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Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

I have been labelled ‘closet bhakt’ for cheering BJP Bengal win. Yay

For all her promises, Mamata Banerjee soon turned into one more pedestrian politician. Ruthless and disingenuous. Anyone was better than Didi. Even the BJP.

Unapologetic confessions of a bhakt.

This column is about an election that was… and a Gala that wasn’t. It’s been a week of major hits and misses as Mamata Banerjee’s TMC was convincingly packed off by the marauding BJP, resulting in a poll massacre that nobody saw coming. The numbers! The euphoria! There was last-minute drama as Didi (shocked into disbelief that she was facing defeat in her very lovingly nurtured Bhabanipur constituency) turned up at counting centres and put on a brave face as long as she could to stall the inevitable humiliation that followed.

Amul dairy brand was the fastest off the block to congratulate the jubilant winners with its ‘Taste of Victory’ advertisement. It featured a caricature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a lotus in his right hand and making a V for Victory sign with his left, while the heading for the ad succinctly stated: ‘Bengal Janata Party’. On point!

As for me, I shot a quickie Insta reel commenting on the poll verdict, in which I congratulated the voters, particularly the women of West Bengal, who ironically ousted another woman from her secure perch. Why pretend? I am glad to see Mamata go! Fifteen years of her chaotic, self-centred and autocratic rule had hardened the hearts of her most ardent supporters who used to swear by her in the past.

I cracked up at the memory of my own up close and personal encounter with the strong woman of West Bengal 15 years ago. The Telegraph newspaper assigned me the duty of covering her campaign trail and spending the day........

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