Other populists have changed. Populists mature in office — even populists who run that holy grail of the populist politician, the railway ministry. Lalu Prasad Yadav seems to have done well in that ministry, and Nitish Kumar used it as a springboard to attempt the unthinkable, reforming Bihar. Mamata alone remained unchanged. More, she has little sympathy for those that attempt to modify their populism once in office; she famously reined in Subrata Mukherjee when he, as the Trinamul mayor of Calcutta, attempted to get tough on those defaulting on their dues to the corporation.

Mamata’s populism has never been aspirational. Reflecting a city and a culture rooted in the past, her populism is confrontational, denying change. And yet, her populism has never won her an assembly election; and, in spite of the Trinamul’s success at the panchayat polls earlier this year, the LF still looks secure. There is a lesson here for all those who oppose, and get to be really good at it: people will think that is your core competence, and keep you in opposition.

mihir.sharma@expressindia.com