In fresh Nandigram test for Mamata and Suvendu, BJP banks on TMC ‘rebels’ to clinch an edge

The Leader of Opposition (LoP), Suvendu Adhikari, the former lieutenant of West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee, switched to the BJP in December 2020, three months ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls. Although Mamata led the TMC to a landslide victory in the polls for the third consecutive time, she lost to Suvendu in Nandigram seat by 1,956 votes.

Prepartions for the upcoming Panchayat election in Naandigram. in Purba Mednipur district Express photo by (Partha Paul)

An agricultural belt in East Midnapore district, Nandigram was a key epicentre of the anti-land acquisition movement that helped Mamata end the Left Front government’s 34-year rule in Bengal in the 2011 Assembly polls.

Rinku’s husband Bharat Mondal was among several Nandigram residents who were killed on January 7, 2007 allegedly by the CPI(M) cadres as violence broke out over locals’ protest against the Left government’s bid to acquire farmland for setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the area.

Rinku works at an ICDS centre, earning about six thousand rupees per month. “I could build this house because of Nishikant Mandal. Those who stood with us then will always have place in our heart,” she says. Nishikant Mandal was a prominent leader of the Nandigram movement, who was murdered in September 2009.

Rinku’s next-door neighbour is Padmavati Das, the sister of 17-year-old Pushpendu Mondal who was among those locals who died in March 14, 2007 police firing. “Panchayat election is important for those who are into active politics. It is a test for them. It doesn’t matter much to common people. Nandigram has seen a lot of change. Those who were together are now arch rivals. I lost my brother, who will never return,” she said.

Nandigram, ahead of panchayat polls. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Meanwhile, sitting at a tea stall near Kendamari Gram Panchayat office Sheikh Johir, a local TMC booth president, appeared resentful against his party. “Our party has been labelled with so many names, and so many of our leaders have been named in corruption cases. Despite all this, we stood loyal to the party but we were still not given the ticket (for the July 8 Panchayat polls). My daughter is fighting independently from her area,” he said.

Another local TMC activist Mahananda Panda said, “My party has done development works and that would help us win. Look at the roads and basic amenities here today. There are some TMC people who were denied tickets, so they are upset and causing trouble for the party.” Panda is the husband of Suparna Panda who is the TMC’s candidate from Mohammadpur Panchayat.

A TMC Panchayat leader said, “There will be impact of the Panchayat polls on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, so our party must try to resolve differences with those rebels who are contesting as Independents in Nandigram.” Citing an instance, he said, “In Kendamari Gram Panchayat, out of 22 booths 21 Independent candidates have filed their nomination, with the rebels leaving the remaining one seat for CPI(M) since it is strong there. Such is the scenario. It is their revenge for the party not giving them their dues.”

Sheikh Zulfikar Alam, the husband of an Independent candidate Abida Parveen, claimed: “This time Independent candidates’ chances are good here. Nandigram was the biggest reason for TMC to come to power and Nandigram will also be the reason for TMC to lose power.”

The East Midnapore Zilla Parishad’s deputy chief Sheikh Sufiyan, however, maintained that the Mamata regime has ushered in development in the area. A prominent face in the Nandigram agitation, Sufiyan had been elected as a Zilla Parishad member for consecutive three times in the 2008, 2013 and 2018 Panchayat polls. He was also Mamata’s polling agent in Nandigram in the 2021 Assembly election.

However, the TMC was forced to drop Sufiyan from the party’s list of candidates for the Panchayat election following local protests. It replaced him with Samsul Islam, the Daudpur Gram Panchayat chief.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sufiyan said, “I am a soldier of Trinamool and will obey the directive that my party will give me. Party didn’t give me ticket and that is party’s decision. I trust Didi (Mamata). I will continue to work for the party.”

On the Independent candidates in the Nandigram fray, he said, “There is a number of TMC people who were denied tickets following which they decided to contest the polls as Independents. Vote percentage will reduce and it will also have an impact on Lok Sabha election. We are witnessing effects on the ground with things changing under Nabo Jowar (TMC’s new wave, party leader Abhishek Banerjee’s initiative).”

On March 14, 2007, 14 villagers, including two women, were killed in police firing at Nandigram, who were protesting against the Left government’s land acquisition. The constituency has seen significant development since with smooth roads laid out and concrete bridges replacing makeshift bamboo structures.

“The development work in the area is quite visible now. I am not interested in any political party. Those who moved hand in hand are now against each other. We will remember till our last breath what saw in Nandigram in 2007.

But we are happy with development works here,” said Brishaspati Panja, the 40-year-old owner of a grocery shop located near Tekhali Bridge – the bridge connecting Nandigram with Khejuri that had been a key venue during the Nandigram movement.

Some villagers complained of lack of drinking water sources in the area as women gathered with multiple utensils at a tubewell in Saudi Khali Chor area. “There is one tubewell and all local villagers gather here to collect water. In a day we come here two-three times, sometimes on cycle and sometimes on foot. What is the meaning of Panchayat poll if people are not able to get even such an essential thing for survival,” said Dipti Megda. Her grievance was echoed by other women.

Apprehending poll violence, a local resident Hemant Maiti, whose grandson Biswajit Maiti had also died during the Nandigram agitation in 2007, said, “We have suffered violence. For us the winners or losers are a secondary matter. The primary thing is whether there would be a peaceful atmosphere for people to go and cast their votes.”

Observers believe that the TMC’s “rebel candidates” contesting as Independents would play a significant role in the Panchayat polls in Nandigram, which would see, they say, a three-cornered fight between the TMC, BJP and Independents in several pockets.

Of the total 278 Panchayat seats in Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads in 17 “anchals” of Nandigram 1 and 2 blocks, the TMC has fielded its candidates everywhere while the BJP could not put up its nominees in several pockets.

A section of the local TMC activists, who did not get the party tickets, filed their nominations as Independent candidates across 17 anchals in the two blocks. The BJP is looking to capitalise on the Independents to gain an upper hand over the TMC in the Suvendu stronghold.

“We will win 12 out of 17 anchals in Panchayat polls. In Nandigram 2, out of 114 seats we will get 80 seats. For those areas which are not our strongholds or where we have not fielded candidates, we are opting for other strategies,” claimed Pralay Pal, a local BJP leader.

“There are 5 anchals where minority people have been brainwashed that BJP is a communal party and if it comes to power they will be sent to Pakistan. But if the election is held fairly TMC will have tough time even in those five anchals in Nandigram 1 block,” said Pal.

In the upcoming Panchayat polls, Nandigram would be a test for both Mamata and Suvendu.

In the 2018 Panchayat polls, the TMC had won all the seats in Nandigram. The Opposition was then not able to even file any nominations in Nandigram 1 block.