Subrata Mukherjee felt it won't be easy for Mamata to become PM

Just before the 2011 assembly elections, THE WEEK was planning a cover story on Mamata Banerjee, who was all set to dethrone the CPI(M) in West Bengal. This correspondent went to meet Subrata Mukherjee, who had groomed Mamata in her political journey, to talk about her rise. Subrata died on Thursday.

An always witty Subrata said, "Note down the phone number of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (then chief minister). What me and Priya Da (Dasmunshi) could not do, he has done it. If Mamata is going to be chief minister, it would be because of Buddha babu only!"

What he meant to say was that mistakes of Buddhadeb made the going easy for Mamata.

Subrata Mukherjee did not make many mistakes in his life. He, Dasmunshi and Somen Mitra were considered the terrific trio of the West Bengal Congress. Even other leaders senior to this trio, such as Sidhartha Shankar Ray and Pranab Mukherjee, were envious of these three highly popular Congress youth leaders who had earned respect from the workers. Ray and Pranab Mukherjee failed in this.

As a result of this, Mitra used to call Ray as destroyer of Congress in West Bengal, while Subrata Mukherjee used to blame Pranab Mukherjee for the Congress's downfall.

However, fissures were reported among the trio. While Dasmunshi had the capacity to keep himself away from internal squabbling, Mitra and Subrata often engaged in ego clashes.

Once, Mitra told this correspondent, "Sidhartha da always tried to spoil my relation with Subrata."

These three leaders had another thing in common. They were trusted lieutenants of Indira Gandhi in West Bengal. Dasmunshi protested against the Emergency imposed by Gandhi, which she was advised to do by Ray. Dasmunshi quit the Congress for a while. But Subrata did not do that. He was a loyal soldier of Indira Gandhi and, in fact, used his power as the state's minister of home and information and broadcasting to arrest journalists.

Subrata had easy access to Indira Gandhi's house in Delhi. He joked to this correspondent how he made Indira Gandhi taste rich Bengali cuisine.

In one such interaction in Indira Gandhi's house when she was prime minister, Subrata saw her holding a meeting with then I&B minister I.K. Gujral. They discussed opening of a second Doordarshan Kendra in the country after Delhi. It was proposed to be in Allahabad. Subrata was allowed to be present in the meeting.

"But after the meeting, I requested Indiraji to bring the second station in Calcutta. After much persuasion, she called up the ministry secretary to change it to Calcutta and Allahabad would be third," Subrata told this correspondent.

Gentle behaviour was part of his character. When Subrata last spoke to this correspondent a month back, he was asked whether it was possible for Mamata to become prime minister.

He said, "[Becoming prime minister is] not as easy like others think. It can be only possible when there would be disruption in Delhi politics after 2024 election and if other parties find her a consensus candidate."

The remark highlighted the straightforwardness of Subrata. He was known for plain-speaking without thinking about consequences and was a habitual political fortune-teller.

This correspondent had also asked him whether the assembly election this year was his last poll battle.

He retorted, "No. I am still fit and if I remain fit, I will fight next election. Politics cannot leave me."

Perhaps, this was the only moment he was proved wrong. Yes, the 2021 assembly election was his last election. Rest in peace, Subrata da.