Why Didi should go: Delhi's Bengali migrants say BJP has made strong inroads into Bengal, Mamata Banerjee's rule will be shaken

With all the halla bol going on between All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP, migrants of the state who are working in the Bengali-dominated Chittaranjan Park in Delhi speak their mind on what is going on in Bengal — and whom they support.

'TMC has let holligans run free in West Bengal'

At number 2 market, which happens to be the hub where Bengalis living in the vicinity buy their regular fish and groceries, people say they are completely disheartened with the way their state is being represented around the world.

Bhupesh Ghosh, a vegetable seller, says that he is catching a train in the evening and hopes to reach on time on Sunday to cast his vote.

“Mamata Banerjee has ruined our state," he bemoans.

TMC has kept holligans whom the party protects, alleges the vegetable seller. "Hooligans roam around freely, there is no sense of law and order. I did not go last time to vote — but this time, I am making an extra effort that my vote is cast as I don’t want Mamata to return. I am ashamed to be called a Bengali today — everyday, Bengalis are fighting against each other, what message is this sending everywhere?” he questioned.

'Aayega toh Modi hi' (Modi only will come to power)

Right behind Bhupesh’s veggie shop is a fish market which comes alive at 4 PM when fresh fish hits the stalls. At 10 AM, there were few fish sellers who were cleaning their shops and getting ready for the evening sales.

One such shop owner, Bhupin Pal, who has been selling fish in the market since the last 26 years shouts, ‘Hey bhaia, BJP ayega!’ (BJP is coming to power).

“The Communist regime was not bad — at least there were no hooligans who were openly roaming around the streets. The worse part now is that there has been no development since 2011. She (Mamata) has only created a group of people who would threaten voters if they vote for BJP,” he remarked.

Bhupin had gone to his hometown this year and cast his vote on May 6 from Barackpur Howrah constituency.

'There are no jobs in West Bengal'

In 2011, Mamata Banerjee came to power. That was the same year when Bhootnath Mandal, a vegetable seller, left West Bengal in dire search of a job.

“I had left my state as no one was hiring me. I am a graduate in agriculture — but I wasn’t getting any job. After failing to get any work in Bengal, I landed up in Delhi — and started selling vegetables," said Mandal.

The literate veggie seller says that selling veggies was an easy way to earn money, so when he came to Delhi, he didn't venture out farther in search of a job. Speaking about the state's condition when it comes to employment or growth, Mandal said: "There are no factories or multinational companies in the state. Young people who leave college want jobs — but TMC doesn’t have an answer to that,” Mandal remarked, sitting amidst his rich green stall. He was also upset over why Mamata Banerjee, being a Brahmin, apparently goes to a masjid. “She is not a Hindu, I think she must have converted," he alleged. "If Modi doesn't come into Bengal, one day, all Hindus will have to flee the state," he added.

'Mamata's govt is plagued with scams'

A few shops away from Mandal’s veggie store sits another Bengali who comes from North 24 Parganas district.

He says Mamata is adamant to make Bengal into a Muslim state. “See, what happened was tha Mamata didi wanted to create her vote bank, so, in the last eight years, she has freely got people from Bangladesh to come and stay in Bengal. In less than a week, they get an Aadhaar card — and bang, they are Indian citizens. This time, the people of Bengal have voted against the TMC as we don’t want another Pakistan to be made,” said the vendor who didn't want to be identified.

He even spoke about Saradha scam, questioning it fervently. “Mamata took poor people’s money, our money, we suffered. Why isn’t anyone speaking about it?” he demanded.

Ratan Sarkar, a barber who moved to Delhi 25 years ago, meanwhile underlined the religious tension that seems to be simmering in West Bengal. He also alleged that Muslims had become a vote bank for Mamata and she will never let them go.

“What happened with Vidyasagar’s statue was that TMC workers, all dressed in saffron T-shirts, had come and vandalised the statue. That's what I feel,” claimed Sarkar.

But how many seats could the BJP get out of 42 in the state this year? The Bengali migrants had optimistic replies. “Last time, they had won two seats. This year, they might get anything between 15-20, not more than that, I only know that between BJP and TMC, whoever wins the state will form the government in the centre,” said Bal Pal, another veggie seller in the area.

But what’s the reason that the BJP, despite the clearly good resonance it was experiencing, won’t be sweeping Bengal? “No they cannot sweep Bengal. Not just yet. The TMC has its share of voters that will unconditionally vote for them. There were some constituencies also where the TMC didn’t allow voters to reach the polling booth, so their candidate will win,” added Sarkar. "We know what is happening in our home state. Even though we can no longer live there," he said.

Also read: Chaos in Kolkata: The Bengali is not Hindustani. And therein lies the problem