When the political historical past of 2021 might be written, the battle for Bengal fought and received by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress will get specific emphasis. The ballot victory positively makes this a golden 12 months for the TMC.

The electoral battle in Bengal turned out to be an actual “Mahabharata” of contemporary occasions. Many termed it “Bengal’s Kurukshetra”. 2020 ended with Mamata’s protege Suvendu Adhikari leaving the Occasion on December 19 and becoming a member of the BJP. He was adopted by different leaders like Rajib Banerjee, Sunil Mondal, Dinesh Trivedi and Sil Bhadra Dutta.

Defections

January 1, 2021, was the TMC’s birthday. However there was apprehension and hypothesis on how the occasion would contest the massive battle. This was the primary time the TMC was going through a problem from the cadre-based nationwide occasion on the Centre, the BJP. As Trinamool hoisted its flag on January 1, the gang on the occasion headquarters had one widespread query: would Mamata maintain on to West Bengal or would the TMC be worn out by a saffron wave?

There have been apprehensions that many TMC employees would observe Suvendu to the Bharatiya Janata Occasion. Nevertheless, other than some leaders, there was no main exodus from Trinamool with Mamata’s former confidante.

Nevertheless it was not a superb time for the TMC as one after one other, insurgent leaders like Dinesh Trivedi and others left the occasion citing numerous causes. On the one hand, there have been leaders altering sides and on the opposite, the BJP was making use of its full may to grab the reins of West Bengal.

Mamata picks Nandigram, Covid hits ballot plans

In such a state of affairs, on January 19, Mamata Banerjee introduced in Nandigram, that she would contest from the seat, as a substitute of her conventional constituency Bhabanipur. “I’ll contest from Nandigram. Nandigram is my fortunate place,” she mentioned, following a problem from Suvendu.

Covid too was an encumbrance for the TMC and BJP in addition to different political events because the second wave round March-Could wreaked havoc. Meeting elections in West Bengal had been introduced to be held in eight phases in April-Could. Trinamool alleged that the Election Fee was working beneath the affect of the ruling BJP on the Centre.

There was strain on the TMC following the 2019 Lok Sabha election outcomes through which the occasion’s efficiency was less-than-impressive and the BJP managed to shut the hole with an enormous leap. Nevertheless, Mamata was decided to battle again. With the help of nephew Abhishek Banerjee and ballot strategist Prashant Kishor, candidate lists and marketing campaign plans had been ready.

The TMC chief knew that public outreach was the important thing. She needed to kind a direct reference to the voters because the picture of many intermediaries within the occasion was not good. So the method was ‘Mamata to Janata’ (Mamata to the folks) and a programme like ‘Didi ke balo’ (Speak to Didi, because the chief minister is affectionately identified) helped the TMC. This marketing campaign was initiated in 2019 so the folks might talk on to the CM. Occasion leaders too had been instructed to get entangled in outreach.

Selecting candidates

There have been main adjustments within the selecting of candidates. Tickets weren’t given to these above 80 years of age, powerful seats had been allotted to celebrities, emphasis was given on having extra girls candidates and 27 per cent of the nominees had been Dalits. Additionally, in comparison with the 2016 polls, fewer Muslim candidates had been picked. The technique, in accordance with insiders, was the “TMC focused 70% of the 30% minority vote and 30% of the 70% majority vote”.

Marketing campaign technique

“Bangla nijer meyeke chae” (Bengal needs its daughter) was a ringing marketing campaign slogan of the TMC. Mamata was projected as Bengal’s daughter and BJP leaders as outsiders attempting to destroy the native customs and tradition. The battle of “Bangali vs Bahari” too labored for Trinamool. The occasion projected that folks ought to vote for Mamata as she is Bengal’s daughter who has began useful tasks like Kanyashree, Swasthya Sathi, and many others, for the folks. Furthermore, the absence of a reputable CM face from the BJP helped the TMC.

Victimhood

Mamata struggling an harm throughout a scuffle in Nandigram, assaults her utilizing ‘Didi’, assaults on Abhishek as ‘Bhatija’ (nephew), CBI interrogation of Abhishek’s spouse, and many others, all performed towards the BJP. Mamata was projected as a lady who was a sufferer of evil politics. The battle for Nandigram between Mamata and Suvendu was fierce: from polarisation to corruption, each device and allegation was utilised. Although Mamata misplaced (TMC challenged the decision and the matter is sub judice) however the way in which the election was fought influenced different seats. Mamata combating from a wheelchair actually bought large emotional help.

