In the game of chess, there is always a point after that whatever you play it helps the opponent to win. Reaching that point in the game does not always depend on the strategy of the opponent but also it can happen from your reluctance to believe the strength of the opponent. This article is not about the game of chess but the political situation of Bengal amid the COVID-19 crisis. And to write on Bengal’s politics comparing it with the game of chess is not an exaggeration.
In Mahabharata, everybody knew that no one can defeat Dronacharya till he has bow and arrow in his hand, therefore, Yudhishthira told his first lie, that Dronacharya’s son Aswathwama is dead. However, we know that in reality Yudhishthira just played with the words and Dronacharya’s son was alive. But after listening to this from Yudhishthira as he was considered as a person who never lies Dronacharya dropped his weapon and rest is well known to us.
For the BJP and all the political opponents, West Bengal’s Chief Minister and Trinamool Supremo Mamata Banerjee is a matter worry when she hits the street. When the COVID-19 crisis began and the lockdown was imposed Banerjee hit the street.
She started moving around the city to inspect the situation, talk and direct the people on the norms of the social distancing. The BJP which now has emerged as the key opposition in Bengal got worried to see her on the streets. They know that they cannot beat her street fighter image, therefore, it became important for BJP to trap her with the technicalities of the governance.
The BJP’s key strength in Bengal right now is Governor of West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankar. From the very first day of his appointment, he is in loggerhead with the TMC government. The Bengal governor gives interviews, holds press conferences and slams Banerjee regularly. This is an unprecedented action from a governor but to be honest, in India governors have always been political tools of the Central government.
Recently two significant things happened, the Bengal CM and the governor exchanged long letters criticizing each other’s work and the Centre sent an interministerial team to look into Bengal’s lockdown situation.
The COVID-19 crisis is an extraordinary time for India and politically also this time is very significant because during this time the Center has the utmost power over all the states of India. By the Epidemic Disease Act 1897 and Disaster Management Act of 2005, the Central government gets the special power to control the bypass the state governments.
The BJP never misses any chance in politics and that’s the biggest learning for every political party in India. The Central team is visiting Bengal amid the opposition from Banerjee and her Government. Succumbing to this pressure the TMC government released the audit report of deaths due to COVID-19.
“The state government said Friday that 57 Covid-19 patients had died in West Bengal but sought to clarify that 39 of these had succumbed to comorbid conditions. Coronavirus infection, it added, was ruled “incidental” in their death. Until Thursday, figures released by the state government had pegged the number of deaths at 15,” an article in The Print noted.
Non-publishing of the real data was indeed a historic blunder of TMC government. Banerjee is a very senior politician and she must be aware that governance in such a crisis time needs transparency. The non-transparency of the West Bengal government has not only tarnished the image of the TMC government but also created utmost panic among the people of Bengal.
It is the time Banerjee should realise that she is falling in the trap of BJP. The BJP knows that they cannot combat Banerjee when she is on the street, therefore, they attacked her government and proved that she is not being transparent. This can be very crucial damage to her political image as the assembly election of Bengal is just around the corner.
To combat the BJP right now only political theatrics will not work but strengthening the governance is also very crucial because that is the target of the BJP. Right now it is high time for Banerjee to bring utmost transparency in her governance and to not indulge herself in such a massive fight with the Center.
For Bengal, a transparent government is the need of the hours because if such a condition continues then the people will lose their faith in the TMC government which will be a critical setback for Benerjee before the election. Such mistakes will only strengthen the BJP, and I feel the Modi-Shah regime will not miss any chance to corner the TMC.