bannerjee calling the process as a “trap” and promoting discrimination. Keeping NRC in deep freezer for all times , unprecedented levels of demographic invasions and creating imbalances by ensuring those illegal entrants in hundreds of thousands did not leave West Bengal and instead remained a fortified vote bank coupled with facilitating unbridled influx of illegal immigrants , was the aim. The extent of going that far, for the appeasement and vote Bank interests, Budget for Madrasa education for 2026-27 was Rs. 5714 crore which includes welfare scholarships and related infrastructure . It is worth noting that the Budgetary allocation of this whooping extent in West Bengal is higher than the Union government’s national allocation for minority affairs. No concern appears to be there for any fiscal priorities and balance but all for vote bank appeasement , trying to breaking all records. Noteworthy , on the other hand, is that for Science and Research it was just a paltry of Rs.82 crore only, for Information Technology Rs. 217 crore and Industries and Commerce Rs.1400 crore only.
The BJP having won more than double the seats as much of the TMC and at the cost of repetition, Bengali people especially the majority community, are now feeling having got emancipated. If we deduct the element of fear, coercion and intimidation which this time was absolutely nominal, thanks to the most efficient and transparent conducting of elections by the ECI, as compared to horribly massive in 2021 elections, more seats would have been in the kitty of the BJP. Looking to which levels the state of West Bengal was plummeted into as regards various sensitive and important variables, it will not be an overstatement to admit that the BJP did not need West Bengal in as much as West Bengal urgently and desperately needed the BJP . It was a situation akin to SoS.
While all accolades and laurels are due to the ECI which, after conducting the most crucial and important exercise of SIR , ensured that people exercised their right to franchise without fear, reprisals, intimidation and physical violence , caused considerable number of security personnel to be deployed to ensure free and fair polling. At the same time , the resolute determination of the people to bring in ” Poriborton ” or a change of government and the ” risk ” to come out of homes to cast votes was firmly taken by them . Matra Shakti – the power of Bhartia Nari – was not only vivid but superbly united and organised during the course of campaigning by the candidates especially witnessed in public meetings addressed by the PM, HM, CMs of UP and Assam and others. Why not, incidents of Sandeshkhali, Murshidabad , Malda, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Burdwan, Nadia etc, had shaken their confidence in a government that was found wanting in providing succour , fair treatment and justice .
Speaking a traditional popular greeting of Jai Shri Ram which is otherwise a devotional invocation also was considered an ”offence” in the land of Shree Ram Krishan Paramhans, Swami Vivekanand, Aurobindo Gosh, Netaji Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Bankim Chander Chattopadyay, Ishwar Chander Vidyasagar and the like. There are many illustrious and iconic Bengali names , the list thereof being too long to be even very briefly mentioned in these lines , who have made Bengal to be known for cultural and traditional grandeur , stood immensely disregarded by acts of violence, religious bigotry, intimidation and commanding a slavery like obedience to one single party. How ludicrous it looks that on the other hand, feigning love for democracy and lamenting for dilution of Federal Democracy by TMC leadership were witnessed haplessly. Who is not accustomed with the well known Bengal Renaissance along with political awakening , excelling in art , literature, academics coupled with a pioneering role in film making and great part played by Bengal in transforming cinema from silent films to sound based technology . Having given that prelude , it is a tragedy that just for capturing power, such a great land of learning, art, cultural movement, political awakening , social reforms and a top most industrialised area met with its gradual decline .
The great blow to the state came from the misrule of the Communists – the Left Front government – which remained in the saddle for over 34 years 1977 to 2011 ,that saw cultural, spiritual , historical and traditional “adulteration”. Thereafter the rule of TMC, the less said the better, for full 15 years. Now that the BJP has got massive historic support of the people , it has to come up to the expectations of the Bengali people . Goondaism, violence, illegal immigration, fear and coercion need to be rooted out. Agreed, a year or so is crucial as during the course of correcting wrongs and setting things right , many humps and impediments may be faced by the administration but honest and performing administration, sagacity, sound policies, peoples’ cooperation and above all , the concept of “Double Engine Sarkar” will set things right to build and shape a new developed Bengal.
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