There is currently an earthquake in the politics of West Bengal over Mamata Banerjee and TMC. This earthquake has threatened the very existence of Trinamool Congress. After losing power in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee would never have seen such helplessness in her political life.
During the good days, Mamata Banerjee gave big positions to those leaders whom Mamata Banerjee brought to the floor, today in the bad days of TMC, almost all of them have changed sides or have left Didi. The situation has worsened to such an extent that around 20 TMC MPs, including both houses of the Parliament, have raised the alarm of rebellion and even decided to sit in a separate group in the Parliament. But in this difficult time for TMC, two Bihari MPs are still standing like rocks.
Amidst this biggest and dreadful disintegration of Trinamool Congress, the biggest relief and encouraging news for Mamata Banerjee has come from two veteran leaders coming from Bihar. Shotgun Shatrughan Sinha and former cricketer Kirti Jha Azad are still standing behind Mamata Banerjee as strong as a rock. While Bengal’s own warlords are leaving Didi alone, these two stalwarts of Bihar have proved that they are Didi’s true and loyal soldiers not only in the pleasures of power but also in this darkest phase of crisis.
When did both the veterans enter TMC?
Both Shatrughan Sinha and Kirti Jha Azad were old and powerful faces of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who later turned to the Congress and joined the Trinamool Congress, expressing confidence in the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.
Kirti Jha Azad’s entry into TMC was in November 2021. Azad had taken membership of TMC in the presence of Mamata Banerjee. Mamta immediately made him the big face of the party at the national level. Presently Azad is an MP from Burdwan-Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency of West Bengal.
Shatrughan Sinha entered TMC in March 2022. Veteran Bollywood actor and former Union Minister ‘Bihari Babu’ Shatrughan Sinha was later elected TMC MP from Asansol. Mamata Banerjee established him in Bengal politics by fielding him from Asansol Lok Sabha seat in the 2022 by-election. He also won the Lok Sabha elections of 2024.
Two Biharis did not leave Mamata’s support!
Mamata Banerjee gave priority to both of them
The respect and political preference that Mamata Banerjee gave to these two outsider non-Bengali leaders within the party is rarely seen in Bengal politics. Mamata Banerjee not only fielded these two leaders in the election field, but also saved them from the tag of being ‘outsiders’ in the era of Bengali identity politics. Shatrughan Sinha was given ticket from a big and Hindi speaking dominated seat like Asansol, where he won with a record number of votes. At the same time, Kirti Jha Azad was also given a big responsibility within the party as a national spokesperson and think tank.
Why Shatrughan and Kirti became ‘Chhattan’
At present, when there is talk of 20 TMC MPs taking a rebellious stand in the Parliament and sitting separately, even then Shatrughan Sinha and Kirti Azad have made it clear that they will not betray Mamata Banerjee under any circumstances. A senior journalist from Bihar says, ‘The value of loyalty in politics is known when the boat is sinking. The local leaders and MPs of Bengal may be knocking on the doors of the rebel group or the ruling party to secure their political future, but these two leaders of Bihar have made it clear that they are fully committed to the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. They will not be part of the rebellion. This step shows that for these two stalwarts, pride in being Biharis with moral values and longstanding respect for Mamata Didi is more important than immediate political gains.
Amidst the rebellion of their own people and the pressure of ‘India’ alliance in Delhi, the unwavering loyalty of these two strong leaders of Bihar is no less than a lifesaver for Mamata Banerjee in this sinking period. It is clear that in the coming days, when TMC will have to reinvent itself, then these two ‘Bihari Babus’ of Bihar will prove to be the strongest and most reliable pillars of Mamata Banerjee’s national campaign.