Everyone would say that BJP-RSS won Bengal (I think it will) through a politics of religious polarization. True. But how could they polarize so easily? They barely had any org 5 years back. Communists took 20 years to win power even in coalition +
Never seen the question as to the why of the success of BJP-RSS’ politics of polarization across castes addressed. It is because religion is a major fault line in Indian society at a social and cultural level, not among elites but among middle class to below, far more than caste
Bengal is no exception. All those who spread reams of ink or bytes on how “secular” Bengalis are, both left, BJP-RSS, just do not know the Bengali society from a commoners’ point of view. They have not even talked with common people I suspect, or may even be lying.
The polarization that already existed have exacerbated over years because of appeasement politics by various political parties. Never seen this appeasement discussed so much during left rule in WB because it was not so in your face. This is also why BJP-RSS didn’t succeed.
To see how polarized the society is in Bengal, see who have switched over to BJP-RSS - the CPiM cadres, lock, stock and barrel. These cadres have never read Marx, Engels etc etc, CPIM never indoctrinated them either, they have remained common Bengalis, who are deeply Hindu.
In the last 40 years no party in Bengal made the appeasement an issue, BJP-RSS has. And that’s why you are seeing vote on religious lines for the first time. Ground always existed, BJP-RSS reaped the fruits.
To see the organic faultline, read a recent article by Newslaundry on Bengal. Its clear to me that the journalists talked to real people. The difference in response to Jai Shri Ram slogan of BJP-RSS between the Hindu and Muslim cadres of TMC.
The Muslim cadres are offended at the slogan. The Hindu cadres say Ram is our God too (Ram is a God in Bengal too, just not a commonly worshipped one), but why are they bringing him into politics? Why are they chanting his name while drunk ?
That’s the fundamental religious divide that transcends politics and even nationality. Why do I say nationality ? Look at the millions who changed and still change countries, suffer enormously, but retain their religion. The refugees of religious persecution.
Finally, if you talk to people about what is the number one issue in WB polls. You will get myriad of reasons from those who switched to BJP-RSS. Bread & butter issues. Looking at BJP-RSS’ record in other states, there is no reason to believe that BJP-RSS won’t worsen those.
But people are citing those as reasons. And they are not speaking the truth, sometimes consciously many times unconsciously. Most with jobs etc won’t mention appeasement as an issue to strangers. They would to an insider,one who they know all their lives, they feel safe 2 open up
That’s where you hear the deep discomfort about appeasement even from those who like TMC otherwise, even those who would continue to vote for TMC. This discomfort exacerbates anger on other day to day failings.
Bottomline - a party can not survive in power when seen to be appeasing the other, and thousand faults of a party will be forgiven if it is seen to be one’s own. See how Modi remains popular despite grave failures on measurable metrics.
It speaks volumes of how disjunct our opposition is from the people if despite repeated betrayals only Modi is seen as their own leader.
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