Didi vs Shah as pain politics dominates crucial Bengal polls

The Nandigram incident in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was injured in the leg last week, has changed the political discourse ahead of the crucial West Bengal assembly elections, prompting sloganeering and speeches over what can be termed as ‘pain politics’.

Banerjee, fondly called Didi (elder sister) by her supporters, is currently campaigning in a wheelchair, which analysts say will ensure additions to her sympathy bank after the chief minister’s party (TMC) had alleged a conspiracy behind the incident that led to the injuries.

Much on these lines, referring to her injuries, the Trinamool supremo declared at a rally in Purulia’s Jhalda: “People’s pain is greater than my pain.” “Some thought that I will not be able to step out with a broken leg,” she quipped.

She called herself lucky that she survived the March 10 Nandigram incident, where she had suffered the injuries, and said she cannot walk due to the led plaster. She also said as long as she has her voice and her heart functions, she will continue to fight.

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“Wait for a few days, my legs will be better. I’ll see if your legs can move freely on Bengal’s soil,” said the chief minister without naming anyone, but added, “Only conspiracy.”

Monday’s Purulia rallies were her second in wheelchair. At her first, in Kolkata’s Hazra area, she had asserted she’ll continue to roam around the state on wheelchair and that “people’s sufferings as democracy is being trampled by dictatorship” are greater than her pain.

Meanwhile, Shah, who held a rally in Bengal (in Bankura’s Ranibandh), wished Banerjee a quick recovery, but quipped if she also felt the pain of the families of the BJP workers killed allegedly by her party’s workers.

“Didi, you felt pain when you got injured in your leg. I wish you quick recovery. But, what about the pain of the mothers of 130 BJP activists who were killed by TMC goons. Did you ever try to feel their pain?” Shah said, adding, “You never felt the pain of these people.”

“They will give you a befitting reply while casting their votes in the assembly elections,” he said. He further mocked the TMC for calling the Nandigram incident a conspiracy and said, “I’m a little late today due to some glitch in my helicopter but I won’t call it conspiracy.”

The Union home minister was scheduled to address a rally in Jhargarm district earlier in the day, but he cancelled the visit citing technical glitches in his helicopter, and delivered a brief speech virtually. The TMC used this to target him, with Banerjee claiming that the rally was called off due to lack of attendees, “Had he requested, we would have sent some people to the venue,” she said.

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Banerjee suffered injuries in her left leg, head, and chest while campaigning after filing her nomination from Nandigram on March 10, an incident which her party TMC claimed was the BJP’s conspiracy. The attack allegations, however, were dismissed by Election Commission, which said that the injuries were due to security lapses.

Political analysts suggest that the mere fact that Banerjee was injured and her visuals of campaigning in a wheelchair, a contrasting shift from her usual energetic behaviour, will certainly impact the voters, drawing considerable sympathy in form of votes.

Notably, the Trinamool Congress has gone overboard with the ‘pain politics’ and renamed its election slogan “Khyala Hobe (the game shall be played)” to “Bhanga paaye khyala hobe (the game shall be played with a broken leg)” to highlight the pain of the party supremo.