The Bengal CM is banking on her Charisma to carry the TMC through. Will candidate selection and defections let her down?
There is no opposition, we are our own opposition,” Mamata Banerjee sounded stern. A cold, sweeping glance around the podium and the warnings continued, while party leaders hung their heads, avoiding eye contact. “I know who is doing what and who is contacting whom. I will not allow anyone to disrupt Maa-Maati-Manush (the Trinamool Congress slogan).” The ruling TMC in Bengal has been in a state of flux of late. There have been close to a dozen political murders, and every case seems to point to factional feuds within the party. Then there are the desertions, two sitting MPs being only the latest just two months before the election (see box: Open Season), and the possibility of a few more with ex-TMC strongman Mukul Roy on the prowl to poach for the BJP.
But these sort of troubles are unlikely to faze Mamata. She has faced heavier odds through the major part of her political career. As news trickled in of another turncoat, a party heavyweight, joining the BJP, she hollered that the onus was now on every TMC member to make sure the party symbol, the jora ghas phul (wildgrass flowers), bloomed in all 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Mamata stressed that voting for the party meant voting for her, strengthening her hand to take on the “communal rioters (Narendra) Modi(Amit) Shah party”, the BJP. Names on the party’s list of Lok Sabha candidates include 17 new faces (13 of them defectors from other parties and four greenhorns, including two actresses). The CM knows there will be rumblings, and hence her next comment: “Whoever wants to go is free to leave. I don’t care, they are free to go...”
Bu hikaye India Today dergisinin April 1, 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye India Today dergisinin April 1, 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Beware The New Big Con
Cyber Criminal Networks, Often Based Abroad, Are Now Leveraging Technological And Psychological Tools To Weave Elaborate Stings With Fake Cops And Enforcement Authorities To Deprive Unsuspecting Victims Of Their Entire Life Savings
A Cut Above the Rest
Oft ignored, the ceiling in a room is so much more than a necessity
THE GRAND STAND
This atypical bachelor pad for Delhivery's Sandeep Barasia is all about balancing art with form, aesthetics with functionality and materiality with context
50 SHADES OF WHITE
From ivory to ecru, TV actor Ankita Lokhande and reality TV star Vicky Jain's apartment in Mumbai is all about a fresh and clean feel
"GOOD DESIGN IS EFFICIENT, BEAUTIFUL AND PROBLEM SOLVING"
Known for creating thoughtfully crafted spaces, architect Jaskaran Singh takes us through the legacy he was born into
HITCHED AT HOME
From offbeat décor to eco-friendly design elements, an intimate wedding runs high on undeniable charm and unique sentiments
ROOM TO BLOOM
Bring wedding festivities indoors with flowers and hues that set the mood for this beautiful tablescape
THE RITE CHOICE
Move over heaven, well-designed and stylish marriages require the Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla touch. They share how to ace this space.
Twist on Tradition
Stylish storytelling, vibrant vistas, trendy textiles and modern magic, wedding decor is a beautifully crafted and personal tale today
TROUSSEAU TROVE
From preserved flowers to bountiful hampers, what you give the bride and groom will set the tone for their life ahead