Mamata's new tune

She is now taking pains to live down her image as a street politician prone to taking anti-industry positions

Meet the new, improved leader of the Trinamool Congress

The clear victory of the Trinamool Congress in two West Bengal assembly by-elections, after its spectacular win in the parliamentary elections in May, has put the party in line to win the state in the assembly elections that are due in 2011. Perceiving the chief ministership of West Bengal as now being within her reach, the mercurial Mamata Banerjee has been taking pains to live down her image as a street politician who is prone to taking anti-industry positions—an image that crystallised after her agitation at the gates of Tata Motors’ Nano complex in Singur last year drove the project out of the state. After having announced recently that she was against road blockages and agitations at factory gates, and promising that her party would not call any more bandhs, or general strikes, she climaxed the effort with a two-and-a-half hour open house session last week with the state’s major investors. This was even as the by-election results were being announced. By all accounts she carried herself well, fielding questions clearly and effectively, and not losing the opportunity to tick off a couple of businessmen who were not doing their bit after the government had done its own.

Ms Banerjee’s about-turn has raised several questions. Having driven out an industrial house like the Tatas, who play for the long term, is she left to rescue the situation by seeking the support of second-rung businessmen? She certainly understands what is good for her politically — in this case winning over the middle class by showing that she is in favour of industrialisation — but does she care for or understand what it takes to promote development, which is a long-term endeavour? Those willing to give her the benefit of the doubt say that the change of tactics is the result of advice given to her by a group of astute professionals. Optimists also point with approval to Ms Banerjee’s focus on building other leaders in the party, with the older, established party leaders moving to the Centre. The two by-elections became necessary because two newly-elected MPs resigned their assembly seats.

Despite the corrective actions that the Trinamool leader has taken, an overarching concern remains. In West Bengal, the opposition conducts its politics on the streets while the party in power counsels responsible politics as it tries to get a few things done. The Left came to power via the agitation route, and Ms Banerjee has sought to shift gears as soon as she has sensed power coming her way. The risk is that if she wins the state, the Left might go right back to the streets while her government struggles with the task of development amidst the politically-induced disruption. West Bengal’s politicians should take a leaf out of Tamil Nadu’s book; the two major political parties in the state keep their rivalry out of the development process. The optimistic view is that the decline of the Left has been so precipitate — it has now started losing support among even trade unions and students — that it will take some time to organise and get on to the streets after a defeat, thus giving a future Trinamool government the time to produce quick results. Others will reserve judgment.