Resurgence of BJP IN 2014 in Bengal is as surprising and sudden as the opinion poll maker's prediction that NDA may touch 300 mark. But for the time being everything is now more of a prediction , a trend study and of course uncertain. This journey was never smooth, more because the East and South India were not supportive to NDA tally even one months back.
Electoral road map in Bengal never favoured BJP, with the best results it won two parliamentary seats in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls in alliance with Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, a feat the party could not repeat in any of the succeeding elections.
BJP missed winning seats every time it chose to go it alone, and it was presumed it will be similar this time round,when Modi made his first election rally in the state,though a huge success at Kolkata’s historic Brigade Parade Grounds.
It prompted Modi to offer Didi the proverbial ‘Dilli ka laddu’ while Rajnath Singh in an placatory note almost assured her that BJP would concede to her long pending demand of a moratorium on the state’s accumulated loans.
But it didn't work with Mamata Didi, who carefully refused the bite only keeping in mind the importance of nearly 30% minority votes, that may be much damaging impact on her 2016 assembly prospects in competition to the Left and Congress.
Naturally and habitually Mamata was more concerned with her chances to retain state power rather then setting a chemistry to a possible friendly central government helping her to fight many fiscal problems and supportive infra activities in Bengal.
Yes it was imagined that any central government cannot be viable without the support of TMC, and accordingly she decided to oppose vehemently every other party , be it BJP or Left or Congress.She took a calculated risk only to save her seat in 2016 and time only will tell, if she was wrong.
But the passing of only one month in between,when the Modi wave has made a deep impact all over India, which she could had hardly imagined, like all others in the state, that the shadow of Modi would continue to lengthen as days rolled by to upset her poll plans and calculations.
It has been ringing danger bell and now in every election meeting she launches a frontal attack against BJP, taking pot shots at Modi by calling him ‘dangar mukh’, the face of riot.
The spectre of Modi and his repeated sojourns to the state with successful and heavily attended rallies is haunting Mamata Didi’ more than the effects of the Saradha scam, which the Congress and their FM Chidambaram has been able to use suitably to hurt TMC hard , getting support from the ED.and other investigating wings.
INDIA HONEST appreciates the report of Ei Samay's editor,"Modi may or may not emerge as a spoilsport only for Mamata and her party. There are visible signs in many places of Left supporters leaning towards BJP, and buying the party’s argument for the need of a stable and effective government at the Centre.
A section of Bengali refugees and tribal, for long tried and tested supporters of the Left, may now find the new option more viable and acceptable. Many among them now want to give Modi a chance just for the fun of inviting change.
Their new refrain: Ebar chupchap fule chhap, kintu chhotor badole baro ful (This time round too we will opt for the flower, but for the bigger one — or Lotus)."
INDIA HONEST felt that the more important question for which the people from Bengal must find an answer soon , "if Bengal will be able to find adequate members sitting on the Treasury side , working for the interest of Bengal ? "
While positivity for NDA is largely visible , but "can we find more TMC or BJP members in South or North block chambers as ministers". These are few last moments, little time left for making a change in the fortune of Bengal for next five years . Can we ? It is million $ question, hopefully the answer to which will be known only on 16th May 2014.