08/02/2025
Article Written By Me and for Hindi Click Below Link:
https://ryvnews.in/arvind-kejriwals-defeat-its-impact-on-mamata-banerjees-political-future/
𝐀𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐞𝐣𝐫𝐢𝐰𝐚𝐥’𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭: 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐣𝐞𝐞’𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
Tℎe R𝑖s𝑒 𝑜f T𝑤o D𝑖s𝑟u𝑝t𝑜r𝑠
Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and Arvind Kejriwal, the face of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), have been among the most influential regional leaders in Indian politics over the past decade. Both started as challengers to established parties—the Congress and the BJP—before carving out their own voter bases. While Mamata Banerjee dethroned the 34-year-old Left rule in West Bengal in 2011, Kejriwal stunned the nation with AAP’s landslide victory in the 2015 Delhi elections, defeating both the Congress and BJP.
Despite differences in their political journeys, their rise to power shares some commonalities:
1. Populist Governance – Both leaders positioned themselves as champions of the common people. Mamata focused on rural development, women’s empowerment, and direct benefit schemes, while Kejriwal emphasized free electricity, water, and education in Delhi.
2. Anti-BJP Stance – Both leaders emerged as vocal critics of the BJP, challenging its governance model and accusing it of using central agencies to suppress opposition voices.
3. Secularism and Patriotism – While both leaders have championed secularism, their approach differs. Mamata Banerjee has often leaned towards minority appeasement, making her a key opposition figure against the BJP’s Hindutva politics. Kejriwal, on the other hand, initially positioned AAP as a party free from communal politics but has, in recent years, adapted a more nationalist stance, openly supporting initiatives like the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
4. Prime Ministerial Aspirations – Both have nurtured ambitions to be a central force in national politics. Mamata led efforts to unite opposition parties under the INDIA alliance, while Kejriwal sought to expand AAP’s presence beyond Delhi and Punjab.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐞𝐣𝐫𝐢𝐰𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐡𝐢: 𝐀 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐚?
The recent loss of Delhi by AAP is a significant moment in Indian politics. The party, once seen as an alternative to the BJP and Congress, is now on shaky ground due to multiple factors:
Arvind Kejriwal’s decline in Delhi signals a shifting political landscape. If Mamata Banerjee does not adapt and consolidate her base while countering BJP’s strategic moves, she too might face a similar fate. The upcoming elections will test her resilience and ability to hold onto her bastion in West Bengal while continuing her national ambitions. Will she emerge stronger, or will she face a fate similar to Kejriwal? The answer lies in the political battles ahead.
The fall of Arvind Kejriwal and AAP in Delhi could have implications for Mamata Banerjee and TMC in West Bengal, but the extent of the threat depends on multiple factors. Here’s how it might impact her:
𝟭. 𝗕𝗝𝗣’𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵:
One of the biggest threats to opposition leaders has been the BJP’s aggressive anti-corruption stance. The AAP government’s troubles began with the Delhi Excise Policy scam, in which top leaders, including Manish Sisodia, were arrested. The ED (Enforcement Directorate) alleged that the scam involved ₹100 crore in kickbacks, weakening AAP’s corruption-free image.
Similarly, Mamata Banerjee’s TMC has been plagued by corruption allegations:
𝗦𝗦𝗖 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗺 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮): Former minister Partha Chatterjee was arrested by the ED after ₹50 crore in cash was recovered from his aide’s residence. The case involved irregularities in teacher recruitment.
𝗖𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗺: TMC leaders have been under the scanner for alleged involvement in smuggling across the India-Bangladesh border.
𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗺𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗺 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭): In January 2025, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly reprimanded Birbhum District Magistrate Bidhan Ray during an administrative review meeting. She expressed dissatisfaction over the rampant illegal sand mining in the district and emphasized the state's loss of revenue due to these unauthorized activities. Banerjee gave the district administration a seven-day ultimatum to address the issue and prevent further illegal sand extraction.
𝗔𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗺 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬): The Amphan Relief Scam (2020) exposed large-scale corruption in the distribution of government aid meant for victims of Cyclone Amphan, which devastated West Bengal in May 2020. The state government had announced ₹6,250 crore in relief funds, but allegations surfaced that a significant portion was siphoned off by local TMC leaders and officials. Reports indicated that in districts like North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, and East Midnapore, fake beneficiaries, including relatives of ruling party members, received compensation instead of actual victims. Protests erupted across the state, with villagers demanding a probe into misallocation. The scam damaged TMC’s image, with opposition parties accusing the government of exploiting disaster relief for political gains.
𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗺 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯): Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched probes into allegations that unqualified candidates were appointed to municipal jobs in exchange for bribes. The scam is believed to have affected multiple municipalities, with officials allegedly demanding ₹5-10 lakh per appointment. The investigation revealed that several job aspirants paid money but never received appointment letters, while others got jobs without proper qualifications. This scam further tarnished the TMC government's image, adding to existing corruption allegations.
𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗺 (𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵): The Rice Scam of 2019 involved large-scale corruption in the Khadyasathi scheme, a government initiative that aimed to provide subsidized rice to nearly 8.5 crore people in West Bengal. Reports revealed that a significant portion of the rice meant for the poor was diverted and sold in the black market. Several ration dealers, allegedly linked to TMC leaders, were caught hoarding and illegally trading food grains. Protests erupted in districts like Murshidabad and Malda, where beneficiaries complained about shortages. The scam highlighted deep-rooted corruption in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and led to CBI and ED investigations into the mismanagement of food supply chains in the state.
𝟐. 𝐄𝐃, 𝐂𝐁𝐈 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐌𝐂 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Just as AAP leaders have faced arrests, TMC leaders like Abhishek Banerjee have been questioned by central agencies. If Kejriwal’s fall emboldens BJP to intensify legal actions, Mamata and her party may face greater scrutiny, affecting their campaign.
𝟑. 𝐁𝐉𝐏’𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐯𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞:
BJP’s Hindutva campaign has successfully eroded Mamata Banerjee’s Hindu vote base, forcing her to adopt a more pro-Hindu stance in recent years. However, with 70% of Bengal’s population being Hindu, the BJP continues to use this strategy to consolidate Hindu votes and challenge Mamata’s hold on power in the state. Hindu Backlash Over Durga Puja & Muharram Clashes, Polarization in Border Districts, The ‘Jai Shri Ram’ Controversy, Ayodhya and the Ram Mandir Factor and Countering Mamata’s Muslim Vote-Bank Politics are been seen as threat in 2026 election.
𝟒. 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐮𝐦 & 𝐁𝐉𝐏’𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:
AAP’s fall in Delhi could allow BJP to consolidate its position further in urban areas. If BJP manages to weaken Kejriwal, it might try a similar strategy in WB, where it has been trying to make inroads. If Mamata fails to counter this, BJP could gain ground.
𝟓. 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭:
While AAP and TMC cater to different voter bases, a perception that strong regional leaders can be “removed” by BJP might create uncertainty among TMC supporters. However, Mamata has a much stronger mass base in Bengal than Kejriwal has in Delhi.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
For Mamata Banerjee, the road ahead is filled with both opportunities and threats. While she remains a formidable force in Bengal, her ability to withstand BJP’s growing influence, manage internal party crises, and retain her voter base will determine her political future. The 2026 elections will be a litmus test of her resilience—whether she solidifies her stronghold or faces the fate of other regional leaders who failed to adapt.
