West Bengal has always remained a rebel for the Congress-led UPA which is completing one year in office in the coming days. While it was Prakash Karat-led CPI(M) which led the Left rebellion with UPA-I, it is now the turn of their arch detractor Mamata Banerjee whose Trinamul Congress is the second largest in UPA-II after the Congress. Her party is refusing to toe the Congress line either on the Women’s Reservation Bill or tackling Maoists.
The UPA-I was more comfortable because of West Bengal whose leaders had either played a role of trouble-shooters (Pranab Mukherjee, P.R. Das Munshi) or extended unconditional outside support (by Marxists) for over four years. “They were more reliable (than the curent political parties backing the Manmohan Singh government from outside) and committed to the issues close to their ideology,” viewed a Congress working committee member.
But the Congress’ love for Marxists has made the Trinamul supremo cautious ahead of a big battle for West Bengal Assembly. The Congress’ reluctance to become a B team of Mamata in West Bengal despite being the national party with charismatic leaders, is a clear indicator that the two ruling partners at the Centre are not feeling uncomfortable. West Bengal had dared the Manmohan Singh government in UPA-I when it got ignored on the key issues. And, now, it will be interesting to see how Mamata will act. Will she play a role of DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar or follow the West Bengal comrades. This is because Mr Kaurunanidhi and Mr Pawar have been comfortable with the Congress although they want to check it in Tamil Nadu.