All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) is into the poll fray for the first time in Jharkhand but the party looking to capitalise on handful of Bengali population in Ranchi constituency may end up as disappointed.
The Mamata Banerjee-led party is probably failing to connect itself with the community. The situation remains same despite representation of former Human Resources Development Minister Bandhu Tirkey for one seat of this party with campaigning vehicles tuning Bengali dialect for seeking votes.
However, a handful of Bengali denizens are favouring TMC on ‘sentimental grounds’ but doubt on casting vote for the same. According to prominent faces among the local Bengalis, this community played a vital role in uplifting the Chotanagpur region since the British rule in every perspective but is today tagged as a ‘minority community’ of the society.
“Jharkhand has completed 14 years of its establishment. None of the leaders of our culture have shown interest in representing State. In such scenario, will the biasness towards Bengali party workIJ We would vote for candidate who has possibilities to uplift our community. As far as I remember, Tirkey never did anything for us during his State ministership tenure and as member of legislature,” said Gautam Bhattacharya, State secretary of Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan. Bhattacharya’s words were supported by Sukumar Sarkar, a retired accountant general office employee.
Notably, various Bengali associations of Ranchi like Union Club, Nikhil Bharat, and Deshpriya Club had requested the government several times to set up infrastructure for showcasing their art and culture but no action is taken by the concerned authorities.
Renowned Bengali writer, activist cum chairperson of Jharkhand State Commission for Women Mahua Maji expressed state’s misfortune for not promoting their community in the field of politics. She said, “I do respect TMC on sentimental reasons but if it is about candidate, my preference will be for the one who has shown fruitful results in women empowerment and for problems of all the communities.”
“We find all the candidates are the same. They ask for votes but rarely think of working for the basic requirements of the society. Bengalis are in minority but no local minister has worked for improving condition of tribals, the domiciles of this State,” said aged gynecologist Papia Roy who has spent her entire life here since birth.
Two faculties of Ranchi University Bengali faculty and Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi hailing from this particular community also shared their preference on candidate’s work record and not on party’s contribution. “As far as we are aware about Bandhu Tirkey, he has never contributed towards the society. Whatever a leader focuses in election campaigns are never implemented in our State,” said one of the faculty.
Criminologist Shantu Chaudhury, House maker Dolly Ganguly and retired school teacher Sikta expressed their inclination for TMC but said that they do not see a prospective future of TMC in Jharkhand compared to Congress, BJP or AJSU.
However, in order to attract voters for TMC, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and actor Mithun Chakraborty will host an election campaign at Morhabadi on April 5, claim sources.
