Why BJP in Bengal is finding it hard to woo bhadralok
Assuming that intellectuals have a huge impact on public life and are capable of shaping public opinion, the BJP has started "Jan Sampark Abhiyan" (or public interface) to help understand the thought process of this section of people who matter, to try and see how they can be won over through dialogues and how some preconceived notions about the party can be amended.
A few months ago, West Bengal governor Kesri Nath Tripathi had invited around two dozens of prominent people of the city for high tea. But the tea party saw very few turning up for the event. BJP national president Amit Shah also wishes to hold such an audience, for an august gathering at a city auditorium. But the wish is likely to remain unfulfilled since many acclaimed faces are determined to stay away from saffron politics.
The BJP’s state general secretary Sayantan Basu alleged that the ruling party was resorting to threats to hold onto the flock, which was disintegrating from within. True, many intellectuals such as theatre artist Saonli Mitra, singer Pratul Mukhopadhyay and theatre director Bibhas Chakraborty have voiced their displeasure over the way the "poriborton" or change had shaped up, but they are not keen about trying something else as an alternative or substitute.
Many of these intellectuals had given the call for "poriborton" during the Left regime, way back in 2010- 11, to consolidate the growing demand of the people for a political change. Thirty-four years of Left rule in Bengal had given it an aura of invincibility, as it were. The intellectuals, who led this "poriborton" movement, helped to dispel that perception and made people realise that the people themselves could orchestrate a change.
So who are these intellectuals that the BJP is counting upon? The hardcore Left intellectuals, who could not be tempted with prized postings, awards and patronage, primarily figure in the BJP’s wish list. With the majority of the state’s intellectuals already owing allegiance to the ruling party, the BJP has a limited number to woo.
The biggest problem is that these men are sticklers for ideology and they have a strong conviction in the Left beliefs, irrespective of whether the party is in the hot seat.
With a vast exodus of Left cadres happening at the grass root level, out of desperation to survive the onslaught of the ruling Trinamool Congress, the party had somewhat felt that the shift of the Left intellectuals to the saffron camp would be smooth. But the party failed to fathom that the breed of Left-minded intellectuals, who could not be cowered under pressure, were a rare breed, and have declined all kinds of temptation.
They have clung on to their belief and ideology as the last straw. Having to deal with such a group, hoping for a change of hearts, is difficult. Nevertheless, the BJP is trying.
The first one to be approached for "Jan Sampark Abhiyan" was veteran film artist and theatre thespian Soumitra Chatterjee. Known for wearing his love for the Left on his sleeve, even in the seventh year of Trinamool Congress’ rule, Chatterjee was a natural choice in the sense that he had no strings attached with the incumbent government.
He never graced the party by registering his presence in any political programmes. Neither could he be seen as a permanent fixture in the list of awardees, who got citation and awards from the government from time to time.
State BJP leader Rahul Sinha, therefore, visited the actor and had an adda over tea and snacks. Chatterjee was invited to be part of a gathering, scheduled to be addressed by BJP national president, Amit Shah on July 27. Chatterjee played the perfect host but politely declined the invitation, officially on health reasons.
In reality, he couldn’t reconcile himself with a party which doesn’t believe in "artistic freedom of expression" and, on top of that, believes in "dividing people on the basis of religion". Chatterjee reportedly told the BJP leader the problems he faced due to demonetisation.
Another theatre artist Chandan Sen has lambasted the BJP government for being unkind to liberal intellectuals such as Girish Karnad and journalist Gauri Lankesh.
There are more intellectuals, mostly Left-minded, in the must-visit list. But the BJP is losing hope as days go by. Shah’s meet with the intellectuals and important persons of the city has got a tepid response. The hope to generate another call for "poriborton" from the intellectuals is not yielding any results.
(Courtesy of Mail Today)