The beginning of the end in WB?

If people had any doubts about Mamata Didi, the fighter, then news 'Trinamool Congress outperforms Left in West Bengal civic polls' should settle it. To put in Richie Benaud's terms, she is not a now-and-then-scrapper, she is a real FIGHTER. I hope that she doesnt become complacent because municipal polls are municipal polls and assembly polls are assembly polls. Just because she has won municipal polls, she should not hurry assembly polls. Contrary to some 'analysts' like Cho Ramasamy, who are 'conservative', I would like her to go into Assembly polls alone and 'ignore' the Congress, though support from Centre could be helpful if Trinamool wins as expected and Mamata indeed becomes the Chief Minister. Allying with Congress 'to be safe' will lead to needless nuisance. She should take her time, plan things well and go for the kill ALONE at the scheduled time. In India, only Tamil Nadu and Kashmir can say that they have 'almost banished' Congress. In all other states, Congress is one of the two main parties, if not the ruling party.

Though Uttar Pradesh or Bihar too did not have Congress rule for quite some time, still I suspect Congress always had its 'base' and now it is making a return, apparently due to the drive of Rahul Gandhi. West Bengal has Communist rule for decades and not that I have any axe to grind against them, but I find them to be 'textbookish' communists, talking perenially in jargons and looking towards China/Russia for everything. I think governments in Tamil Nadu (ADMK/DMK) have shown the way for pragmatic Communism and more importantly, 'inclusive growth' in the true sense of the word. Jammu and Kashmir may be another state which also has banished Congress. It is time that West Bengal too displaces Congress formally and more forcefully as the main party in a state. West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are one of the top important states, atleast by numbers. DMK has virtually been ruling for the last three terms, winning parliamentary elections comprehensively, being part of BJP led NDA for one terms and with Congress led UPA for two terms now.

I think Mamata has many factors on her side. The main factor is she is fighting communists. In these days of single mindedness, I wonder how Bengalis voted for Communists for so long. Trinamool infact has the biggest challenge. Even if it wins in 2011, it should know that it cant change things overnight. The entire 'government machinery' has been oiled and used to communist 'methods'. She in all likelihood, can only but 'disappoint' Bengalis, much like Obama in US. Audacity of hope is fine but voters are finicky to expect 'instant' changes, which are definitely not possible in democracy. US or West Bengal.