Mamata trashes TMC 'chameleons' in new poem as party crumbles after Bengal defeat

Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is known for writing unconventional poems. Amid the growing dissent within her Trinamool Congress (TMC) after the party lost power in the state after 15 years in this year’s elections, she came up with yet another one.

The firebrand veteran has penned "Girgiti" (chameleon), a new Bengali composition, which political observers feel is a veiled dig at leaders who have recently begun criticising their own organisation.

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The poem, which begins with the lines, “They are more dangerous than the chameleon; an impersonator changes colour for income; but those who change their colours, they do so for financial and personal gains,“ was shared on social media on Thursday (May 28).

'How much more do you want to change?'

“How much more do you want to change your character? How much bribery at your feet? How much more do you want to change yourselves?” the poem further asks.

Without naming anyone, Banerjee's poem laments what it describes as the erosion of gratitude, moral values and human sensitivity in public life. It suggests that some individuals conveniently alter relationships, ideologies and convictions whenever circumstances change.

TMC supremo writes with party in doldrums

The composition comes at a time when several leaders of the party have openly criticised the organisation, particularly her nephew and MP Abhishek Banerjee. Allegations have been raised over corruption, the leadership’s style of functioning and the internal operations. Some MPs were also seen speaking against each other. The party has also been rocked by a series of resignations from various posts.

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The TMC’s organisational strength has been exposed so much so that the repolling in Falta, which was a party bastion since 2011, saw it getting pushed to the fourth position, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning it by more than one lakh votes.

The poem also asserts that there are still people in society who remain committed to their principles, though their voices are often drowned out by those who constantly change colours to suit their interests.

Mamata also wrote to target state BJP govt

The TMC supremo has come up with writings after the election debacle of May 4. “Girgiti” follows her earlier composition “Dokhol” (Occupation), which had also sparked political discussion. That poem was widely seen as a critique of the new BJP government of the state.

Since taking charge, the new government has launched drives against illegal constructions and encroachments in Kolkata and several districts with the involvement of civic and police authorities. The demolition campaigns, compared by critics to “bulldozer action” seen in some BJP-ruled states, had drawn a sharp response from the former chief minister through her earlier poem.

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Political analysts said “Girgiti” appears to be Mamata’s use of poetry as a medium to communicate political messages at a time when the TMC is grappling with organisational challenges and defections.

Even many members of the Bengali film industry, who were known to be close to the former TMC government, allegedly took U-turns after Mamata was toppled, triggering a public backlash.

(With agency inputs)