Why the TMC is so serious about Bijoya Sammelani events this year

The annual Bijoya Sammelani events held after Durga puja have this year become a courtroom for Trinamool Congress whose key leaders are using the platform to salvage the party from the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) fiasco. Crowds are witnessing leaders trying to take credit for the government’s efforts in nabbing the perpetrator, Sanjay Roy, in order to control the damage inflicted by the rape and murder of a female medico at the RGKMCH on August 9 that led to some of the biggest protests in recent times in Bengal.
A traditional get-together after the puja festivities, Bijoya Sammelani is a culturally significant event in Bengal. Every year, the TMC organises the event in each of the 341 blocks of the state. Beginning on October 17, 172 blocks were covered by October 21.
On October 14, public representatives and office bearers of the party met chief minister Mamata Banerjee at her residence in Kalighat to exchange Bijoya greetings. According to a senior party leader, the party supremo instructed them to counter with all their might the narrative woven by opposition parties for vilifying the TMC-led government over the incident. She asked them not to waste any time and “get at it” as soon as the festival was over.
“This triggered the decision to use the block-level Bijoya Sammelani events as an outreach programme against the badmouthing we have been subjected to over the R.G. Kar issue,” the leader said. The party leaders have also been asked to build positive public opinion about the death-for-rape bill that the state assembly has passed.
Moreover, as a valuable opportunity to gauge public opinion and identify areas of conflict, the gatherings will help the TMC assess its organisational strength in the districts. “Such social events help bridge the gap between party workers, leaders and local people,” another TMC leader remarked, emphasising the importance of understanding community concerns during this tumultuous period. This exercise has gained significance in the light of the Election Commission of India announcing bypolls to six assembly seats in the state on November 13.
Local block, municipality or assembly leaders have been tasked with organising the events. While senior members of the party will be felicitated at these events, there will also be an attempt to get new members.
At one of these events on October 17, cabinet minister Shashi Panja accused the Opposition of resorting to fake news to tarnish the TMC’s image even though Mamata took all the necessary action against the perpetrator. “The people of Bengal are aware of everything and will judge the situation. TMC workers must continue to protest against this to establish the truth,” she said at Behala, on the southern fringes of Kolkata.
Incidentally, Mamata has been furious with her party leaders for not being “active enough”, especially on social media, to counter the narrative of the Opposition. It is to be seen if the Bijoya Sammelani events turn things for her.
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