Revolt in Mamata’s TMC!

Bhubaneswar, July 30 (Ajoy Kumar Misra) The developments in West Bengal is unusual. A state where the writ of Trinamool Congress Supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the ED has pushed the TMC supremo on backfoot is astounding. The arrest, recovery of cash and gold to the tune of Rs 51 from one of his close associate Arpital Mukherjee and subsequent sacking of Partha Chatterjee, the former Industries Minister of the State, from the post and party is the talking point across the country. But how did all this happen. How come the ED got exact location where Chatterjee had hidden the huge stash of cash or his property details appear to have baffled Mamata. Was it following some inside information or is Mamata scared that she may be linked to the scam.

Yes. There is every reason to believe that Mamata is now apprehensive notwithstanding her putting up a brave face. It is well known in West Bengal that Partha Chatterjee — the number three in State Government and party was virtually calling all shots in the party. To assume Mamata had no inkling about Partha Chatterjee amassing properties- according to unofficial reports to the tune of Rs 200 crore- went unnoticed by the supremo both in party and government. Did Chatterjee shared his loot with party—according to sources 75 percent proceeds? Was Arpita just a pawn or equal partner in the crime though she claims she has no idea where the money came from or where it was going. These are questions that need to be answered and will be answered at some stage.

But, the most baffling story is how did anyone in the party knew about it, why did that person chose to remain silent for so long- about a decade, and why did he choose to share such informations with the government agencies now.

Could this be a sign of revolt in the party? This cannot be ruled out at all. Because some conscientious leader in the party may have thought it prudent to bring it to the fore to either save the party or destroy it. The recent assertions of actor turned BJP leader Mithun Chakravorty that as many as 38 Trinamool Congress MLAs are in touch with him lends credence to the theory that all is not well in the ‘invincible’ party in the eastern Indian state.

If that is true, then is it likely more TMC leaders, including the Chief Minister herself, in line for scrutiny? In a regime at the Centre, where Amit Shah is the Home Minister, no possibility can be ruled out, especially after the BJP’s ‘Look East’ resolution at Hyderabad conclave.

TMC has been the biggest road block for the BJP in West Bengal. But the saffron party is hell bent to humble it. Hence dethroning an elected government would require a political weapon like creating a perception about the TMC in the mind of people in the State. ‘Corruption galore’ issue would be the most lethal to create the perception. Whether the BJP will succeed or not is a totally different issue.

But, if the government agencies such as Income Tax, Enforcement Directorate or the Central Bureau of Investigation go for more raids and nail more TMC leaders in corruption or corrupt practices, the BJP might gain some more footage in the State taking into consideration the Bengali sentiment in an otherwise poor state.

The possibility that someone in the party might have tipped off the Central agencies on the scam, which came on the scene following the directive of Calcutta High Court to probe the scam in the state’s Education Department; is bound to make the Chief Minister and TMC chief worried.