A political slugfest started over the TMC’s resolution to subject former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan, who belongs to Gujarat, from the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal. (Picture: @iamyusufpathan/X/File)
The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC banked on the “outsider” narrative, particularly when the BJP fielded non-Bengali candidates from different states, however has itself declared candidates from Gujarat and Bihar
At the very least three candidates within the TMC listing, launched forward of the Lok Sabha elections, are usually not Bengalis or residents of West Bengal. The Mamata Banerjee-led get together banked on the “outsider” narrative, particularly when the BJP fielded non-Bengali candidates from different states, however has itself declared candidates from Gujarat and Bihar.
Senior TMC leaders stated the choice was made for the sake of an “inclusive India”, and the get together solely calls these outsiders who humiliate the state and insult its individuals. After the listing was launched, a political slugfest started over the TMC’s resolution to incorporate former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan from Gujarat, actor Shatrughan Sinha and cricketer-turned-politician Kirti Azad from Bihar.
Senior leaders of the BJP attacked the TMC with its personal “outsider” jibe, whereas the TMC talked about “inclusivity”. The get together stated it doesn’t name an individual an outsider primarily based on their domicile, however there have been some politicians who wished to “seize” Bengal with cash and muscle energy. These, they stated, had been the “actual outsiders”.
“There are situations when senior politicians or necessary members fought elections from Bengal. Dr BR Ambedkar contested from the state, Krishna Menon additionally did. We don’t name politicians or anybody outsiders except they insult Bengali tradition and the state,” stated TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy.
The “outsider” marketing campaign
Though the political melee continues, a detailed have a look at TMC’s electoral historical past will present that that is the primary time the get together has fielded three candidates from outdoors Bengal. Within the 2014 and 2019 polls, it didn’t subject anybody whose origin was not Bengal.
Actually, the TMC ran its marketing campaign in opposition to “outsider” candidates and leaders because the BJP fielded some candidates, who weren’t from the state. Within the 2021 meeting election, too, its marketing campaign in opposition to the BJP revolved round “Banglar meye” (“Bengal’s daughter”) whereas calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union dwelling minister Amit Shah and different senior leaders “outsiders”.
A senior get together chief stated the TMC desires to be “inclusive”, and desires nationwide outreach. “We wanted to subject some well-known personalities in politics and different fields who will convey the nationwide narrative to the desk and to Parliament. We have to make an outreach to the nationwide voter base as properly,” the chief stated.
“The BJP has conspired in opposition to us and made the EC (Election Fee of India) cancel our nationwide get together standing. However we are going to convey it again. We elevate points from all states; we elevate problems with India in Parliament; and now we would like our MP listing to mirror that concept. We have to shrug off the regional get together standing,” the chief added.
In latest occasions, TMC nominated Saket Gokhale and despatched him to Rajya Sabha as an MP. He’s additionally from Gujarat.
