Vintage Didi is back, says TMC leader

Even before Mamata left Nabanna after her 36-hour vigil “in defence of democracy”, TMC leaders had taken to the city’s streets to explain the “exact nature” of her fight. “The Centre is trying to bulldoze your rights,” announced a loudspeaker at Gariahat, while another in Maniktala roared, “Didi is fighting against Modi for the poor”.

Mamata’s criticism of the Army has ruffled quite a few feathers. Not just those in the BJP, but many TMC supporters also admitted that they were “shocked” that she had “dragged the Army into this”. But others asked the question that the party has now posed before the Centre. “Can the Army conduct operations in our city without first informing the state government? We didn’t vote for the Army, but for Mamata Banerjee,” said Debashish Duttagupta, a TMC supporter and resident of Behala. However, the Army has always maintained that it had informed the state administration.

The BJP, the Left and the state Congress have all accused Mamata of “making a mountain of a molehill”. But even her staunchest opponents admitted that the chief minister was behaving predictably. “In the past, this is exactly what she did. She once threatened to hang herself. People say that Modi is an emotional leader. But Mamata is the one who perfected the art of getting her supporters riled up emotionally. By just staying in Nabanna, she has ensured that the entire news cycle revolved around her,” said a senior Left leader.

On Saturday, after the West Bengal governor indirectly criticised Mamata, saying that no one should “defame the Army”, the latter immediately retorted, “The governor is speaking in the voice of central government.”

The party, sources revealed, is now planning a massive political campaign across the state, wherein they are going to continue criticising BJP and its demonetisation decision, while Mamata continues her assault on the Centre.

“Mamata has achieved what she wanted to. With the Army and the Indigo issues, she has emerged as the prime face of the Opposition. Meanwhile, the party is working relentlessly in Bengal to ensure that her popularity in the state doesn’t wane. On Monday, the issue is going to once again be taken up in Parliament,” said a close aide of the chief minister.