Mamata Now Eyes Delhi

On September 26, at a streetcorner meeting before the Bhabanipur bypoll, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee proclaimed: “Bhabanipur theke arekta khela shuru hobe. Ekhela shesh hobe Bharatbarsha joy kore (A new ‘khela’ (game) has begun in Bhabanipur; it will end only when India has been won).”

- Romita Datta

The TMC (Trinamool Congress) chief has lately been hammering home the message that her party won’t rest on its laurels; after the triumph in the Bengal assembly election, its sights are now set on Delhi. At the same meeting, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said it even more baldly: “Remember, you are not just voting for Didi; you are voting for change in Delhi.”

There are two simultaneous campaigns in play here: the first is to build a loose-knit Opposition coalition to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election; the second is to pitch Mamata Banerjee as the leader of that grouping. Over the past month or so, TMC heavyweights have sought to encourage discussion on who is best placed to lead. Highlighting the fact that the TMC’s electoral pushback against the BJP was easily the most credible—notably, in the face of an all-out Modi/ Shah-led offensive at the polls—TMC leaders like Abhishek have begun to talk up Mamata’s claim over potential contenders. They describe Congress leaders, for instance, as having either accepted defeat or gone into hiding. Their new assertiveness could easily damage a fragile opposition unity, but the TMC leaders reckon it’s time for Mamata to make her play for the top spot.