Kolkata: Since May 20 this year, when chief minister Mamata Banerjee won the mandate to rule the state for a second consecutive term, five opposition party legislators — one from Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) and four from Congress party — have joined the ruling Trinamool Congress.

Of the 294-seats in the state assembly, TMC had won 211 but, in the last four months, the party strength has risen to 217 members in the legislative assembly.

Along with it, more than 200 councillors of municipalities and corporations, 50 district council (zila parishad) members and a few hundred panchayat (village council) members have switched to the ruling party.

Lured

This means that over a dozen municipal bodies ruled by the Congress or CPM have been grabbed by TMC.

Of 126 municipalities in the state, 120 are now controlled by the ruling party. Congress has been the biggest loser, having lost three district councils — Malda, Murshidabad and Jalapiguri.

“If elected representatives themselves want to join our party why can we do,” said parliamentarian Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of the chief minister.

Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Abdul Mannan has accused the TMC of “poaching” on Congress and Left Front legislators by luring them with “money”, “positions” and the threat of court cases.

“They (TMC) have won 211 seats in the last Assembly polls but still, they want more seats. They are poaching on Congress and Left legislators. Once they join the TMC, they are inducted into the party’s core committee,” Mannan said.

Similar views were echoed by CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty, who is believes that Mamata is keen to establish one party rule in the state. “Our leaders be it legislators, or councillors are being lured with money and if they disagree court cases are being thrown at them with the aid of the police,” Chakraborty.

“We are not forcing anyone to join our party. If someone willingly joins us can we refuse? Elected representatives have the right to select the party they want to join, we have not targeted any one,” said Abhishek.

“Money, allurement of plum position and threat of physical assaults have been effectively used by TMC to split our party. There is incredible pressure on those wanting to hold on to their principles. Fall in line or face the music is the message that is being surreptitiously given to every opposition politician,” said state Congress party president Adhir Chowdhury.

Congress party is now exploring the idea of approaching the Calcutta High Court to seek cancellation of the legislative membership of those who defected. “Those who have been elected on a Congress party ticket should resign from the assembly. They are cheating the people of their area,” said Manna.

Within TMC there is a concern among many leaders as this tactic runs the risk of a huge cascading effect, should there be a reversal of the political fortunes and a crack in the support base in future. “There is no need for us to do all this. People have given us a clear majority and the party and the leadership should work towards serving the people. This in effect will become counterproductive,” said a senior TMC leader, unwilling to be named.

Others believe that it is Mamata’s dictatorial style of functioning which is leading to this as she wants absolute power. “In democracy it is the people who have absolute power. Even if she wins 294-seats she still will have to go for elections in 2021 and seek the mandate of the people. Also a state being devoid of opposition is not good for democracy,” said Sudarson Dasgupta, a political observer.