Then, in January and February this year the Sandeshkhali issue brought the state’s law & order situation and TMC leaders’ malpractices to the fore. Enforcement Directorate officials, who were probing a party leader’s access to huge funds, were attacked; he and his cohorts were accused by local people of land grab and sexual harassment. Sandeshkhali, part of Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency in North 24 Parganas district, gradually became a highly controversial matter. The functioning of the home (police) department, of which Mamata holds charge, invited caustic comments from large sections of the public as the kingpin managed to evade arrest for 55 days.

And now, the brutality at the city’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. A post-graduate student and a trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the seminar hall of the institution. As news of the ghastly incident spread, allegations of attempted cover-up by the police as also institution top brass surfaced and instances of unsympathetic treatment to the parents of the junior doctor gained currency, the city and districts have been witness to spontaneous protests by people from all walks of life, including women, who are known to be ardent supporters of Mamata; thanks to welfare schemes – Laxmi’s Bhandar and Kanyashree – designed by her to nurture this large vote bank.

With the widely visible participation of the student community, the continuing intense agitation for ‘Justice for the junior doctor’ easily qualifies to be called an uprising that is already posing the toughest challenge to Mamata in her tenure as chief minister. Her third term is already more than half way through. Her handling of the crisis, both as chief minister – she is also the health minister – and as a senior politician will determine the future of TMC and its government.

As political watchers point out, the massive protests by the ordinary citizens have been largely organic. This is not to deny that the Opposition has played no part; they have. The turnout of Left Front leaders and cadres has been noticed. Participation of BJP leaders and workers too has been visible. Adhir Chowdhury mobilised Congress supporters ignoring the fact of TMC being associated with the INDIA coalition. Supporters Indian Secular Front of Naushad Siddiqui too were protestors.

So, at the moment, the agitation is both organic and political. But, the credit has to go to the ordinary citizens who have not only been venting their angst and anger at the gruesome incident but also to press their demand for safety and security. Protests on this scale would not been able possible if ordinary citizens, in general and women and students, in particular, had not hit the streets to condemn the tragedy and speak out against administrative lapses. Herein lies the message for Mamata, observers told IPA giving their assessment.

As it has evolved since August 9 and judging by the numbers, this time round, the pivotal role in the protest and demand justice for ‘Tilotamma’ / ‘Abhaya’ has been played by the common citizens. The role of BJP – currently West Bengal’s principal opposition party — and the non-BJP opposition has turned out to be secondary. This is the reality.

The lakhs of protestors at night and during day-time also extended solid moral support to the relentless agitation for justice and security of the junior doctors in all state-run hospitals. They have also been receiving solid moral support from their seniors. The frustration of the junior doctors over what had happened to one of their young colleagues was given priority over the disruption in services and the resultant inconvenience to people. The doctors, however, ensured functioning of the emergency wings and this gesture has been appreciated by the public.

It is one of those rare occasions when the medical community in other parts of India and their organisations abroad, including Pakistan, have come forward in support of West Bengal’s medical community and agitating ordinary citizens. This has acted as a morale booster for the state’s protestors. That the heinous crime at R G Kar Medical College has attracted attention of medical professionals abroad who remain sentimentally attached to Kolkata and Bengal is borne out by “An open letter issued as an ad in some largely circulated dailies on behalf of Global Alumni of Medical College, Kolkata”.

The content is telling – it reads: “We stand in solidarity with our colleagues in West Bengal ... We are appalled by the heinous crime committed at R G Kar Medical College ... We are outraged at the allegations of corruption and extortion .... We demand perpetrators be brought to justice immediately ... We ask for a safe working environment for all healthcare professionals ... The world is watching”.

In the past, questions have been raised over Mamata’s governance capabilities. Experienced politicians and retired bureaucrats blame her for her poor handling of the home (police) and health departments. They also cite failure of the intelligence gathering system.. A question is being asked in these quarters whether the state’s administration is receiving her undivided attention. They apprehend it is not and cite her growing quest for a role in national politics.

TMC’s foray in elections in Goa, Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam is cited as the surest indicator of her seeking pastures beyond West Bengal. She is these days busy designing how she can be a big factor in the INDIA combine without keeping West Bengal as part of it. Thus, her attention is divided between West Bengal and manoeuvres for a determining role in New Delhi.

In the aftermath of the R G Kar tragedy fissures in TMC have been surfacing. Dr Santanu Sen, TMC spokesperson and a former Rajya Sabha member has condemned the incident. She retaliated by removing Sen from the post. Another spokesperson – a journalist with a dubious track record – is being derisively commented upon in the social media. Silence of TMC’s second-in-command and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee is being talked about even in TMC circles. BJP is repeatedly seeking her resignation citing the resignation demand she raised on umpteen occasions during the Left Front regime.

Mamata has an uncanny power to deal with crisis. The next assembly polls are due in May 2026.It means that around 20 months are still away from the next assembly battle. Earlier also, Mamata dealt with Sharada and Narada scams before the state assembly polls and Sandeshkhali during 2024 Lok Sabha polls. But in those issues, the political parties took the role of protesters but in R G Kar case, the common masses including the support base of Mamata are taking part imparting a new dimension to the movement against the Bengal government.

The case is being dealt by Supreme Court and the next hearing is scheduled for September 9. The nature of the proceedings in the Supreme Court and the consequent verdict will determine the course of the movement.. It is to be seen whether the political parties including the BJP and the Left can succinctly turn the mass upsurge into a political movement against the Chief Minister. The CPI(M) which got no seat in the 2021 assembly polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is desperately trying to retrieve its lost political position. The BJP is equally playing in the R G Kar turf in its bid to take the advantage of the present anti-TMC mood of the masses. Both the BJP and the CPI(M) are looking for escalation of the situation so that some firing by the police takes place intensifying more mass anger.

So far, the Mamata government has restrained the police and the law and order machinery is avoiding all provocations on the part of the opposition.. The situation is quite tense and there is every possibility of escalation if the Supreme Court gives any verdict associating the accused with the TMC leaders. Political watchers are observing whether the agitating doctors allow their movement to be hijacked by the anti-TMC political parties, especially the BJP which has the ulterior intention to create a political chaos in Bengal aided by the leaders sitting in Delhi. (IPA Service)