It was a hot and humid late afternoon in North Kolkata. Some people were chatting in Marquis Street, which was lighter than any other Saturdays, in terms of presence of people. The group comprised of people from different ages. When approached by the Dhaka Tribune, they stopped talking. When this correspondent, upon providing identity, asked to talk to them about the ongoing elections, a young man, Ajay Das, said: “We were also talking about elections, and this is something we have been doing since the beginning of the elections on April 11.”
This scenario is more or less the same across the state, which is the third largest in India, and sends 42 members to Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian Parliament that governs the largest democracy in the world.
Of 42 seats, elections to 33 were held earlier in phases. Elections to Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin and Kolkata Uttar (North) constituencies will be held today (May 19).
When asked, people of the group of seven, said they are eagerly waiting to cast their votes to elect the member for Kolkata Uttar.
However, they would not disclose which party they will vote for. But, from their conversations, it could be guessed that the majority will vote for All India Trinamool Congress, led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is lovingly called Didi (Sister in Bangla).
A couple of them voiced their opinion in favour of bringing a change in the West Bengal. Their words can be interpreted into their desire to vote other than Trinamool.
Most of them made it clear that the efforts of BJP to promote Hindu nationalism is not agreeable to them. They are happy with being Bangalees, and Hindus at the same time. But, they would not accept only Hinduism in their state that has more than 25% Muslims, and this percentage in Kolkata is about 40.
“A Bangalee does not only mean a Hindu. A Muslim can be a Bangalee, a Christian can be Bangalee, too. We will not allow our state to become a Hindu state,” Sanjay Naha, a man in his mid forty, said.
“I like the BJP ideology of Hindu nationalism,” said Ajay Das, adding: “Although I have voted for Trinamool earlier, my vote will go for BJP this time.”
Out of 42 seats in West Bengal, Trinamool has 34, Congress four, BJP and, Communist Party of India (Marxist) have two each.
BJP has given its maximum efforts to make inroads in West Bengal. The frequent visit to the state by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and BJP President Amit Shah is proof of that. Perhaps, they got confident of doing well in the state, having seen success in neighbouring states like Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. But, it remains to be seen how much successful they get to be.
Experts acknowledged that the share of BJP votes has undoubtedly increased, but they are not sure whether this increase will give them more seats.
The number of BJP's seats will be raised in the state, said the experts, adding that it is not sure whether the hike will be at the cost of Trinamool, or Congress, or Communist Party of India.
Meanwhile, both Trinamool and BJP leaders have been saying that the number of their seats in the state will increase.
“Nowhere in the country, so much effort was made to make gains as in the West Bengal, by promoting destructive ideology like Hindu nationalism. To me, in West Bengal, it is a fight between Bangalee nationalism and Hindu nationalism. And, the Bangalee Nationalism must win for our own sake,” Sanath Chakrobarty, a researcher as well as journalist, told Dhaka Tribune.
“Religion cannot be the means to rule a diversified country like India,” he went on saying: “I know the support for BJP among the people is increasing. It is unfortunate. The sooner the segment of society understands the danger of Hindu nationalism the better it is."
“Look, West Bengal has never been a state of Hindu supremacy. I would not say that minorities in the state were always treated by the majority as they should have. But, communalism was not evident in an alarming manner. We, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and others, have always accommodated each other,” said a senior journalist of a renowned Bangla daily published from Kolkata.
“Some Bangalee Hindus believe the government in Kolkata always appease the minorities to get their votes. Well, the allegation is not entirely unfounded. BJP is taking the benefit of this grievance of the Bangalese, and trying to promote Hindu nationalism. And, I have to say the BJP has become successful as its support is increasing in the state, especially in the areas neighbouring Bangladesh,” he said.
“The ruling class will have to distinguish the difference between appeasing for votes, and providing special assistance to the citizens who are lagging behind the mainstream population. Once, this can be done, the Banglee nationalism will triumph over BJP’s so called Hindu Nationalism,” he added.
