Unmasking The Political Mask

During Covid days when wearing one's heart on one’s sleeves is becoming difficult, how do politicians flaunt their preference? They have taken a new route through masks.

- Romita Datta

Identifying people is proving to be a big challenge as masks cover a major portion of their faces. And for politicians, it is getting increasingly difficult to communicate and get across their point to their audience: much of the expressions, the barbs and berating are muffled by this protective gear.. Thus, for the time being, politicians are choosing to wear their party colours and symbols on their masks as a way to help people recognise their leaders.

CM Mamata Banerjee is sporting a fashionable designer mask which has been specially customised. In a video conference, on Wednesday, she was seen sporting an aquamarine blue mask embossed with a small map of Bengal for all to see.

In the same way as PM Modi and BJP leaders had lotus symbols pinned up on their kurtas, while campaigning for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Mamata has also ensured Trinamool Congress leaders and bureaucrats should flaunt Bengal on their masks.