Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday started off in West Bengal from where he had left off few months back.
Shah, who spoke at a virtual rally to people in West Bengal, brought back the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, political violence and other issues, which he had dealt with when he last addressed people of the state in March.
Surprisingly, Shah did not bring up the issue of COVID-19 much and make a single attempt to turn the pandemic situation into a political issue, which could possibly embroil the state politically before the West Bengal Assembly election next year.
Shah lambasted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her 'negative' role during the passage of the CAA legislation and for propelling a violent movement in West Bengal thereafter. He also came down heavily on the West Bengal chief minister for the killings of more than 100 BJP workers in the state in last five years of her rule.
It set the tone for Shah and Bengal BJP workers. It looked like Shah's speech set the tone for Mamata as well. Minutes after Shah completed his speech, Mamata made a statement, holding the BJP responsible for destroying a statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar during a roadshow by Shah in Kolkata last year when Shah was simply a mute spectator.
Both Shah and Mamata are taking Bengal to where it was few months back. But both of them, particularly the home minister of India, do know that much water has flown through the river Hooghly since then.
Though an attempt would be made to bring CAA and political violence as issues to woo voters ahead of Bengal Assembly election, it would be COVID-19, which would determine the fate of West Bengal. But both Shah and his target, Mamata, decided not to jump on the issue, may be, for the time being.
Shah did not criticise Mamata on her handling of the COVID-19 situation in Bengal, leave alone talk about letters from him and his ministry officials to the state government on several issues of mismanagement. The home minister, few months ago, alleged that the chief minister of West Bengal was reluctant to take back Bengali migrants returning to the state.
But none of these issues came to prominence because, perhaps, both sides thought it would be unwise to bring the situation to such a political level when the pandemic was continuing. Or some feel that none would be the winner when the issue would be politicised, as both the West Bengal government and Centre would have to share the blame for mishandling the COVID-19 situation in West Bengal and India as a country. COVID-19 cases are seeing heavy increases on a daily basis in India.
Obviously, the COVID-19 issue could make or break the Bengal government next year. Needless to say it would come up as the real issue for both the parties and they would not miss the chance to harp on it when the time comes and if the election, at all, happens at the right time. No one can contemplate what would be the situation of India after six months or more. However, Tuesday's statements of Shah and subsequent response of Mamata are attempts to get noticed and resume political activities during these trying and testing times.
Another interesting issue associated with the virtual rally is the re-emergence of Shah on the political scene after a while with three successive virtual rallies. The home ministry is in charge of the disaster management operation across India and Shah is wearing the hat of a political soldier at a time when the battle is being fought at the different level in governance.
While BJP president J.P. Nadda has taken charge and promoted the idea of virtual rallies, Shah is only next to Modi in the ability to attract crowds and convert voters in favour of the party. Apart from Modi and Shah, the other man who can do this is Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. But BJP party insiders say Adityanath "has been given the big state of UP to deal with only". While Adityanath
will likely campaign for the West Bengal polls in 2021, largely, he would be kept busy for the election in his state in 2022.
Till then, it would be Shah in the field and Nadda as the back-room boy. The onus now lies with Nadda to come out with a plan and programme to reach voters with the success story on COVID-19 for the Modi government, like he innovatively devised with the concept of virtual rallies.
Can he do it? Well he cannot do it all because the government would have to perform. So, time will tell.
