September 12, 2024
📰 FEATURE STORY
Is Mamata Banerjee’s future as West Bengal Chief Minister in doubt?
The past few weeks have been turbulent for West Bengal. In the aftermath of the rape and murder of a postgraduate medical student early last month, the state has been on edge. Widespread protests erupted across the state and country, demanding women’s safety.
The spotlight has been on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She has come under increasing pressure and criticism for handling the issue. There have also been calls for her to resign. Right after the Lok Sabha polls victory, will this gruesome crime be her downfall?
Context
On August 9, the body of a 31-year-old second-year postgraduate medical student was found on the fourth floor of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The following day, junior doctors, residents, and paramedic staff organised protests across multiple colleges across the state. As the hospital’s medical superintendent was removed, the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association of India called for a countrywide halt of hospital elective services.
As the case is transferred to the CBI, the state government and the Calcutta High Court urged protesting doctors to resume work. Central officials met with a delegation from the Indian Medical Association, assuring them that strict measures will be introduced to ensure their safety.
As the issue continued to escalate, opposition parties in the state amped up their criticisms and protests against the TMC and Mamata Banerjee. Her leading a protest rally on August 16 demanding justice for the victim didn’t seem to matter that much.
This month, the state government passed the 2024 Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill with support from the opposition BJP in the legislative assembly. It proposes amendments to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Perhaps the biggest component of it is the possibility of the death penalty for anyone convicted of rape. This drew sharp criticism from several corners. Capital punishment has long been argued as an ineffective deterrent against rape and sexual violence. Some criticised the Bill for being politically motivated and a diversion from the heinous crime and resulting anger.
The Chief Minister’s remarks to protesting doctors to return to Durga Puja festivities didn’t help her cause. The TMC and Mamata Banerjee came to power in the state in 2011 following years of public frustration with the Left. She became the sole alternative to the Congress and the BJP and now faces perhaps the toughest test of her political career.
VIEW: Writing’s on the wall
In the aftermath of the rape and murder, people are understandably looking to the Chief Minister for leadership. Instead, words and inactions have forced people to point fingers at her for the deplorable state of the health system. In the past, rallies were usually led by professional politicians and leaders. Now, it’s different. The marchers are ordinary people who cut across age groups and social strata.
The protests are a measure of how women, in particular, rate and see Mamata Banerjee. The gatherings aren’t just about the recent crime but signal something bigger – anger about a regime that has usurped the functions of the administration and the police. The law and order machinery in the state, under her control, has become ineffective. They’ve been seemingly let loose with no accountability. Her famed political walks garnered some goodwill in the past but couldn’t be repeated now. There’s just too much anger now.
“We Want Justice” is a stark and unequivocal condemnation of how Mamata Banerjee’s government works. It’s a challenge to her authenticity as a leader and the Didi label she has carried proudly. What doesn’t help is the party’s corruption apparatus through unscrupulous politicians, power broker criminals, and musclemen. It has been abetted by the police and bureaucracy. With the BJP seeing this as a ripe opportunity, this very well might be the Chief Minister’s last stand.
COUNTERVIEW: Hard to predict
The anger and frustration against the TMC government and the Chief Minister are visceral, real, and palpable. The government and its netas haven’t helped their cause. Only a few months back, the party scripted a historic victory against the BJP in the state despite daunting challenges and grim exit poll predictions. The poll results were a showcase of Mamata Banerjee’s political acumen.
That is now being tested. That said, the state doesn’t have a clear alternative waiting in the wings. The Left has all but vanished in the state. The Congress doesn’t have a strong presence. It didn’t perform well in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The BJP is the only party left and perhaps the strongest opposition. It’s unclear if West Bengal, of all states, would vote for the party that puts Hindutva first. Is there enough space in the state for a new political front?
Some political analysts have observed that opposition parties have failed to capitalise on the mass movements organised by common people, doctors, and civil society. The BJP and CPI(M) haven’t taken the lead in these spontaneous marches. If there’s a visible dent in the TMC’s urban voter base, especially among women, opposition parties haven’t presented anything to compete. They’re unlikely to benefit.
Reference Links:
- Unnerved, Mamata and Trinamool are going after protesters, doctors now – India Today
- Has Mamata Banerjee reached a tipping point with West Bengal’s women voters? – Deccan Herald
- Mamata Banerjee Has Failed to Measure the Public’s Pulse – The Wire
- Why Mamata Banerjee shouldn’t try to be the Chief Minister of India – India Today
- West Bengal wants justice for rape victim. It won’t pause even for Durga Puja festivities – The Print
What is your opinion on this?
(Only subscribers can participate in polls)
a) Mamata Banerjee’s future as West Bengal Chief Minister is in doubt.
b) Mamata Banerjee’s future as West Bengal Chief Minister isn’t in doubt.
Previous poll’s results:
- The Netflix series on the IC 814 hijacking doesn’t do a disservice to the incident: 53.6% 🏆
- The Netflix series on the IC 814 hijacking does a disservice to the incident: 46.4%
🕵️ BEYOND ECHO CHAMBERS
For the Right:
What members of the queer community suggested at a closed-door government consultation
For the Left:
Jawhar Sircar’s Resignation Epitomises the Inner Turmoil Within Civil Society