TMC leader Mamata Banerjee again issued a stern warning against corrupt elements within her party at a ‘Shahid Rally’ in central Kolkata on Sunday (July 21).
Addressing a rain-soaked rally, the biggest and most important of the TMC’s annual events, Banerjee said corrupt people in the party would be dealt with toughly.
The TMC leader asked his party colleagues to lead a frugal life, “eat only rice dal and roti”, shun greed and avoid any kind of illegal activities.
“Stay poor and be happy with what you have at home,” she said, adding that she wanted committed and principled workers in her party rather than rich people.
The stern warning to party workers that Banerjee has been delivering at every party meeting for the past two months was actually aimed at urban voters.
A detailed analysis of the recent Lok Sabha election results reveals that though the TMC won 29 of the state’s 42 seats, the party performed poorly in many urban areas (read here).
The BJP secured a lead in most of the constituencies – 60% of the state’s 125 local bodies and municipal corporations. However, all but one of these 125 municipalities are run by the TMC. The party lagged behind the BJP in around 40% of the constituencies in at least 50% of the urban local bodies in the state.
In the 2021 state assembly elections, the TMC won a landslide victory, winning 215 of the 294 seats in the state assembly, but the ruling party lagged behind in many urban constituencies even within the seats it won.
With her keen political acumen, Banerjee quickly realised that urban voters were angry with the party mainly because of the misdeeds of corrupt party workers.
Ever since the results of India’s Lok Sabha elections were analysed by a small group of party leaders, Mamata Banerjee has been urging her senior colleagues to halt and reverse the party’s decline in support among urban voters.
To achieve this, the party must dispel the widespread perception that TMC leaders and cadres are corrupt, high-handed and involved in various scams and illegal activities, she stressed.
About a month ago, on June 24, she had publicly issued a stern warning to her party colleagues at a party leadership meeting in Kolkata and had criticised several senior party leaders, including cabinet ministers, by name.
Mamata Banerjee correctly observed that in addition to corruption, social problems in many urban areas, including Kolkata, are also increasing dissatisfaction among urban voters.
At the June 24 meeting, Banerjee listed problems in the city that needed to be addressed immediately, including uncollected garbage and poor waste management, potholes on roads, non-functioning street lights and encroachment of public spaces (including footpaths) by street vendors.
She openly accused her party colleagues of accepting bribes and condoning illegal activities, including illegal construction, and of running an extortion ring.
Mamata Banerjee’s warning and advice to her party colleagues on Sunday was part of her ongoing efforts to change urban voters’ perception of the party.
But the fact that she has had to repeatedly convey this message to her party colleagues shows that her warnings and urgings have not had the desired effect.
In Kolkata, the drive to evict street vendors was launched with great fanfare but quickly lost steam in the face of widespread protests from traders who form a key support base for the party.
Similarly, trash is piling up in many city areas, including the places she named at the June 24 meeting.
Moreover, internal party reports found that most party members ignored her warnings against corruption.
“Reprimands and warnings have been issued by the Speaker to some people to change their behaviour but they are being ignored. Extortion continues and many are still collecting bribes to do all kinds of illegal activities,” a TMC leader, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, told Swarajya newspaper.
That’s because some TMC leaders say corruption is so deep-rooted that it cannot be eradicated by mere warnings and reprimands.
“All serving party members, especially ministers and employees of municipal corporations and government undertakings, are expected to contribute large amounts to the party coffers. Where will these contributions come from? Definitely not from our modest salaries or savings. We will not dispose of our assets to donate large amounts to the party. Not donating large amounts to the party coffers will also invite discontent,” a representative of the North 24 Parganth municipal corporation told Swarajya.
“Like charity work, spring cleaning should also begin at home,” the former party leader, who quit the TMC a few years ago after clashing with Mamata Banerjee on several issues, told Swarajya.
What he meant was that Mamata Banerjee should take action against corrupt individuals who are very close to her.
There is widespread perception that some members of Mamata Banerjee’s family have accumulated wealth and own immovable properties in the south Kolkata district where she lives.
“She (Mamata Banerjee) should take action against them (the family) first. People know how they amassed wealth, they can be seen driving luxury SUVs, wearing expensive branded jewellery and living in lavish mansions. Before she became famous, they were ordinary lower middle class people living in very modest homes and leading a simple life. Now they are super rich. So, she should practice what she preaches,” said the former TMC leader.
But Mamata Banerjee cannot take action against family members accused of amassing huge wealth and assets, nor can she take action against key aides, including senior ministers, who are seen as corrupt and living ostentatious lifestyles.
Also, as the representative of the 24th Palgance Municipal Council said, corruption is so rampant in the party that it cannot be eradicated easily. If any action is taken against the corrupt in the party, the party will collapse. The party’s finances will also collapse.
So when Mamata Banerjee warns her party colleagues to eat rice dal and roti and lead a frugal life, her foolish advice is only meant for the general public.
She hopes that urban voters will be impressed by her speeches and start believing that the party is trying to make a new start, but as the saying goes, people are not stupid and you can’t fool all the people all the time.
Also read: Bengal’s urban areas are turning away from TMC, Mamata Banerjee’s outreach likely to be ineffective
Why Mamata Banerjee suddenly realised her party leaders were corrupt
