Didi In Distress

Taking on the BJP is becoming increasingly difficult for Mamata Banerjee as she seems to be losing her grip over the bureaucracy and the police

- Rabi Banerjee

Three weeks after the Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal resembles a war zone. As many as 15 people have lost their lives in political violence across the state. Thousands have been injured and rendered homeless. Unlike in the past, however, a considerable number of victims also include Trinamool workers, with the BJP unrelenting in its retaliation. Moreover, the police is no longer reluctant to take action against Trinamool leaders accused of violence.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is all set to launch a tour across the state to boost the morale of her beleaguered comrades. “From now on, I will govern less and do party work more,” she said. It may not be an easy task as the Trinamool is increasingly losing control over the bureaucracy and the police. Several senior ministers reportedly complained to the chief minister that senior police officers and IAS officers were refusing to obey “orders”.

Mamata openly acknowledged the problem after an administrative review meeting on June 10. “It seems many officers are doing a balancing act. We need to tackle that,” she said. Senior BJP leader Mukul Roy said Mamata should have resigned before making such comments. “This means she has lost all control and has no right to be chief minister,” he said. Mamata’s concern is understandable as the bureaucracy and the security apparatus are increasingly refusing to toe the Trinamool line.

On June 9, Sandeshkhali block of Basirhat district witnessed an upsurge of violence as Trinamool and BJP workers exchanged gunfire. The BJP said two of its workers died on the spot and three were missing. “We believe that they were finished off,” said Sayantan Basu, state general secretary of the BJP, who lost from Basirhat in the Lok Sabha polls. The Trinamool said one of its workers was killed and two were missing.