Suri (West Bengal), : A large section of voters in Birbhum parliamentary constituency is certainly committed Mamata Banerjee admirers and would thus obviously vote for the sitting MP Shatabdi Roy.
But there are some sections of people – who feel the ‘change is imminent’ as people want return of Narendra Modi regime at the Centre even as they hint it rather clearly that during assembly elections in 2021, they would again vote for the Trinamool Congress.
‘We want to ensure return of Mamata Banerjee in 2021 but we will also hope that the state of West Bengal gets into right tuning with the Modi government at the Centre,” says Ramen Banik, a trader.
Visitors to this township and adjoining areas, once a known Left bastion, these days more often hear the word ‘parivartan’ – change than anything else.
The ‘change’ or as the locals say the first round of ‘parivartan’ came in 2011 when the Leftists were dethroned.
But now, clamouring for change, voters in Birbhum parliamentary segment and in areas like Suri, Rampurhat and Naihati want the ‘new government’ at the Centre to help the overall development of the state with the special focus on youth and creation of job avenues.
When it comes to talking about jobs, a number of women say they want more encouragement for self employment.
In this context, a woman trader with weaving products, says there should be thrust on marketing as at present “our income is too meagre”.
Birbhum is primarily an agricultural district with around 70 per cent of the population being dependent on agriculture. Principal industries of the district include cotton and silk harvesting and weaving and also pottery manufacture.
Nabaran Dutta, 54-year-old businessman, is looking for transition.
“We do not want change in usual sense,’ he says adding “Bengal has experienced such cosmetic changes when the communists were shown the door”.
He is actually not alone in this kind of thought process.
‘Over the years we only got old wine in the same old bottle. Now we want real change. But it is almost unlikely. BJP may gain votes, but there is no qualitative change. We hear about former Left cadres and Trinamool leaders joining the BJP. So how much that can help,’ says Porimal Das.
Agrees another voter in the locality Rajendra Prasad who says, “Education system needs overhauling. English was long neglected by the communists. But Didi’s government is yet to show results. Subjects like accountancy cannot be neglected. In such situation, no entrepreneurship can develop”.
Many voters also say that the political class has taken people for granted and therefore change should also mean “real change” in that sense where elected leaders and government apparatus can become more accountable.
Locals are not much optimistic about the performance of the sitting MP Shatabdi Roy.
Some even say compared to her, CPI-M MP Dr Ram Chandra Dome, who represented Birbhum six times, was much better.
Mr Dome was MP representing Birbhum since 1989 to 2009.
Closer scrutiny of people’s views suggests the mood is against the local MP Shatabdi Roy but no one is much enthusiastic about other candidates too.
The BJP has fielded Dudh Kumar Mondal and CPI-M nominee is Dr Rezaul Karim.
Politically, sources said, there has been huge desertion from the Trinamool Congress rank and file.
But the chances of violence remain unabated.
In fact, two days back in a campaign speech, BJP state unit president Dilip Ghosh cautioned Trinamool workers saying ‘Didi’r police (Mamata Banerjee’s police) cannot help them’.
‘We will have central police force,’ he said.
Anubrata Mondal, the Birbhum district Trinamul president, has hit back saying: ‘What he (Ghosh) said at Dubrajpur was derogatory and his intention is to perpetrate violence’.
Ilambazar-based Moinuddin Usman, a tea stall owner, sounds optimistic about the politics of Trinamool Congress and said Mamata Banerjee’s outfit is an emerging ‘big party’ in eastern India.
‘Dekhben apni (You will soon see fast that all eastern Indian states will vote against BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and in the process, Mamata Banerjee will emerge a big player,’ says Usman.
(UNI)
