Bengal between rock and hard place

Mamata’s victory is a welcome news in west Bengal after 35 years of indifferent rule by the communists. At the end of 35 years communists are leaving a state which is dilapidated and ranks low on most developmental parameters.

The communist’s significant achievement is the land reforms act “operation barga”. The small farmer (share cropper) was given ownership rights and much of the land which was under cash crops like jute was brought under food production, making the state self sufficient in food. This ensured their longevity.

For an outsider West Bengal is a poor state where there are frequent bandhs and government does not work. Post liberalization West Bengal is one of the big states which has lost out in putting the state on fast track (look at Maharashtra, Gujarat, AP, TN etc). The lefts dogmatic approach to privatization and inviting private capital for development ensured that all the engineers and other professionals left the state to pursue jobs in other states.

The current chief minister tried to change the thinking in the communists and pushed for reforms but it was too late. They made a mess of the Nandigram, Singur and the Netai incidents which meant the left has become arrogant and lost touch with the common man. The urban voter has deserted the communists’ long time back, with the above incidents even the rural voter rebelled against the high handed behavior of the left.

Beyond the land reforms the communists mishandling of vital issues of state - like industrialization, education, the centre-state relations etc alienated the people. Prakash Karat and gang harassing the Manmohan singh government on the Nuclear issue and forcing a vote in the parliament was not taken well by the people and is a reason for its downfall.

One is not sure if Mamata is the right alternative to the communists, she too has copied the lefts tactics of bandhs, hartals etc to beat them in their game. Her handling of the Railway ministry is nothing much to write about. Can she put West Bengal on the path of rapid development, can she shake up the lackadaisical administration and push other important reforms? One needs to wait and see, but she definitely needs to be congratulated for breaking the lefts grip on West Bengal.