Dialectically Didi

There have been some famous pouters in the history of Indian democracy but no one, arguably, has raised the politics of tactical sulking to the levels achieved by Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee. She has, in the past, kicked up goodly storms over such sundry demands as the non-implementation of the Bengal package, the inaction of the Centre over the CPM’s alleged criminalisation of politics in West Bengal, and the pegging down of kerosene and cooking gas prices. For some reason, Prime Minister Vajpayee has displayed infinite patience in his dealings with the Bengal Tigress, even though she has never failed to respond by mauling him, every now and then.

The time has come to call a halt to this never-ending mission of mollifying Mamata, because it has resulted in not just lowering the dignity of the government but introducing a great deal of acrimony into its functioning. Look at her record this time. First, she demanded the railway portfolio, knowing full well that there is no earthly reason to shunt out the present incumbent from that ministry. When it became clear that the government was in no mood to give in to this demand, she promptly whipped up passions over the vexatious issue of the bifurcation of the Eastern Railway to the point that today relations between Bihar and West Bengal have never been worse, with legislators in both states on the warpath.

The problem with Mamata is that she has not outgrown her streetfighting phase. Her political practice is still imbued with the spirit of mohalla-level jostling. She ends up, therefore, appearing petty, partisan and obsessive, even while occupying positions that require her to transcend narrow considerations. There are suggestions that she may be rewarded for her attempts at arm-twisting the prime minister by being handed over the ministry of surface transport. This will be disastrous. Projects like the Prime Minister’s National Highway Development Programme which are said to be progressing satisfactorily will suddenly be imbued with that special Mamata touch and pretty soon all roads will lead to Kolkata. It’s our considered view, therefore, that Mamata is best kept out of the Vajpayee Cabinet — or, at the very most, be handed over the ministry vacated by another temperamental minister — that of animal welfare.