The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
‘Every possibility BJP would not get majority, then TMC will play major role’
ONE OF the most senior TMC MPS, SAUGATA ROY is contesting this time from the Dum Dum LS constituency that he has represented since 2009. The 76year-old started his political career in the Congress, switched to the TMC in 2001 and was elected to the Assembly from Dhakuria in south Kolkata. In recent months, he has faced criticism from some quarters of his own party who called for an age bar for contesting polls.
In an interview with RAVIK BHATTACHARYA & ATRI MITRA, Roy speaks about his assessment of the elections, the INDIA alliance, corruption as a poll issue, and his own poll battle. Excerpts:
What is your reading of how LS polls have gone till now?
This is an election that will determine many things. The present government at the Centre is displaying authoritarian tendencies. The media is among the institutions affected. Modi has pursued a communal agenda during the campaign. The INDIA alliance has not yet come together but a situation may be thrown up where there is a (need for a) positive alternative to the present.
What is your assessment of how BJP and TMC will do?
The BJP will fare badly at the national level... get 246 seats. In Bengal,theywilldobadly.weare hoping for at least 36 of 42. But, again, this estimation is without studying the situation on ground.
How will the Congress-left alliance perform in Bengal?
I doubt if they will win a single seat.
The Left believes it’s on cusp of reviving itself in Bengal...
Left rejuvenation is a creation of media. The Left does not have a single MLA or MP from Bengal. What rejuvenation are we talking about?
The INDIA alliance could have contested together in Bengal, but that did not happen. Will TMC continue to remain part of the alliance after the polls?
What Mamata Banerjee has said is the party line. There is every possibility that the BJP will not get a majority. If that happens, the INDIA bloc may come together... Then, the TMC will play a major role (in the alliance) as we will have a lot of MPS.
Are corruption allegations against a section of TMC leaders a major problem for the party?
Corruption is an irritating factor. But in Indian politics, I have seen corruption does not become a big election issue, especially at state level. You look at Jayalalithaa, she had 300 or 500 pairs of shoes. She won the next election. People who have been labelled as corrupt have done well in elections.
The ED arrested Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. There have been ED raids in Bengal too.
I have never seen a party like the BJP that has used central agencies so badly. Has there been a single conviction? Their purpose is to just give a bad name. As Mamata often says, the BJP is a washing machine... Look at Himanta Biswa Sarma or Ajit Pawar.
A section of party leaders pointed fingers at your age and said senior leaders such as you should not contest polls...
Mamata Banerjee has given me the nomination. The party needs experienced leaders... Age alone does not determine a candidate’s level.