With just months to go for the assembly elections, what do you make of the situation in West Bengal?
The Trinamool Congress has lost confidence. The party is finding it difficult to keep its house in order. People have lost confidence in Mamata Banerjee.
Do you feel a wave in your favour?
Yes, it is there across the state, but it is dormant in some parts. Like in Birbhum and even in Kolkata, where we had lacked organisation till recently. But we are working hard and have almost overcome the hindrances.
So Birbhum and Kolkata are your problem areas?
No longer. Look at the response to [Union Home Minister] Amit Shah’s roadshow at Santiniketan. I [have not been able to spend] much time in Kolkata. In Birbhum, the TMC leaders are more violent. So, it took time for us to get a grip [there]. But now, things are changing as I am giving more time to these places. Look how our party men were attacked in Kolkata. This means the TMC is alarmed.
Who do you think will swing the votes in your favour? Any specific community?
I think the major boost would be from women who are coming out in large numbers. Also, urban people have been influenced by the election result in Bihar, which showed that the BJP is the only alternative.
Why would women vote for you?
That is because, in urban areas, the Modi government’s [schemes like] free ration, gas distribution and direct money transfer are paying dividends.
But Kolkata has not accepted the BJP’s ideology in the past.
My [small] tea-meetings [have turned into] political rallies. People are forcing me to ride horses in Kolkata.
This story is from the February 14, 2021 edition of THE WEEK.
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This story is from the February 14, 2021 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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