 Such delusional ignorance of the clear facts of history, of the long trajec... Swami Agnivesh's headline-grabbing stint with his entry to Big Boss was short-lived. It was cut short by none other than Bengal's very own Mamata Banerjee, aka, Didi, at her theatrical best. For a spectacle-loving nation, the Chief Minister ensured that she provided her audience with the ultimate political reality show.
Banerjee's shows played out thus: Friday — Return to Pullout threat (this time from UPA); Saturday—UPA Bares Nerves of Steel (with EGoM card); Sunday—(Didi's) MPs Pack Bags (but for Delhi); Monday— Day of Talks (CM & FM; Trinamool MPs with PM); Tuesday—Banerjee's Volte Face.
In between the fuel price drama that was being played out in the corridors of power, the Chief Minister packed in a skit at the Bhowanipore Police Station, which happens to be in her constituency. It was past prime time television, but is still being played out across local and national channels.
Late Sunday night, when two local clubs vandalised and ransacked the police station over an idol immersion procession that went awry, Banerjee stepped in to resolve it. She freed the men—allegedly from her party—held for rioting, arson and ransacking. She had to. It was her para (neighbourhood), after all. Much to her discomfort, the regimented Left Front today advised her to behave like a Chief Minister.
But is Bengal surprised? In all likelihood,no. Bengal has been witness to Banerjee's theatrics for a long time. Perhaps her most lasting image is that of stomping Jayprakash Narayan's car as Youth Congress leader. Or, would it be her threat to hang herself in public over a Left Front wrongdoing? Or, inspiring vandalism at the legislative assembly?
Well, Banerjee has gifted Bengal many such moments. "The problem is, she has not been able to rise above street politics and it carries it with her even when she is Chief Minister," a Left Front leader said. But whether it's her inability, or part of a larger construct to keep her Ma Mati Manush image intact, is the subject matter of another debate.
A "compulsive populist", as described by a senior UPA leader, Banerjee's innovative moves since she took charge as Chief Minister, has ensured screen space. And that is what matters, to her, at least. "She is obsessed about the media. There are OB vans parked outside Writers' Building (the state secretariat) all day. And she watches vernacular news channels as long as she is at Writers'," an exasperated bureaucrat said. Of course, that's when the Rabindrasangeet aficionado is not tuned in to the piped-music system that has been installed in her room at the state secretariat.
Bureaucrats would know. For the past five months, the maverick Chief Minister, has kept them on their toes. Literally speaking. Picture this: Last week the Chief Minister was to hold a meeting with block development officers (BDOs).
Only five secretaries were supposed to attend it. But 45 minutes through the meeting, the Director General of police was summoned. Another 15 minutes later, 13 secretaries were called for. They had to cancel their meetings, some of which were scheduled outside Kolkata. But who dare tell Banerjee that?
Not bureaucrats, not even her ministers. At a Bijoya Sammelani, hosted by the state industry minister, an industrialist said, "Didi, please grant the industry minister some time. He is scared of you, but has a lot to tell you." Unsurprisingly, it evoked no response from Banerjee.
Banerjee likes doing things her own way. It's obligatory for others to listen to her. All files are cleared by her. If she doesn't find time, the file would still be with her. As are many files waiting to be cleared. "It's called concentration of power," a bureaucrat said.
Her strategies have worked well, so far. An indefinite dharna at Singur against the Nano project was her brainchild, when many in the Trinamool Congress wanted it to be just a week-long affair. But it resurrected the party and her political career.
Her critics still say that her moves are self-contradictory and will consumer her. Will Banerjee's story turn out to be like the Kupamanduka's? The verdict is still out.
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