On our way to the US, we travelled to New Delhi from Kolkata on May 1 while finding people talking about West Bengal Election nearly everywhere. Eventually we flew together with quite a few of those who were commonly known as the ‘migrant labours of West Bengal’. The family units were returning back to Delhi, their work place, post casting their votes in their home State. These are the people who had direct experience of staying both in BJP-ruled States & in a TMC-ruled State while the West Bengal BJP approached them before the election. These people could really make the change possible as they stood on the line of transition knowing the reality of both worlds & they did it.
The phrase “migrant labour” paints a picture of people in penury in our imagination while in reality, “migrant labours” of West Bengal comprise people not only in menial jobs but also white & blue collar jobs in both academic, manufacturing and service sectors. All such migrant labours from West Bengal made up their minds to give it a try for one last time to save their home State & arrived to cast their votes, reflecting on the enormous strength of democracy. Otherwise, who thought West Bengal, being dominated by foreign ideologies ever since 1977, would be able to win freedom plainly by means of a democratic election? Those who saw through their mind noted the extraordinary effort by all institutions of Bharat to ensure a democratic poll in West Bengal. So much so that it appeared no less than a war as West Bengal slipped away from the path of democracy. While Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry too went on poll, anxiety level on West Bengal overshadowed all.
While checking in for the US flight, we met one employee of the concerned US-airlines (United) who too was a Bengali. Post check-in formalities, he asked us one question. “Vote diyechhen toh”? He too flew to Kolkata to cast his vote. In fact, more than 20 people working in Delhi Airport flew to Kolkata together on April 29 to cast their votes. We had some friendly exchanges thereafter which plainly meant everyone voted to oust the ruling dispensation of West Bengal this time.
More surprises awaited us as we proceeded towards the ‘Immigration Counter’ of the Delhi Airport and the Immigration Officer too started talking about West Bengal Election. ‘Did the ‘Bhadralok’ cast their votes this time?’ Asked the officer followed by my reply that they appeared to vote ‘for the right cause this time’ except those who were too old. I made it clear that the ‘too old’ segment of CPM supporters would ever vote for the CPM as long as they lived while the younger generations appeared to have ‘changed’ this time.
After all such exchanges, all awaited with suffocating anxiety for May 4 as all were aware that TMC would keep no stone unturned to forge the counting as well & all their attempts had to be defeated.
Landing in the US, we heard that an American man, before betting on West Bengal Election result, asked his Indian colleagues, ‘tell me who’s gonna win. Saw a poor-looking lady who shouldn’t win as she looks too poor to be a leader.’ West Bengal Election was being discussed literally all over the globe and no wonder.
The morning of May 4 began well and West Bengal got true freedom from the evil grip of foreign enemies. It was possible because of 1) Unprecedented Hindu Consolidation 2)Presence of the Migrant Labours of West Bengal from all over Bharat 3)the shift of the CPM voters to the BJP along with the votes of 4)those who voted for the BJP both in 2021 & 2024. West Bengal could have witnessed such massive Hindu consolidation on account of what is commonly referred to as ‘appeasement politics’ while in reality it was handing over the State of West Bengal to illegal immigrants of other countries. The rampant, desperate loot by Mamata Banerjee’s TMC was the other major cause behind people’s consolidation against it. The evil power always displays destructive desperation and TMC was no exception. As a result, the land of Syamaprasad Mookerjee’s finally got freedom & became independent.
