During his two round of campaign Modi did not talk politics or laid bare his plan for development of the state instead he preferred to mock and deride Mamata. He ridiculed her “Ma-Mati-Manush’ slogan and said TMC stood for Terror, Maut (death) and Corruption.

There is a general perception that Modi has failed to read the socio-cultural mood and feel the pulse of the people. No doubt they do not approve her dependence on the criminals and syndicates, but at the same time they sympathise with her for fight for justice to state. During the Lok Sabha elections too Modi had made it a single point programme to malign the political image of Mamata but his efforts did not yield any result.

People still have faith in Mamata notwithstanding the malaise that afflicts her party. Aware of this he has been appealing to the voters to elect her and her party. She does not seek votes for her candidates. A closer look would however make it clear that the accusations against her by her detractors have only added to her strength. Modi’s accusation that Mamata Banerjee boycotted the meetings called by the Centre to discuss states’ development and could not bring in any transformation despite her call for “paribartan” have failed to impress the people.

Modi’s speeches have given rise to apprehension that he was contemplating to frame and arrest her. In fact Mamata too in her recent election speeches cautioned the people and her party men of the saffron design and plan to arrest her. His describing collapse of the Vivekanda Road flyover, as an “act of fraud” has simply strengthened the belief. At least 25 people died after a stretch of an under-construction flyover collapsed in the city on March 31.

If Modi has been unsparing, the RSS too is determined not to waste the opportunity. And in this saffron game the powerful Anandbazar Patrika media house has taken a proactive role. The RSS through a letter directed its units — mohalla , ward, area. khand and prakhand —to distribute Ram’s idols among people with posters depicting the “proposed design of the temple”. The celebration of Ram Janmotsava has already started in West Bengal on April 8, ahead of the Ramnavami. In view of the model code of conduct the task is being accomplished through “small gatherings”.

The Sangh bosses have made it clear to the rank and file that the 2016 assembly election will decide the future of the Hindu Rashtra plan of the RSS. Obviously it was imperative that it should perform well. In this election they have made the Muslims and Christians their prime target. The RSS wants them to accept that India is a nation of Hindus. Sangh leaders hold the view that wining elections in West Bengal will boost the image and profile of BJP many times. RSS has deployed a large number of foot soldiers to ensure the victory of the saffron outfit. RSS strategists also share the view that if the BJP performs impressive in the state, some of the centrist parties may face split. The move of Nitish Kumar will abort at the embryonic stage.

RSS Joint General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale was categorical in is assertion; 'We want the BJP to win all the state elections because only then can significant social, political and cultural changes take place in this country'. With the view to accomplish the gigantic task the RSS has started drafting its swayamsvaks in the BJP. Earlier too they were sent to the BJP but this time a large number of volunteers have been drafted. It obviously implied that RSS does not rely on the BJP leaders to perform this task. Even a large number of RSS activists have been appointed in important positions by Modi in his government. Only a week back at least seven RSS leaders were appointed as the state presidents of the BJP.

So far the RSS was trying to achieve its goal of a Hindu nation from outside the electoral realm. But now it is clear to it that it cannot be achieved unless the RSS actively intervenes in the elections. Insiders maintain that the decision to use its network to help the BJP win the elections in Bengal was taken at the Amravati meet.

RSS is not averse to resorting to violence. More recently, Hindu-Muslim riots erupted in West Bengal in 2013. The BJP has been accusing Mamata of protecting and patronizing the communal elements. Surprisingly already some violent incidents had taken place just ahead of the polling process to start. A senior Trinamool leader was also killed. Senior Congress leader Manas Bhuyian has been named in the case.

If the RSS-BJP combine has been trying to arouse the communal passion, the CPI(M) –Congress alliance has been busy enticing the non affiliated voters. Though some people feel that the left-congress alliance will create lot of problems for Mamata and her colleagues, the ground reality points other way. The Congress having the traditional Bengalis, those especially from the West Bengal, will find it a tough proposition to transfer this vote to the CPI(M). The traditional Bengali families which constitute the core support base for the Congress will not like to vote for the Left whose cadres had killed and murdered many Congress workers in seventies. They recall Burdwan’s Sain murder. Almost all the adult members of the family were brutally killed by the CPI(M) cadres. The traditional Congressmen are yet to reconcile to the new situation. During the first two rounds of polling, these people did not show much enthusiasm.

Quite interestingly the Anandabazar Patrika group has donned the role of the vanguard to ensure the defeat of Mamata. The TMC and ABP have been sparring with each other since 2012. Banerjee has publicly spoken against ABP Ananda, even advising her voters to not watch the channel. Its two main papers Anand Bazar Patrika and Telegraph have launched a tirade against Mamata. At an election rally Mamata described the ABP as the most destructive element in Bengal. She alleged; “they were conspiring against us because they asked me to forcefully acquire land from farmers. They wanted me to remove urban land ceiling. I cannot do that.” They wanted to control the government. Jyoti Babu never cared about them, so he never failed; but Buddhadeb Babu, under their influence, gave them Singur which led to his fall. (IPA Service)