As the Assembly elections are around the corner and people are looking forward to BJP with enormous hope, CM Mamata Banerjee is crossing all the limits to appease the Muslim vote-bank.
The Assembly elections of West Bengal are knocking at the door. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already started spending sleepless nights as her blue eyed boys i.e. the minority voters are not yet sure about their hundred per cent support to Trinamool Congress (TMC). Hence appeasement of these voters has become a compulsion with the ruling party of the state. Another problem has also cropped up as the state BJP is also posing a serious threat to her party. On the other hand, Saradha scam has put her in a tight corner. Many of her reliable assistants are rotting in jail. Hence she has lost her over-enthusiasm in abusing the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The CPI (M) is still not in a position to come back to the seat of power. It is commented by the veteran observers again that the banishment of the CPI (M) is going to continue at least up to the next decade. Hence the natural conclusion in this regard is that the people, in general, are looking forward to BJP with great hope that they should assume the power.
The Assembly elections are scheduled to take place in early next year. Muslims are generally very much conscious about the power of vote. All of a sudden, Furfura Sharif head Pirzada Toha Siddiqui came to Nabanna, the new secretariat of West Bengal, to see the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He told Mamata Banerjee about her developmental work for the state especially for the Muslim community. Obviously, Mamata was glad to see this gesture on the part of Toha as he was a staunch hater of Mamata for her failure in fulfilling the promises made to Muslims. The political observers were very much surprised to see a person like Toha was praising Mamata.
One of the observers had commented that this was an example of ‘politics of convenience’. Although Toha knew it very well that Mamata did not keep all her promises given to the Muslim community, he adopted the ‘blow hot and blow cold’ policy to keep the Chief Minister in good humour. Both Mamata and Toha never forget that the number of Muslims in the State constitute 30 per cent of the total population of the State. But this meeting of Toha with Mamata was not welcomed by the other Pirzada Ibrahim Siddiqui. He said, Mamata is always in a hurry to have some Muslim leaders by her side. On the other hand, Toha said, Chief Minister has all good wishes for the Muslim community. But it was because of the lethargic attitude of the government employees the whole purpose had been jeopardised.
Ibrahim Siddiqui has alleged that even after giving so many promises for the development of the minority community, Mamata did nothing during the last four and half years. She had betrayed the Muslims. But leaders like Toha Siddiqui kept mum. When again Assembly elections in the State are around the corner, Toha woke up and is trying to serve his own purpose.
On the other hand when Mamata Banerjee was present in the Eid Congregation on the Red road this year the state president of All India Milli Council Kari Fazlur Rahman strongly criticised the State Government in front of Chief Minister. In the meantime leaders of 15 Muslim organisations are trying to form a Front against the Chief Minister. Members of those 15 Muslim organisations would meet in a meeting under the leadership of Md. Kamaruzzaman; The Imam of famous Nakhoda Masjid of Kolkata Maulana Mahammad Safi has already confirmed his presence in the proposed meeting.
With these types of disturbing news floating around the political arena of the State Mamata became very much scared. She immediately appointed his Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim to convince the minority leaders that the Chief Minister is very much sincere to look after the interest of the minority community. Mamata is happy with the role played by Firhad Hakim. But Minority Youth Federation Secretary Kamaruzzaman is not much perturbed with the moves of Toha Siddiqui. But he is really concerned about the mentality of the youth Muslim voters as they are most unpredictable lot.
Asim Kumar Mitra
