Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground came at what could be a turning point in the political history of West Bengal. The March 7 rally saw more than five lakh in attendance and signaled that the party had outpaced the left and the Congress in the state to potentially set up a straight fight with Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress. That someone as popular as actor Mithun Chakraborty joined the BJP earlier in the day would only help the party dispel the notion that it is an outsiders’ party. “There is an attempt to show this as a fight between the prime minister and the chief minister,” said CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty. “It is a ploy by both sides to polarise voters on the basis of religion.”
The list of candidates for the state elections points to this. While the BJP has no minority candidate for the first two phases, the leftists have allied with the Indian Secular Front of Muslim cleric Abbas Siddiqui.
The state Congress has been more cautious. It is not happy with the ISF’s inclusion in the alliance and has refused to give it seats in Muslim-dominated Malda and Murshidabad. After the left’s intervention, though, Congress reluctantly agreed to leave the ISF seven seats. This, despite Congress president Sonia Gandhi having greenlighted the alliance.
Denne historien er fra March 21, 2021-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 21, 2021-utgaven av THE WEEK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Themes Of Choice
As Savvy Investors Seek New Avenues, Thematic Mutual Funds Are Gaining Popularity
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
