EVEN as Mr. Suvendu Adhikari got sworn in as Chief Minister of West Bengal -- along with five of his colleagues as Ministers -- the State officially opened its doors for new era of people-oriented governance with a special impetus to development, the like of which the State had not seen in several decades. In the times to come, West Bengal will see the end of the political suffocation that constricted people’s participation in the growth process for cumulative 49 years -- seven terms spanning 34 years of Left front and three terms spanning 15 years of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The State will now see a sunshine of good governance -- as is the method and manner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Of course, it would not be easy to erase the ill-effects of the TMC’s misrule and usher in a reign of promise and hope and positivism.

 

The very fact of regime change has created a new mood in West Bengal. Temples that had been closed for years are reopening. Political parties are getting back their offices -- that had been usurped by the TMC goons. Common people are moving around freely without the fear of being harassed by the ruling party workers and vandals. Groups of people are seen moving around towns singing songs of Lord Rama and rejoicing the ouster of the TMC Government. To that extent, common people’s participation in the State’s growth story would become evident and open -- which was never the case previously. Also, the task may get a little easier even if new Chief Minister Mr. Suvendu Adhikari and his Government decides to start implementing all central schemes that had been held back from the State by Ms.Mamata Banerjee. The moment those central schemes start benefitting the common people of West Bengal, the mood would change, and the texture of social atmosphere would be different.

 

These nuanced changes are already being reported -- as foretellers of the change promising to come over West Bengal. Another pointer to the change was the massive crowds at the swearing-in ceremony on the Brigade Parade Ground. Those crowds demonstrated the sense of freedom common people are now beginning to enjoy in West Bengal. This kind of happy abandon was not to be seen in the State under the TMC rule of 15 years. Under the TMC misrule, the people’s will commandeered to serve the purpose of those in power. That would now change -- the signs of which are becoming visible right from now. Of course, this is just the beginning. Much will happen in the coming times.

 

The people of West Bengal would realise that a free-flowing and healthy relationship of the State when the Centre would start delivering positive results in terms of development and growth, in terms of social and cultural expression, in terms of a corrected law-and-order situation, in terms of illegal immigrants, in terms of national security, in terms of reaching of the benefits of central schemes directly to the people ... ! These are no mean benefits -- in a welfare State. Their collective metaphor has multiple dimensions. The BJP-led Government of the National Democratic Alliance is expected to bring in all those positive changes in the State. There should be no doubt that the BJP regime will succeed beyond normal confines of good administration. This is the people’s belief now -- and that will make all the difference.