Nandigram: Winds of change are again blowing over the political landscape of Bengal 12 years after an anti-land acquisition movement swept it, changing its political contours and ending a more-than-three-decade Left Front rule.
Now, nearly a decade after the ascension of Trinamool Congress (TMC) to power, villagers in Nandigram, often touted as the 'cradle of change', feel disenchanted. They are yearning for another change.
Nandigram in East Midnapore district along with Singur in Hoogly district are considered to be the pillars on which the Trinamool government, led by Mamata Banerjee, rest.
But now, as they take stock of the losses of the violent anti-land acquisition stir, a sense of betrayal is seeping in.
The blood-laced stir over land acquisition for a 14,000-acre chemical hub project by Indonesia's Salim Group, in January 2007, led to the death of 14 farmers in police firing in March.
The Left Front government was in power then.
In 2011, Mamata stormed to power.
Eight years down the line, social disparity, development and fortune for a "selected few" have not only angered the locals but also forced some to think of an alternative.
"What did we get out of the anti-land acquisition movement? We were used as pawns in TMC's political fight. We still live in abject poverty. Had there been an industry, we would have got jobs," said Haripada Mondal, who was part of the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC), formed in 2007 to protest against the land acquisition.
The BUPC was backed by the Trinamool Congress. After the Trinamool came to power, it absorbed most of the BUPC leaders.
Mondal represents more than 80 per cent of marginal farmers of Nandigram, who earn Rs 200 for a day's work.
They live in abject poverty, with most of their children venturing out of the state in search of jobs in Gujarat, Mumbai, and Odisha.
But the picture is different for the rest of the 20 per cent of farmers with large landholding; they have doubled their incomes in the last few years by engaging in shrimp farming. Coincidentally, most of these farmers are active Trinamool backers.
These farmers have converted their agricultural land into water bodies and have started shrimp farming since 2012 reaping in huge profits.
"Most of them, who now roam around in SUVs and have made three-storey buildings, earlier used to have a tough time in getting two square meals a day. Where from did they get so much money? We feel betrayed," said a farmer, pointing at the house of a local Trinamool leader.
Some development did take place in the area – readily available drinking water, cent per cent electrification, bridges, metalled roads, hospitals and schools.
But corrupt Trinamool leaders have angered the masses.
"Almost all the local TMC leaders are now leading a lavish lifestyle. Where from are they getting so much money? Our living standards have not changed much. To avail government benefits we have to bribe local TMC leaders. Did we fight against CPM for this day," said Rezaul, a local shop owner of nearby Khejuri block, which also witnessed blood spilling on to streets during the violent stir.
This simmering anger against the local Trinamool is music to the BJP in East Midnapore district, which has two Lok Sabha seats, Tamluk and Kanthi.
"These are baseless allegations against the Trinamool. We have worked tirelessly for the development of the area," said Dibyendu Adhikari, Trinamool candidate from the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat.
In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP secured six per cent votes in Tamluk. In the 2016 bypoll in this seat, the saffron party's vote share surged to nearly 16 per cent votes.
In nearby Kanthi South assembly constituency bypoll, the BJP increased its vote share from eight per cent to 31 per cent in 2017.
In last year's panchayat polls too, the BJP made some gains despite the domination of the Trinamool.
According to the BJP leadership, in order to stall its growth, the Trinamool even allowed the CPM to reopen its party offices in Nandigram, after a gap of 12 years.
Both TMC and the CPM have denied the charges
"It's an open secret that TMC is helping CPM in the area to cut into anti-TMC votes. But it will not help TMC. Rather it would cause more damage as people would get to see the Trinamool joining hands with CPM, the architects of Nandigram carnage," says BJP state president Dilip Ghosh.
Perhaps, Nandigram's political battles are far from over.
