Trinamool Congress suffered defeat in Bengal due to strong-arm tactics and extortion !

Senior Trinamool Congress leader and MP Sougata Roy admits !

Kolkata (Bengal) – During the election period and even before it, an environment of extreme strong-arm tactics prevailed in Bengal. Local-level leaders and ‘dadas’ (people with criminal tendencies) created a negative environment. They extorted money from people, which sent an adverse message about the party among the public. This admission was made by senior Trinamool Congress leader and MP Sougata Roy in an interview to the news channel ‘News18’.

While Mamata Banerjee was claiming that the elections had not been conducted fairly, Sougata Roy clearly admitted that polling had been conducted completely peacefully. On one hand, Mamata Banerjee alleged that there was a conspiracy behind the defeat; on the other hand, Roy openly acknowledged that the party’s roots had been hollowed out due to the hooliganism and extortion carried out by their own grassroots leaders.

Key points raised by Sougata Roy

1. There had been misuse of power and strong-arm tactics at the local level.

2. A major anti-incumbency wave existed against the party, which the leadership failed to understand.

3. A large-scale consolidation of Hindu votes became one of the major reasons behind the party’s defeat.

4. Polling was conducted completely peacefully due to the strict discipline maintained by the Union paramilitary forces.

5. No discussion has yet taken place with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding these issues.

Editorial Perspective

This comes as an embarrassment for Mamata Banerjee, who blamed the Election Commission and the BJP for the defeat. Unless she introspects over these issues and undertakes reforms, there is little doubt that her party could become history !