Now that the BJP has achieved a simple majority in Parliament, a remarkable first for any non-Congress party since 1952, the TMC is in a quandary. It cannot decide whether it would be more expedient to learn a new political idiom incorporating the basic courtesies of political discourse---something that has always been anathema to a party like the TMC.

Moderates like senior leader Saugata Ray suggested that the TMC should not rub the BJP the wrong way from the beginning. He hoped his sober party colleagues, obviously in a minority in the TMC, would still support him. He felt the TMC’s habitually abrasive approach towards other political parties could turn counter-productive in the present changed situation.

In contrast, hardline opinion within the TMC, reportedly favoured by its supreme leader Mamata Banerjee, preferred the continuation of the old, totally adversarial approach towards the ruling party currently ruling at the centre. With this difference, the Chief Minister, despite her party winning 34 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats, was for the first time feeling the pressures of facing up to the Narendra Modi-led new look BJP. The first sign of this is the very unusual reticence of Bengal’s normally loquacious Chief Minister for days together, post May 26.

Also, the fact that sections of the West Bengal media have begun exposing instances of widespread vote rigging by the TMC in the 2014 LS elections in many parts of Bengal, has not exactly helped improve her pensive mood.

No doubt the TMC citadel is currently under siege in its only stronghold in India, West Bengal, with the BJP increasing its votes from around 4/5 per cent in 2009 to around 17 per cent currently. The TMC’s rallying cry sounded by its ambitious Chief Minister, to 'storm the bastions of Delhi with the TMC emerging as the third largest party after the Congress and the BJP, to play a stellar role in government formation and administration,' failed to enthuse anyone beyond Bengal’s borders. Not a single TMC candidate, from Jharkhand, UP or Tripura, succeeded in saving his or her security deposit. So much for the TMC’s 'stellar role'. And AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa pipped the TMC to the post by winning more LS seats in Tamil Nadu without producing half the TMC’s sound and fury, in her campaign.

It is only in Bengal that post-poll violence has continued unlike other states, marked by sporadic attacks and clashes among political parties mostly led by the TMC, with the administration and the police in a near paralytic state. At least 3 Left and 4 TMC supporters have been killed, with the count rising daily. In private, in some areas the police have admitted their helplessness to intervene to Left leaders, in the absence of clear orders from their superiors. 'It is all part of a pattern to continue a terror campaign to intimidate all opposition,' says an analyst.

The violence so far has not achieved what the TMC wants to halt immediately: a steady exodus of supporters of all parties to the BJP, including the TMC itself in many areas, from South Kolkata to the South Bengal districts.

The recent crossover to the BJP on part of the RSP’s Secretary in Burdwan has attracted media attention. But what started as a trickle before the polls has now become a torrent, with hundreds joining the supposedly right-wing party from the CPI(M), the Congress and others.

'We have had to print hundreds of admission forms for people wishing to join us, but we make it clear that unlike other parties we cannot offer immediate posts to all newcomers. There is suitable procedure in place in our party to decide such matters .We also carefully screen the people we accept,' says state party President Rahul Sinha.

The BJP by 2014 has established a clear lead in 21 out of 294 assembly seats in the state and is a close second runner in some other areas as well. The post-poll scramble among aspirants to join it can only bring more power to its ranks. 'No wonder the TMC , which has hardly anything to show on the credit side in terms of the state’s economic progress, employment generation or fresh investments since 2011 in West Bengal, is running scared, what with a hostile , well organised BJP breathing down its neck,' says an observer.

The recent visit of a high power five member BJP delegation to Sandeshkhali in south 24 Parganas, to ascertain the facts behind a major armed attack by TMC goons on party supporters – the first post BJP delegation on such a mission in India, incidentally – is a sign of the changed times for the TMC. The delegation left with a strong message delivered to the state administration, urging it to gear up better to deal with the continuing violence.

What bothers the TMC is that within three years of its glory days in 2011, it finds its share of total votes shrinking, along with the Left. The Congress has more or less held on to its 10per cent share, but it is only the BJP which has registered an increase.

And in the days ahead, the urge to join the BJP can only grow. Claiming only 39 per cent of the total votes, the TMC faces the potential opposition of 61 per cent of voters. Most of them know the Left has run out of steam for now, while the Congress is too weak for the TMC.

“No wonder these parties and their supporters cannot stand up to determined attacks by armed TMC goons, tacitly supported by an inactive administration. Now a rejuvenated BJP, with its disciplined cadre and fresh strength at the centre, would certainly offer them more effective protection and sustenance against the TMC which is finding it difficult to retain its earlier levels of strength. Therefore joining the BJP will not only ensure their survival but eventually enable them to hit back at the TMC sooner than later,' says a Kolkata-based analyst.

Naturally the scenario he envisages will bring in more violence in the days ahead. But the BJP, queering the pitch for the TMC’s dictatorial ways, has promised to do just that – offer all protection and support for its supporters all over West Bengal! (IPA Service)