Singur seat is still Trinamool’s to lose

Despite unmet promises, the party seems to be in the driver’s seat.

April 11, 2016 04:32 am | Updated 04:32 am IST - Singur

Rabindranath Bhattacharya.

Rabindranath Bhattacharya.

Inside a small, dimly lit Trinamool Congress party office in Singur town, Mahadeb Das has his hands full. His phone never ceases to ring. The 42-year-old farmer from Khasherberi village in Singur, whose 3.5 acres of land was acquired for the Tata’s small car factory, is one of the most influential local leaders of the region. He is preparing a list of party supporters who will propose the name of Rabindranath Bhattacharya, MLA, as the Trinamool candidate during his nomination.

“Mahadeb, you are our main man for the elections. Everything depends on you. This time, we are not taking chances on any matter. Make sure the list includes at least three women, a representative from the minority community, and at least one from the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes,” a block-level leader, Vivek Mukherjee, tells Mr. Das.

The movement against forcible land acquisition in Singur, which paved the way for the Trinamool Congress’ victory in the Assembly elections in 2011, has brought farmers like Mr. Das to the forefront of politics in the region.

“From 2006 to 2016, I have been like a machine. After getting involved in the movement, the CPI(M) government charged me with 128 cases. In the past 10 years, I had not been able to earn a single paisa and had to call off my marriage in 2006. Now, finally I am back on my feet, thanks to Didimoni [Mamata Banerjee]. In fact, last year, I even got married. But my main commitment is to the farmers of Singur who lost everything,” Mr. Das told The Hindu .

Though farmers like him are still fully behind the Trinamool, the failure of the Mamata Banerjee government to keep the promise of returning the land acquired for the Tata Motors factory from unwilling farmers remains one of the biggest embarrassments for the ruling party.

The decision to return land was taken at the first Cabinet meeting of the Mamata Banerjee government in 2011. Even on March 11, 2016, while releasing her party manifesto, Ms. Banerjee rued that she had not been able to keep the promise. Her comment in the Assembly that it would take 50 years to do so had raised many eyebrows. Discontent is brewing among farmers who did not accept compensation for the land. But the question is will the farmers change their political stance and support the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the elections.

“Who else other than Didi can come to the rescue of farmers of Singur? From the Krishi Jamin Rakha committee, we are trying to make farmers understand that Mamata Didi is trying her level best,” Mr. Das said.

The CPI(M)-Congress combine’s hope of victory is pinned on CPI(M) State Committee member Rabin Deb, who started his campaign riding a Nano car, which was supposed to be produced by the car factory. Mr. Deb insists that the Trinamool chairperson has cheated the people by promising to return the land.

For the Trinamool, inner squabbles may prove costly. The rivalry between the Singur MLA and Becharam Manna, MLA from the adjoining Haripal constituency and prominent leader of the Singur movement, may pose problems for the ruling party’s prospects.

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