Nandigram is the key to the political history of West Bengal. This is the reason why the Left Front had to lose power after 34 years. It defeated Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee in 2021, even when her party got a massive mandate. And after 2021, the upcoming panchayat elections will be the first Nandigram to face on the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
To know which way the wind is blowing, News18 turned to Nandigram.
In the 2018 panchayat elections, 17 gram panchayats, 2 panchayat samitis and 5 zilla parishads were won by TMC. Then Suvendu Adhikari was in TMC. This time, it is TMC versus Adhikari, now with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and being seen as the ‘son of the soil’.
Sheikh Sufiyan of TMC, his bravery and more
The mood is palpable as soon as one enters Nandigram. Like 2021, this time also this area is “Kurukshetra”.
Sheikh Sufiyan is one of the prominent TMC leaders in Nandigram. Sufiyan has been an important soldier of Banerjee since the days of the Nandigram movement, when he was the president of the Bhoomi Uchhe Pratidhan Samiti. He has been in the panchayat for more than 15 years. He was Banerjee’s election agent in 2021, but was denied ticket this time.
Sufiyan is a topic of discussion at every tea shop in Nandigram.
News18 visited his house, a ship-shaped building in Shiphbari, which critics call an “embarrassment for the TMC”. Critics also say that Sufiyan was denied ticket because of “this huge palace” and “poor performance in Nandigram in 2021”.
However, TMC party insiders say that this is part of a cleanup against corruption and only those with a clean record will be given tickets. This was the motto of the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee through his ‘Nabajowar campaign’, under which local workers voted for a candidate. Here also Sufiyan is seen losing.
Sufiyan looks relaxed while talking to News18 in ‘Jahajbari’. “No problem. Personally, I feel bad, but I am working for the party.” There are some leaders who vandalized the assembly elections, but Mamata Banerjee is my God. Even if I don’t get the ticket, Didi will win, I know. Why are people questioning my house? I do fish farming business, I have built this house with my own earnings. It barely has two floors…”
On TMC’s expected performance, he said, “TMC will do well, but all the seats may not go to them this time.”
It is clear that he is not happy.
Still Not Safe: The Mighty Family
In 2021, TMC was accused of creating widespread violence after the elections. The matter was taken to court and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the investigation in various cases. One such case was of Debabrata Maiti’s death.
It was alleged that TMC killed Maiti after the election results. The court ordered a CBI probe and police protection for Maity’s family.
News18 went to Maiti’s residence in Chillagram. While there was a police post outside his house, there was no policeman there. The relatives allege that they do not stop for 24 hours.
Maiti’s son Ranjit said, “What happened to my father should not happen to anyone. That’s why we will vote in the panchayat elections. The authorities take care of us, but the police are not always there. We have informed the local police station, but nothing much happened. We are still scared.”
Ranjeet also told that an attempt was made to attack his brother a month ago. The brother said, “They were following me with knives, we are still not safe.”
TMC vs BJP
Though Nandigram has not seen much violence so far, both TMC and BJP are in campaign mode for the panchayat polls.
When News18 visited a local party office, TMC’s new generation leaders were busy with election work. The discussion of the meeting was going on among the banners and skirts.
Block president Bappaditya Garg told News18: “This will be a vote for Banerjee’s development plans. Suvendu Adhikari is an MLA who brought “load-shedding”. We will show them that Nandigram will always be with TMC.
Another youth worker says, there will be no problem if Sufiyan is not given a ticket. “Seniors are guiding us. We are together in the fight. ‘Khela hobe’, you will see only green color on the result day.”
On the streets of Nandigram, there are banners of ‘Khela Hobe’ on one side and officers on the other side.
There is a lot of commotion in the BJP office too. Proloy Pal, BJP vice-president of East Medinipur, told News18: “In 2021, TMC had said that Mamata will win, did they say that? There is something about the officer. He is present with every voter. We are confident that we will win at least 12 panchayats. Officers are our leaders.”
In Birulia Bazar, the seat where Banerjee was injured in 2021, voters are calm about their choice. “Didi has given Kanyashree, Lakkhi Bhandar and other benefits, so we are with Didi, but Dada is also really strong,” Sampa Basak, a woman riding a bicycle, tells News18.
Another woman said: “I hope Dada gets jobs, which the TMC has not done so far.”
Mihir Mindal, sitting at a local shop, says, “We remember 2021. We cannot say which side will win. It is better to say no Baba.