After both Modi and Mamata ensured political propriety and jointly surveyed the devastation, the state president Dilip Ghosh ensured the state BJP deviated from the script although Modi himself had praised the chief minister.

The day after Modi’s visit, Kolkata, especially areas under Jadavpur of South Kolkata, have been witnessing a new kind of politics. These are the areas where BJP leaders have been quite active. These areas are inhabited by Hindu Bengalis who came over to India during Bangladesh liberation war and non-Bengali Hindus from Bihar and other Indian states. These Hindu Bengalis were earlier with the left parties but in recent times they have switched over their loyalties to the BJP.

In sharp contrasts to what has been happening in Jadavpur area, the traditional Bengali population which has been residing in the other greater parts of the South Kolkata have been maintaining restraint. In fact no protest was witnessed in North or Central Kolkata.

There is no denying the fact that people suffered immensely during the last one week due to the non-restoration of the electrical lines and water supply. This has nevertheless exposed the poor work culture prevailing in the government establishments. But the people of the other areas realised the pressure and challenges the Mamata government was facing. The responsibility of providing electricity is of CESC, a company owned by Sanjiv Goenka.

For restoring normalcy on war footing the government has also requisitioned army. Five columns of the army (around 300 personnel) have been deployed. True enough Kolkata is going through the trauma of reinventing itself.

But the state chief of the BJP, Dilip Ghosh made clear of his intention to nail the Mamata government on the very next day of the calamity even while the state was to come back to its senses. He not only launched personal tirade against Mamata, but also accused her of not realising the gravity of the situation. His statement portrayed the impression of his completely being conceit and insensitive.

The fact of the matter is the BJP state leadership has been working on its design to discredit and malign the government. From the beginning they worked on their plan to present the state government in poor light. Ghosh suggestion to deposit the central compensation of Rs 2 lakhs to the beneficiaries’ bank account is the candid proof. He made this demand to avoid siphoning of money. Through his observation he wanted to tell the people that he did not trust Mamata.

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh was on Saturday 24 May was stopped by police from visiting the cyclone-ravaged areas of the South 24 Parganas district. This has triggered a war of words between the saffron party and the ruling TMC. But Ghosh owed an explanation that why he tried to go there when he was not in the position to offer even smallest help to the people of the region. His visit was planned simply to create problems for the officials busy carrying out relief operations. He was on the mission to indulge in politics was clear from his threat; “I would organise a sit-in, if I am not allowed to go to the affected areas. If the state government wants to pursue relief politics, they should get ready for a befitting reply from our workers”.

BJP used the situation arising out of calamity for a “little push' with an eye on next Bengal elections. Modi’s decision to personally make an aerial survey of cyclone-ravaged areas was a message to the state’s people. Even strategists believe that “a little push” can win them next elections, and this has provided the opportunity to the leadership to reach out to the people and consolidate the support base.

Mamata expressed bitter disapproval of the alleged attempts of the BJP to politicise and even communalise the situation. She said; “Behead me if you don’t like me…. Shoot me dead…. That you can do. I have been doing everything possible and more, for days, weeks, months, virtually without sleep. I too am a human being,” the chief minister said at a news conference on Saturday evening.

“Those sitting here and pursuing such shallow politics, I would advise them, do not try to cash in on a natural disaster…. Do not try to foment communal tension even now. This is not the time. Please, if you must unnecessarily provoke the people, don’t do it now,” she added.

“With folded hands, I pray before you — I fall at your feet, if that is what you seek — set your politics aside for the time of elections. If you don’t like me, shoot me dead. But now, let me carry out the relief, rehabilitation, restoration and rebuilding exercise, alongside the pandemic war effort and the arrangements for the return of our own,” she said.

It is irony that Mamata extending invitation to Modi to visit the state post Amphan and her appeal to refrain from politics is being projected as her weakness. Meanwhile the state BJP at the instruction from central leadership has been busy preparing a charge sheet against the Mamata and her government. This they intend to make public on May 27 when the Trinamul Congress will complete nine years in power in Bengal. This would be a prelude to the election manifesto. Besides focussing on mishandling of Amphan, the nine-point chargesheet will also underline her failure to counter corona.

Work to restore normalcy has been going on war footing, but the BJP has been keeping up its tirade. It does not matter for them that Amphan has defaced Kolkata and robbed off its glamour. They are in hurry and cannot wait as it would deprive them of the political benefit. A massive task force has undertaken the mission to provide a face lift to the city. (IPA Service)