The Party Footsoldiers

We are confident of an absolute sweep

Its easy to spot Ayan Kumar Basu in the crowded,tiled room that is the Trinamool Congress party office of Kankurganchi (Ward No. 31) in North-Central Kolkata. With a sheaf of papers in his hand,Basu is winding his way through a crowd of visitors to the table of the local Trinamool councillor,Sunanda Guha,and backall with a confident tilt of the head. Even while he placates a visibly confused man who has made a mess of his sons school form that has to be attested by the councillor,he does so with a curious mix of self-importance and kindness. This is what keeps us busy for most of the day. We need to guide people who come to the office with grievances or problems, says Basu.

Even as he sends the confused father off with a set of instructions to fill the form,a group of women barge into the office pleading audience with the councillor. Basu politely escorts them to Guha and returns shaking his head. Its the usual landlord-tenant trouble. The problem is that according to the rules of the Election Commission,we cant intervene in these things. They will have to be sent back disappointed, says Basu.

At 27,Basu thinks he has seen it all. I have a retired father at home and a mother who is a homemaker. I have been job hunting for the past five years. I am like a character from the 1970s Hindi films, he laughs. His political career began while he was in his first year BSc at Bangabasi College in Kolkata. I joined the Chatra Parishad (students wing of the Congress) for all the right reasons. I actually wanted to make a change, he says as he pets a mongrel that has curled herself against Basus feet. His name is Lali,he is our lucky mascot, says Basu.

Lali may prove to be lucky for his patrons this year. After all,Ward No 31,which falls under the Maniktala Vidan Sabha constituency,has a chequered history. In the 2006 assembly elections,it was won by the CPI(M),while in the 2001 and 1996 assembly elections,it was won by the Trinamool. We are confident about winning this year. Not just this seat,I have a feeling that it will be an absolute sweep, says Basu.

As the noon hour passes,the office empties to the bare regulars. Basu is in a reflective mood. The money he earns from tuitions isnt enough to support his family. I have written some competitive examinations. Lets see what happens. You see,my story isnt very different from millions of other youngsters in this state. They have been systematically denied opportunities. Today,I have no shame in admitting that I have worked as a gardener to support my family,but why should things come to such a state? asks Basu.

Ayan,wont you treat your guests to tea? asks Guha. A sooty aluminium kettle arrives and earthen cups are passed around. There are days when we forget all about our meals. There is so much excitement in the air, says Basu as he wolfs down some biscuits with his tea.

Tea break over,its time to make some last minute plans for what he calls canvassing innovations. We have to place some bulk orders for

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T-shirts with the Trinamool logo on them. We have also designed some sarees with the Trinamool motif, says Basu. Wall graffiti too is Basus domain. I have studied art for about five years, he says brandishing a cluster of brushes.

Armed with them and two helpers,he sets out for his final task of the daya graffiti. He walks down the narrow lanes of Narkeldanaga basti where kids in knickers follow him asking if they can use colours from his pail. Scoot! he shouts playfully. Amidst the reds and the hammers and sickles,Basu spots a patch of white where he will wield his brush. With two practised splashes of green,the leaves of the Trinamool Congress symbol emerge.