Trinamool will sweep 2021 Assembly election, says Dola Sen
Amid fierce politics in West Bengal — an ax to grind of BJP, Trinamool Congress (TMC) senior leader, Rajya Sabha MP and INTTUC president Dola Sen is confident of her party winning in the upcoming state elections and retaining the throne for the third time. In an exclusive interview with Simontini Bhattacharjee for the Millennium Post, Sen said, "We are confident of our victory".
Even after the massive 'Modi wave', you have successfully retained the position during the recent Lok Sabha election in the state. But what was Trinamool Congress' biggest challenge?
Firstly, even after the 'Modi wave', the Trinamool Congress not only retained its position but also the mass support, in terms of the vote share, increased by 4 per cent. During the Lok Sabha election in 2014, the mass support for Mamata was around 40 per cent, whereas in 2019 it has increased, unlikely other states, by 4 per cent than the erstwhile. It's quite tough at times. Even, it could be possible for Mamata Banerjee herself and her unlikely mainstream politics.
Secondly, the main challenge for us in the recent Parliamentary election was to combat the 'Modi wave', which is anti-people in a true sense, as it is cosmetic. It is created by huge money and muscle power. The party spent Rs. 27,000 crore for this 'Modi wave'. Whereas, the political parties altogether, including the small regional parties, spent Rs 60,000 crore. The wave is money made and not something in mass. Further, it is for the concoction of the usage of administrative power, Election Commission, central forces and even the judiciary. The important part is the manipulation of the fourth pillar of democracy. They all should be neutral but part of them all were bowed down to the 'power'. In Tamil Nadu, the election was conducted in one day for the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies as there is the 'Bandhu-government' in power, whereas in West Bengal, the election was conducted in 42 parliamentary constituencies in seven phases as a non-NDA party is in power! Isn't it an example of 'inclination'? It was seemed to be that the entire Lok Sabha election was all about West Bengal. In Jammu and Kashmir, if the law and order situation was the issue, then no election should be conducted in the state.
If Lok Sabha election can happen, why not the Assembly election? They have spent around 30 days for the seven phased election in the state. Our party and the other political parties raised this issue on the floor of the House, isn't the 'biasness'?
The political pundits predict that TMC may face a tough battle in both the impending Municipal Corporation election in the next year and Assembly elections in 2021. How do you prepare for both and do you think the party can retain supremacy?
As usual. We are serious about politics. We are serious about people and the election. We are a mainstream political party. There is no special strategy in our part. Because I have already stated that Trinamool has already gained 4 per cent hike in the vote percentage during the last Parliamentary election! Moreover, I must mention that during the erstwhile 34-years Left regime they never managed 44 per cent mass support in any of the elections. Thus, we are confident of our victory. Even in last week, all witnessed that in spite of a vast corporate agenda of media houses against TMC on the occasion of July 21, a huge mass gathered in support of Mamata Banerjee. Despite three major backdraws, the huge flood in the northern part of the state, extreme hot Sunday and fewer numbers of local trains. The central government did not even help us with train mobility.
How will TMC be able to combat such communal campaign?
Not only it was a communal campaign, but it was also based on falsehood. Being the Prime Minister and being the highest constitutional post holder, Modi lied the people. Isn't it? He committed that 2 core youths will get jobs every year, which should be 10 core from 2014 to 2019. Has he confessed during his election campaign that he has failed? On the other side, people lost jobs because of demonetisation. Where is the black money? What about Rs. 15 Laks in each back account of the common people? Even, the cooking gas price! The cost touched Rs. 1,000 mark, what was earlier of Rs. 300-400! During the election time, they reduced it to Rs. 700-800. Therefore, we all feel that Modi should not get more than 300 seats as the prime ministerial face, but his lieutenant Amit Shah committed so. Hence, we strongly claim of EVM manipulation. In our state of West Bengal, it was not religious polarisation, but the political polarisation. If you carefully count, you'll see BJP's 40 per cent vote share is the combination of 9 per cent vote of BJP (2016), 8 per cent vote of Congress (2016) and 23 per cent vote of CPI-M (2016). So, we are seriously claiming of manipulation of EVMs.
It is said that Mamata Banerjee is a 'perfect realisation of Left-class politics' as well a fear for it. Being part of that for a long time, how will you respond?
Mamata Banerjee has always been pro-people. Every mainstream politician should be like her, but not in reality. We consider CPI-M, BJP and Congress as anti-people in all sense. If you see the land acquisition policy, the British era law sustained even in independent India till 2006, it was Mamata Banerjee who fought for the people against the anti-people law in Singur and the constitution amendment took place. Even for her pro-people stand, she withdrew her support from the erstwhile central government! She stood against and protested UPA-II's FDI policy as it was anti-people. Where were BJP and Left? Did they oppose? She is the first one who raised her voice against GST.
Being a trade union leader how do you respond to the continuous struggle in labour reformation?
Few points I want to raise. To address the unemployment issue, Modi is a big failure. Because of the data on job generation which was supposed to be published before the general election, but due to power politics, it came later. Even the incumbent government at the centre addressed in the Parliament that the last five years tenure from 2014 to 2019 had been the highest unemployment period in 45 years. Whereas, the CAG report says that the Mamata government has been able to generate 40 per cent more employment! It is not magical as she addressed the issue most effectively. It has also been acknowledged by the centre.
Coming to the important part that even Modi's this second government is anti-people as well. Because sooner it came into power the government announced the disinvestment of 43 PSUs. The Budget, and Cabinet decisions confirmed it. But out of the 43, 90 per cent PSUs are profitable. They are self-dependent and need no policy to revive them. Railways is profitable, Air India is profitable and even the Bengal Chemical, SAIL, Alloy Steels Plant, DSP, VSP they all are getting disinvested. What about BSNL? We will continue our protest both outside and inside of Parliament.
As a Parliamentarian what are your major priorities?
Along being a Parliamentarian, I am a trade union activist. I consider myself so as I am Mamata Banerjee's follower. Since the last four and a half years, I am in Rajya Sabha and part of the policymaking committees. I had always tried to protest the anti-labour and anti-people role of the government and will continue to do so.
