West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent outburst against the Congress begs the question if the CM is willing to come close to the Centre even if not to the BJP as a political party.
The way Mamata gave a grand reception to President Ram Nath Kovind raised several eyebrows. When Kovind's candidature was announced, she had dubbed him 'unknown' to Indian politics. However, the red carpet welcome he received was something even the son of soil, former president Pranab Mukherjee, was not accorded when he landed in Kolkata after becoming president in 2012.
The civic reception to the president that she organised was attended by people from different walks of lives. They showered gifts and rained praises on President Kovind who almost looked embarrassed.
“I had a mistake in understanding him. He used to work silently in Rajya Sabha. I was in Lok Sabha for around 27 years. Now I remember him,” the CM said at the reception.
“I am overwhelmed by the warm reception in Kolkata. I have never thought of it,” said the president.
A few hours later, she dropped another bombshell in the assembly. She said the Congress should not take her for granted.
The West Bengal Congress, along with the Left parties, have been disrupting the assembly when an angry Mamata said, “The Congress should remember how I am supporting them in the parliament. If they create disturbance in assembly, they cannot expect me to support them in parliament.”
Abdul Mannan, leader of the opposition, said just because the chief minister is supporting the Congress in Delhi does not mean that the party would remain silent in the state. “People of Bengal are in distress and we would have to fight their cause,” he added.
However, the sudden change of atmosphere raises the question if Mamata is ready for some sort of an understanding with the BJP,.
With no change in the political mood in India, Mamata stands to lose if she continues to oppose the Centre and the BJP. She wants a discussion with prime minister and finance minister over the new 15th finance commission. Besides, she wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi's active participation in the upcoming global business summit in the state in order to attract investment.
The chief minister had recently traveled to Singapore, Netherlands, Italy and England and found that without the help of Central government, it is difficult to get international business groups to fund projects in the state. She also wants a slew of development projects in the sectors like ports, highways and railways, which are in shambles in the state.
Noting that the state stands to gain nothing by siding with the Congress, a TMC MP said although the party may have reservations with the BJP, opposition to the saffron party has nothing to do with state reaching out to the Centre.
The sudden change of political weather has come only a few months after Mamata took the lead to organise an anti-BJP forum in New Delhi, attended by RJD, JD(U) and the left parties. However, no such meeting was convened thereafter.
If these are any indications, the opposition front in the country may have a tough time ahead.
The BJP, however, ruled out any rapprochement.
“She understands that her days are numbered as chief minister. We will not deprive Bengal because she is opposing us. But politically, the BJP will never be with Trinamool Congress again,” said Biswapriya Roychowdhury, general secretary of BJP in Bengal.
