Blood and soil

There is a total predictability about the pattern politics in West Bengal has plunged into. The politics is grim and gory. The pattern inspires despair and boredom. That is not to disrespect those who lose their lives in Bengals episodic political violence. Its to regret the motifs that punctuate this politics. Thats why it is so easy to guess what Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee would say and how Mamata Banerjee would react,and vice versa. Most hopelessly,everything wrong with this politics has been so very visibly,and for a long time. There are no political secrets in Bengal. And yet,the mortal combat between the CPM and Trinamool continues unabated. There is no middle path,no dialogue. The maximalism of the CPM and Trinamool towards each other is unique.

There are two compounding factors: the Maoists,and the lack of governance since the 2009 Lok Sabha results. In a governance vacuum,life becomes altogether insecure in troublespots. The recent Netai killings in West Midnapore had more gruesome forebears. But the incident eclipsed the half-amusing letter war between Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Chief Minister Bhattacharjee with a reality check. Thus Bhattacharjees visit to Delhi and his talk with Chidambaram admitting the existence of armed political groups and pledging to crack down is still reassuring. Bengal heads for polls in a few months; law and order is a state responsibility. Bhattacharjees administration must govern with fairness and firmness,but not with armed cadres.

The other half of the picture is Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee. Shes yet to demonstrate the sense of responsibility that befits a so-called CM-in-waiting. Trinamool cadres prefer to fight the CPM in the street. And like the CPMs armed camps,their Maoist liaisons are hardly secret. Bengals grim predictability will not break if this political culture isnt discarded. The imperatives for Bhattacharjee and Banerjee are indelible graffiti on the nearest walls.