Will Didi disappoint?

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This 19th century quote by Lord Acton is being proved right yet again in the 21st century. When Didi came to power I had a doubt. She was no doubt a popular leader, a demagogue even. But would she be an effective administrator? Mamata was in a sense lucky. There was a lot of effort which went into unseating the Left in West Bengal. However Mamata turned out to be the right person at the right place at the right time. Further had Nandigram and Singur not happened, who knows, maybe even today she might have been in the opposition benches?

I was talking to a person from Kolkata recently and happened to ask him if Mamata had managed to bring about any changes (remember her statement about changing Kolkata into London?). Yes, definitely was his response. Previously a policeman used to let you go if you bribed him maybe 5-10 rupees, today (I was expecting him to say there is no corruption) he charges 100 rupees to do the same! Just take a look at the recent events that have been in the news. A lady was raped after she stepped out of a Park Street nightclub. The blame was put on the Left. Look at how Mamata's relatives and supporters are brazenly showing their power. Initially she was running to Pranab da for assistance packages. Then she announced an autonomy package for the hilly regions of Bengal the validity of which was questioned later. Today she is one of the primary antagonizers of the government.

When the UPA came to power the second time, this time without the support of the Left, it was felt reforms could go ahead. However Mamata has replaced the Left as the principal opponent to anything related to the free market. She refuses to raise railway fares (I believe some time back the railway's cash reserves were below one crore). She refuses to let the government decontrol fuel prices fully. FDI in the retail sector? Baba, ki bolcho? Ae rokom jinish hobe na! (God, what are you saying? Such things cannot happen, my words). Railway safety, in the mean time might have gone to the dogs. Dinesh Trivedi, her acolyte and the present railway minister does not seem to be doing anything. Pariborton or change for the uninitiated is only that which is sanctioned by Didi. She might want to bring Bengal (and maybe the country) to its knees. However she should remember that people should go down on their knees in gratitude than in submission and coercion.