Untying West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee's new rakhi politics
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who believes in being the ubiquitous Didi, has ensnared Governor Kesri Nath Tripathi in sisterly ties, this rakshabandhan festival.
Forget the spat, the clenching of fists and teeth-grinding the two leaders had in public a month ago over communal tensions in North 24 Parganas. Forgive if Mamata had said the Governor was behaving like the BJP’s block president, insulting, humiliating and worse “threatening” her in a way that she felt like stepping down, her voice trembling with anger, words almost choking.
Forbear if Mamata’s cabinet ministers (her political brothers) flexed their muscles and dubbed the Governor as PM Modi’s “lackey”, a “BJP parrot” and what not.
That was in the beginning of July and over a period of a month, all is forgotten, forgiven and Tripathi is now like an elder brother in the Trinamool Congress family, courtesy Mamata’s rakhi diplomacy. The rakhi-tying exercise is a big event in Trinamool Congress.
For getting and not getting a rakhi from Mamata amounts to making and breaking of fortunes of the political bhais (brothers). The ministers, MPs, MLAs and even leaders of all rank and file keep their hands free (that is, untied) eagerly waiting for that one call from Didi’s office, which can make or mar their future. Getting a rakhi from Didi is like getting “Didi’s blessings”, an assurance that the brother is still in her good book.
The brother, feeling “blessed” would flaunt the rakhi on his hand as a kind of “protective band” to ward off the political jealousy and villainy of the cronies, but more so to exhibit his proximity to the power centre.
Apart from Tripathi, the other surprise in Mamata’s rakhi list was Trinamool Congress vice-president Mukul Roy. Being stripped off all power and responsibilities, when party colleagues had written him off as a gone case, Mukul managed to rise like a phoenix from the ashes by winning a rakhi from Didi.
Didi’s rakshabandhan is not just restricted to politics. Party apart, she blesses the bureaucrats (obviously her favourite ones), the journalists and the service providers — the lift man, the attendant who brings tea and water, the security guards, and whosoever she takes a fancy upon — by personally tying the rakhi.
And for that personal touch, the brothers and sisters, irrespective of their grievances, misgivings and misunderstandings, swear by her.
Actor Shah Rukh Khan and Mamata, who bond over warm hugs or an affectionate peck on the forehead either over fish-fry or over exemption of civic taxes for KKR’s match, have had their rakhi exchanges.
Shah Rukh, who came down to promote Jab Harry Met Sejal in Kolkata, asked one from Didi and Mamata obliged by sending an expensive one by air. After all, Shah Rukh’s millions and millions of fans will fall into her vote-banks.
This year, the state BJP also celebrated the festival in a big way. state BJP president Dilip Ghosh announced that he would be tying rakhi to all MLAs, who would be attending the assembly session. While speculation ran high if Ghosh would find a taker from the treasury bench, the Didi-Governor episode cleared the air.
Even the heavyweights like urban development minister extended his hand before Ghosh, known for having a caustic tongue for Didi.
Even education minister Partha Chatterjee, who had a heated exchange with Ghosh in the assembly during the day, did not squirm away when the latter dropped in at the minister’s home and gave him a rakhi. On this rare occasion of brotherhood, BJP’s Locket Chatterjee, who is also a film star of moderate fame, failed to win a brother.
She had gone to Laal-Bazaar (the city police headquarters) with a bunch of threads. The objective was to tie the rakhis on police and twirl them around her pallu so that the men in uniform will not come harsh on the BJP supporters on agitation, demonstration or any anti-government programmes.
The cops were not taken in by her coaxing and cajoling. They folded their hands and regretted their inability. The refusal had nothing to do with the general reluctance men have in rakhi-bonding with a beautiful woman, aka a film star.
“It is professional hazard,” quipped a cop. After all, no sane police officer would like accepting a rakhi from Locket, thereby inviting the ire of Mamata and risking his career.
(Courtesy of Mail Today.)