On August 18, the State Congress had called a bandh, to protest against the breakdown of law and order and the economic stagnation under the Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s rule. An apparently insignificant incident and its aftermath once more exposed how low Bengal politicians could sink, a frequent occurrence in the state these days.

Nowadays, the Congress’s strength is not what it used to be, before the TMC was formed following a split early in 1998. Its present share in the aggregate vote in Bengal is around 9-10 per cent only. Earlier it fluctuated between 35-40 per cent. Therefore, there was no possibility of the bandh having a state-wide effect. Life in greater Kolkata was only marginally affected. And it was not very different in the other districts as well. But there was good response in the strongholds of the party in Malda and Murshidabad districts, not to mention pockets of influence in north Bengal.

In Kolkata and elsewhere Congress supporters tried to stop trains and hold up city traffic by organising protest rallies which the police cleared up more or less peacefully, making routine arrests. There was no major violence, although the police arrangements were impressive.

It was not as though Congress leaders were unaware of their limitations. State party President and MP Adhir Choudhury had given the call for a bandh largely to revive drooping cadre morale. “We are not in a position to enforce a state-wide bandh at present,” he had admitted. And as with most other programmes of the state party, Choudhury did not get full support from other senior leaders like Abdul Mannan and Manas Bhuyan, even for this major initiative.

It was in his own stronghold, Murshidabad that Choudhury led a demonstration protesting police action against supporters including women, who were part of a procession. Even as the police were in the process of making token arrests, Choudhury suddenly took off his shirt and started gesticulating wildly, shouting at the men in uniform. “Shoot me if you dare,” he said, as the police and Congress supporters began jostling with each other. It was difficult to see who or what had provoked Choudhury.

The melee broke up and nothing untoward happened. It was clear Choudhury was trying to “up the tempo” somewhat on an otherwise dull day and his followers certainly looked more lively for a while, following his histrionics.

For most people, Choudhury’s body baring act was no more than a harmless par-for-the-course move, requiring neither explanation nor special comment. But Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee thought otherwise. She let her penchant for ridiculing her opponents full play, addressing a pre-scheduled gathering.

“These days, some people are seen taking off their clothes, doing a Sourav Ganguly (a reference to the great baring act by the former Indian cricket captain at Lord’s some years ago, following a major one-day match victory against England). But while it suits Sourav, not everyone can pull it off. But yes, it ensures photographs in the media. You do something today, people take your pictures, you do something else tomorrow, again there will be pictures… but there will come a time when you yourself will become a picture (nijei nachobi hoy jaye, in Bengali)”. Thus spake the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

Her remarks unleashed a controversy. Among TMC circles there was criticism of Choudhuryfor what was described as a “vulgar display”, in addition to Ms Banerjee’s ridicule. Media commentators also wondered at Choudhury’s motive.

But there was a stronger negative reaction over Ms Banerjee’s comments, made in extremely poor taste. The expression that someone will turn into a photo or picture in colloquial Bengali means someone will die soon. It is a phrase much in use in B-grade Bengali films, usually featuring violence and vulgarity. From political leaders to commentators to common people, everyone wondered publicly, what had made Ms Banerjee speak like that? There was no answer.

A few papers ran editorials during the days that followed, deploring the flagrant display of bad taste and cheapness among top level State politicians, a far cry from the earlier high standards of oratory and skilled debating set by the older generation of politicians. Choudhury capitalised on the Chief Minister’s faux pas, challenging her to have him killed and turn him ‘into a picture’, as she said. She had done so with many of her other opponents in any case, he added.

Even as people of the state squirmed in embarrassment over what had happened, Ms Banerjee again lived up to her reputation as a bad loser. When reports last came, the state police had drawn up several non-bailable cases against Choudhury and some Congressmen, accusing them of attempting to murder policemen, destroying government property, interfering with official business and other misdeeds! “When it comes to meanness, it is truly hard to outdo to the TMC and its top leader,” said an INTUC leader. (IPA Service)