In May last year, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee threatened to drag Narendra Modi, whom she called ‘Haridas Pal’ (insignificant Tom, Dick or Harry) to jail by tying a rope around his waist. Now, on the eve of Modi’s maiden visit to Bengal as the Prime Minister, she is preparing to cement her new found understanding with him.
“I am neither going close to Modi nor am far from him,” the chief minister said this week, defending her eagerness to meet the Prime Minister citing constitutional obligations and benefits for Bengal.
However, for political circles it is evident that the understanding which both are trying to achieve, is way beyond state-centre relationship.
“I would say a latent political bargaining is going on. The closeness between Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi we see now is just means to an end,” said Amal Mukhopadhyay, former principal of Presidency College and a political science teacher.
“Trinamool Congress has toned down from strong opposition in the Parliament and now bills are passed easily. On the other hand, Banerjee is looking into special privileges, finance for the state. Not development but finances,” added Mukhopadhyay.
According to political experts, Banerjee has proved her political supremacy in the state in the recent civic polls. For the moment, she has also been able to bring the BJP juggernaut that seemed unstoppable after the Lok Sabha polls, to a halt in her state.
According to political experts, Banerjee has proved her political supremacy in the state in the recent civic polls. For the moment, she has also been able to bring the BJP juggernaut that seemed unstoppable after the Lok Sabha polls, to a halt in her state.