Position of Prashant Kishor and Abhishek Banerjee

Prashant Kishor was introduced in by Abhishek Banerjee and the duo toiled on crafting marketing campaign methods and selecting candidates. PK got here up with the ploy of ‘Mamata to Janata’. The TMC chief’s rapport with the general public was the occasion’s greatest power and that needed to be tapped into intelligently.

Abhishek Banerjee took on lots of strain and duties. From responding to the BJP’s assaults to dealing with the faction fights within the occasion, he managed a number of fronts, say insiders.

Chatting with News18, TMC’s Saugata Roy mentioned, “It was a severe problem this time. They (the BJP) tried utilizing cash and muscle energy in addition to the clout of the central authorities. It was certainly a fierce battle however we’re happy that we defeated the BJP right here. This battle we are going to bear in mind at all times. This win has given us the impetus to take our mannequin nationwide and grow to be the one various to the BJP.”

Imaginative and prescient to exchange Congress

How the TMC received this time has grow to be a matter of analysis for pundits. Political analyst and professor Biswanath Chakraborty mentioned, “This can be termed because the golden age of the TMC because it fought fiercely and received this election. Additionally, on the identical time, it generated the imaginative and prescient of changing the Congress and turning into the primary various to the BJP.”

The Bengal ballot outcomes got here out on Could 2. The TMC bagged 213 seats, the BJP 77, whereas the Congress and Left drew a clean. From the very subsequent day, Trinamool began chalking out its nationwide plan. The occasion’s widespread slogan in the course of the polls ‘Khela Hobe’ (Recreation is on) began reverberating in different components of the nation.

Mamata’s nationwide imaginative and prescient was clear and easy, and TMC’s new nationwide common secretary Abhishek Banerjee too said it in his first press convention. “We are going to take the BJP head on in each state,” he mentioned. “We is not going to go to have one or two MLAs. We are going to battle the BJP and oust it.”

The TMC, thereafter, has began constructing its base in locations like Tripura and Goa. Although relations between Sonia Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee appeared to get a lift after the Bengal ballot outcomes, because the Trinamool chairperson visited Delhi and had a meet over opposition unity, the TMC began its nationwide enlargement plans and started poaching leaders from the Congress. It began with Sushmita Dev and within the months that adopted former chief ministers Luizinho Faleiro in Goa and Mukul Sangma from Meghalaya additionally converted. Sources say within the new 12 months, extra Congress leaders will transfer to the TMC. So, by the tip of 2021, Trinamool was taking purpose at each the BJP and Congress with the identical gun. In 2022, sources say, TMC’s Congress bashing will proceed. The Goa election might be held quickly and the TMC is placing all its may there.

Occasion insiders additionally say that elections in 5 states in early 2022 will culminate in a dismal efficiency of the Congress, and an enormous exodus from the occasion to the TMC is predicted at the moment.

Enlargement on the playing cards

So, in 2022, the TMC will transfer forward with its nationwide enlargement plans. The plan is to make inroads into a number of states by reaching out to key leaders there. Proper now, the occasion has swiftly constructed up a substantial presence within the Northeast. It needs to take the Bengal trophy to each a part of India and present that it’s the “actual Congress” with which others ought to tie up for the 2024 parliamentary polls. Occasion insiders really feel that there’s an opposition vacuum because the Congress is weak and that’s the place Trinamool can step in.

From January, Mamata and Abhishek might be seen travelling all through India, guaranteeing good phrases with NCP’s Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray and different essential regional gamers. There might be friction with the Congress although.

BJP licks wounds

Although, on report the highest management of Bengal BJP says that its vote share went up within the 2021 meeting elections in comparison with the 2016 version, there may be disgruntlement within the state unit because it didn’t seize energy. After Could 2, TMC turncoats went again from the BJP with some MLAs too switching sides. The BJP plans to carry on to its good points and return to the folks. Occasion insiders say that it’ll not go for giant programmes or campaigns and can focus on constructing a reliable base. The BJP will go for rectification and booth-level growth.

Sources say whereas TMC has received on its dwelling turf, it would hold a robust vigil right here. 2022 will see some fascinating ‘khela’ on many fronts.

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