While a previously unthinkable saffron surge is unfolding in Bengal, it might just be the beginning of a much bigger, bloodier and more dramatic change. The BJP top leadership plans to topple the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool government by as early as November this year, insiders have told MyNation, although the state Assembly elections are scheduled for 2021.

Buoyed by what looks like an unprecedented number of seats in this Lok Sabha elections, the BJP will push for more defections, a trend presided over by crossover big gun from Trinamool Mukul Roy. Roy has been poaching from his erstwhile party, some would say indiscriminately, and a sparkling show by the BJP his election further emboldens the trend.

PM Narendra Modi had already warned of being in touch with at least 40 Trinamool MLAs. Now BJP sources say about a 100 Trinamool legislators are in touch with the party.

What may hasten Didi’s fall

What could precipitate matters in the BJP’s favour is Mamata’s brash and increasingly violent handling of the state. Bengal saw unprecedented violence in the run-up to the poll. There have been widespread reports of intimidation, attempted and actual rigging, attack on journalists, opponents and even election officials.

Before that, she presided over a spate of sinister political murders — several killed and hung from trees — particularly in places like Purulia where the BJP has been growing rapidly.

She has made Bengal a fit case for President’s Rule. And if predictably she refuses to accept the mandate and creates a constitutional crisis, she would walk right into the BJP’s trap.

A brief spell of President’s Rule and a massive spree of defections will set the stage perfectly for the saffron camp to go for the kill and snatch Bengal from her in an election as early as this year itself.

The BJP’s Bengal commander-in-chief Kailash Vijayvargiya has openly told local channels that the party would look at toppling the Mamata government this year itself.

In a conversation with MyNation before the elections, one of the seniormost persons in the BJP campaign had said, “We will not let Didi complete her term. We will break her party every day. I have got a free hand from the topmost leadership this time for Bengal.”

The deadline is November. Topmost BJP sources told MyNation the party would go for the kill before that and topple Didi’s government.

How Bengal is being won

The BJP has reason to be ambitious. At the time of writing this piece, it was leading in every single seat in North Bengal, faring well in ‘Jangalmahal’ comprising three tribal-heavy districts, and denting some of Mamata’s formidable forts in the south of the state as well.

Another remarkable aspect of the BJP’s success has been the SC/ST vote. Campaign focusing on the local SC ‘namo-shudra’ community bore results with ground mobilisation and catchy slogans like ‘Namo-Shudras for NaMo’.

Also, the young, committed and growing cadre of aggressive Sangh organisations like Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Durga Vahini worked risking their life and limb against the country’s most hostile state regime.

Insiders say the BJP has set November as the deadline before which to bring down the Mamata government. The clock is ticking. Just that its hands and dial may get smeared in blood if the CM continues her style of politics and the BJP decides to dig its heels in.

