FINALLY, the meek grumble within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is taking shape of a public dissent as the West Bengal Government continues to flounder over the handling of the rape-murder of ‘Abhaya’ at the RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. Even as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a deep probe in the case and arrested the ex-principal of the hospital, Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee has been dealt a political blow with the resignation of TMC Member of Parliament Mr. Jawahar Sircar. It has lifted the lid off the rebellion brewing in the ruling party as many more are set to grill Ms. Banerjee for her mishandling of the entire incident. The cookie is slowly crumbling for TMC. Mr. Sircar’s letter to the TMC leadership sums up the atmosphere of confusion and fear prevailing in the party and the growing disillusionment with Ms. Banerjee’s style of functioning. He has protested the strong-arm tactics of a section of leaders in the TMC while flagging the “unconcerned” approach of the Government about corruption. The situation has led Mr. Sircar to totally shun politics and return to “normal life” which again underlines the rot prevailing in TMC and the West Bengal administration.

 

The RG Kar Hospital episode seems to have become the boiling point for the frustrated members in the party as many are publicly voicing their concerns. It is a signal for Ms. Banerjee that dissent cannot remained suppressed for long with a high-handed approach of leadership. The junior doctor’s rape-murder is set to haunt the TMC Government with repercussions all over the State. The biggest indicator of a changing public mood in West Bengal is the long-standing protest over the RG Kar Hospital case. Despite the intervention of the Supreme Court and launching of probe by the CBI, public protests have not stopped. It is a signal of tremendous angst and total no-confidence against the Government. This is a new challenge for Ms. Banerjee and TMC who have used browbeating as a potent tool to quell unrest in the civil society since assuming power. The protests, backed by celebrities, top names and also leaders belonging to TMC, have shown that the civil society in West Bengal is not afraid of political parties and politically-controlled administration.

 

Though the West Bengal Legislative Assembly passed the ‘Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024’ to instill confidence in the medical fraternity in the State, the step has come too little and too late. It was political compulsion that led the cornered Ms. Banerjee to bring the legislation. The explosion of societal emotion in the State, and also across the country, will not soften with one such step as the grouse against the Government is too serious. There is a growing impression that the West Bengal Government is suppressing many facts and shielding the actual perpetrators of a bigger racket that might have led to the gruesome rape-murder of the junior doctor. Mr. Sircar’s resignation letter, too, points to the same facts in an indirect manner. The time Ms. Mamata Banerjee has taken to assess the situation and form her response has escalated protests in the State. It has also sowed suspicion among her own party cadre that the Government’s dilly-dallying has some hidden personal agenda. Subsequent responses from the CM office and cosmetic action by the police only added to the confusion and disillusionment within the party. It has come to a point where there is growing distrust with the leadership. Some have already voiced their concerns but with Mr. Sircar going ahead with his resignation, the floodgates might open soon in the TMC.