Saturday, May 17, 2014
New Delhi: In spite of the massive electoral victory Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal chief minister appeared little jubilant as the party lost its say over the central government.
Though Banerjee had achieved a major political victory by not only winning 34 of the 42 parliamentary seats, but also relegating her long time opponent the CPM to negligible player in the state, where the party could just win two seats, her disappointment was visible.
“No one expected a complete majority for the BJP in the parliament. Like many others we were also hoping for a role in the centre as it would have only helped us to govern the state. But with an electoral mandate like this, we have little say,” admits a TMC core committee member.
On Saturday, the party’s parliamentary committee met and discussed the possible role, where many of its leaders urged Banerjee to mend the relationship with the BJP, particularly with its prime minister designate Narendra Modi.
Banerjee had fought a bitter campaign with Modi, over various corruption issues and even called him a “donkey” and a “fool” where Modi accused her of corruption in the chit-fund scam.
TMC’s hope of becoming the third largest party was also dashed as AIDMK won 37 of the 39 seats in parliament making TMC the fourth largest in a much shrinking opposition space in parliament.
However, what is more worrying for the TMC is the emergence of the BJP as the principal opposition in the state. In many constituencies, the later has emerged as number two and the difference is not large.
Party leaders worry that now with the Supreme Court ordering a CBI inquiry into the chit-fund scam, the new government will push it further considering the electoral gains it has made.
In South Kolkata constituency, which Banerjee won for six consecutive times till 2011, saw a major rise of BJP and even in the legislative constituency, where she is a voter, BJP had a lead of 184 votes.
“It is quite surprising that BJP has come to this position even without having a major state leader. Certainly the media blitz that BJP launched has worked,” said a TMC leader.
“This is the best ever performance of the BJP in the state. We will have to continue working with the people and consolidate our organisation further,” said Tathagata Roy, BJP candidate from south Kolkata.
By Archisman Dinda ?Correspondent
Gulf News 2014. All rights reserved.
