Many saw in it Mamata's desperate attempt to stop erosion of her support base in Bengal where a right-wing surge is very clearly discernible
There seems to be a paradigm shift in the secular Bengali bhadralok (gentlefolk) image, nurtured and followed assiduously by political parties in the state for decades.
Ram Navami, not an event in the festival calendar in Bengal, was not a one-off event. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted her Hindu credential at Puri Jagananth temple, calling herself a sachcha Hindu and then reiterating it at the organisational meeting of the party. Dilip Ghose, BJP party president, celebrated Ram Navami all over the state. Trinamool countered it by organising havans in Birbhoom district. The religious fault lines, as CPM calls it, are clearly visible.
But what made Mamata Banerjee, a Brahmin woman, reassert her credentials as Hindu and why was Anubrata Mandal, president, Birbhoom district, asked to organise hawans is still a subject of animated discussion in the political circles here. Many saw in it Mamata's desperate attempt to stop erosion of her support base in Bengal where a right-wing surge is very clearly discernible.
While the local vernacular dailies carried stories of a saffron surge, the popular Hindi dailies struck a cautious note. A Hindi news paper feels that it is a long haul for BJP which suffers from the tag of being a 'Marwari' party. It lacks a credible face or a charismatic leader who can penetrate the psyche of the electorate in Bengal.
With the decline of the CPM in Bengal, the modern, secular Bhadralok image got severely bruised. But the BJP alone cannot be blamed for it. Trinamool played its part of appeasing Muslims. Mamata's widely publicised photo of offering Namaaz in the traditional burqa, granting of monthly salary to Imams and declaring of public holidays for obscure Muslim festivals have had it share in the rise of Hindu fundamentalism.
There is also an economic side in the rise of right-wing sentiments. There is virtually no industry left in Bengal. It is also no longer the intellectual power house. This has led to the rise of trader class and middlemen. This class openly prides themselves in their Hindu roots and are willing as never before to embrace BJP.
... & ANALYSIS
- Right-wing surge
With a right-wing surge clearly perceptible in Bengal, Mamata is on an overdrive to stop erosion of her support base.
- Decline of the Left
Decline of the CPM and its allies in Bengal too played a major role in the secular Bhadralok image getting bruised.
- Economic angle
The trader class and middlemen openly take pride in their Hindu roots and are willing as never before to embrace the BJP.
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 "Mamata Banerjee")
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