Bengal's political cauldron boils again as Mamata and BJP fish in Covid waters

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday seized the opportunity of the World Environment Day programme to launch a counter-narrative to the BJP besides setting the tone for the state assembly elections scheduled to be held next year, if not postponed due to Covid-19.

During her speech for the World Environment Day, Banerjee spent an ample amount of time in flaunting her "success" in tackling Covid-19 and Amphan days after the same was acknowledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Though she urged the BJP not to delve into politics at this trying time, Banerjee weighed her speech with the "highlights of her government's work" besides reminding people it was only her party and ministers who were on the streets.

The TMC chief said in her trademark style, "At a time when we are toiling to save lives in West Bengal, they (BJP) are saying the TMC should be ousted. Is it the time to do politics? I am not saying Narendra Modi should be shown the door in Delhi because I feel this is not the time (to do politics).

"We will do politics at the appropriate time. But why are you doing this? They should go and help people and work. None of them (BJP leaders) stepped out of their house for three months and hid at video corners. None of them were on the streets (to help people). Only we (the ruling party and ministers she meant) went to the office, markets, hospitals and worked."

Reportedly, Banerjee has also asked her MLAs to concentrate on works with one year left for the crucial polls, which will decide whether the TMC can make a hat trick of assembly wins.

But it can't be denied that it was the BJP which had first sounded the political bugle at a time Covid tally across the country, including West Bengal, is soaring.

The BJP, which made  unprecedented gains in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from improving its tally from two to 18 seats, announced a major reshuffle in its party's state unit by promoting multiple MPs to higher ranks.

Following the reshuffle, the BJP on Thursday announced a virtual rally of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the architect of the saffron party's success in the state, on Facebook and YouTube on Jun 9.

The BJP's recent press conference easily suggests the party aims at cornering the TMC government over its Covid- handling.

BJP's state president Dilip Ghosh in one of the recent press conferences said, "The nurses are leaving West Bengal. Police officers are getting infected (with Covid-19). Slowly the state is becoming helpless. That is why Mamata Banerjee is offering the state administration to Amit Shah. We are witnessing a complete unsuccessful administrator."

The Congress, which is trying to get back its lost opposition space joining hands with once-a-rival Left in the state, claimed it prefers not to follow the trend.

When state Congress president Somen Mitra was contacted by India Blooms on Friday evening, the veteran politician said, "We have offered help to the government but unfortunately the government has not responded. We are not doing politics here, rather we are against it. The BJP and Trinamool are doing politics for 2021 elections. We hate it."