It is not surprising and at the same time depressing that a current day rare politician who dares to live by principles is termed a lunatic. Who of politicians, corporates and media are more desirable to steer the destiny of this nation - principled ones or corrupt ones (including indirect beneficiaries like the PM who loves the power of the chair). Imagine, what would have happened if Gandhi who was chiefly instrumental in getting us the freedom was politically corrupt like the politicians of the day. Corruption and misrule in a natural and sure fall out of lack or absence of idealism and not the other way round which is what the country is witnessing. The people who are at the receiving end need to ponder seriously. Mamata may be fighting a lonely battle but it is worth sacrificing one's political thumb for.

I am a senior citizen.I grew up in Independent India and sadend to see our well fed politicians protesting against FDI.THERE was no ordinary citizens for whom they protested. They were shedding crocodile tears for the poor of India whil.e promoting themselves

The hue and cry against home makers being provided a financial benefit by the husband is a total hypocrisy.It is a naked truth that in-spite of the glorious so called tradition that the lady of the home is worshiped in India, the lady of today's era is pathetically at the mercy of the male members for their financial needs.It is right that their role cannot be weighed in terms of money but it is equally true that any chance of empowering her should not be stopped due to a lot of drama and cinematic dialogues by a group of hypocrites.Ms.X

Our UPA GOVT, IS NOT ONE PARTY GOVT. AND THEREFORE IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSULT ALL ITS ALLIANCE BEFORE GOING INTO ANY CONCLUSION. BUT CONGRESS ALMOST FORGOT IT AND STARTED THINKING THAT INDIA IS THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY AND SO THEMSELVES DECIDED TO SELL IT TO AMERICA IN THE NAME OF FDI. IT IS HIGH TIME FOR CONGRESS TO TAKE FRESH MANDATE FROM THE COMMON PEOPLE OF INDIA.

The hope of change has sadly become a despair of status-quo. Status quo,as far as prosperity and effective governance of WB is concerned. The economic dark age that the state was thrust into by the regressive left will see no bright revival any sooner. The lady tyrant in the saddle has her own whip that can scare away any capital to fly into WB. If goondas with the red flag made life miserable for an otherwise soft spoken Bengali, the new age goondas of TMC are no better. The combined ill effect on economy and governance by one Mamta is equivalent to 1000 commies of the Jyoti basu kind.For the CPM in WB, if they have enemies like Mamta, who needs friends anymore!! Through the tyranny of her misplaced rhetorics and obstinacy Mamta is very effectively scripting the revival of the red brigade more than her own fall. That,is the real tragedy of west Bengal.CONTD NEXT..

Her inbred insecurity could not have got a more eloquent expression but through her intolerance to criticism or refusal to toe her line. The lady in perpetual protest ironically cannot stand any protest against herself. In Mamta%u2019s wonderland, obedience and obeisance seems to be the only permissible religion. This attribute of hers could have been mistaken as arrogance, but for an angle of obstinacy and ignorance to it. With a motley group of 19 MPs in lok sabha, she assumed a national relevance through blackmail tactics on a weak coalition. Even as governance lie in a state of comatose in her own backyard, she feels appropriate to bulldoze the government into submission by blocking bold rational economic initiatives like FDI in retail or petroleum price rationalisation. The fact that option of implementing the policy in her state is left to her is virtually lost on her as she is too rash to realise her obstinacy is an infringement on other state%u2019s choice. CONTD NEXT POST

Mamta and her party already achieved their highest pinnacle of their political dream when they wrested the power from the left. Thereafter, it is all blank. They have nothing more to offer. Governance was never on her primary agenda, it was an incidental indulgence post victory. Local domestic policy framing, , tackling crimes , seeking accountability and efficiency from officials, addressing local issues with clarity and transparency etc are there fore alien to her and of no consequence. She has to be in a constant state of protest against something or someone for her very existence. Being in power is also eventually a heady experience. The sense of invincibility, infallibility and omnipotence takes over the best of balanced minds once in power. For Mamta, this transformation was almost instantaneous. Thus, the mandate she got quickly was translated into a licence to rule by whims.

Mamta and her party already achieved their highest pinnacle of their political dream when they wrested the power from the left. Thereafter, it is all blank. They have nothing more to offer. Governance was never on her primary agenda, it was an incidental indulgence post victory. Local domestic policy framing, , tackling crimes , seeking accountability and efficiency from officials, addressing local issues with clarity and transparency etc are there fore alien to her and of no consequence. She has to be in a constant state of protest against something or someone for her very existence.

More than a year now in the renewed Writers building in Kolkata ,the messenger of this change looks quite different , both in practice and promise. In retrospect, the hope one saw in her fiery speeches and brisk strides in slippers during those long campaigns and at victory moment was a mirage, a make believe that was designed for effect rather than delivery. For, the persona called Mamta is fully revealed now. It neither has a mass of wisdom, nor any depth of vision. The range and depth of the phenomenon called Mamta begins and ends with fiery slogans and throwing tantrums. Little did the electorate know then that for people like Mamta, street protests and demonstrations with high decibel rhetoric are the only form of existence and the ultimate form of political identity. The political manifesto of the party led by such personality is as bankrupt as their leader.

Good decision could have been criticising govt , pulling her ministers out but keep supporting from outside. But the pressure built by Left has worked and she pulled out support. Now she's gonna gonna lose a few thousand votes coming from congress's kitty if they would fight the election jointly. These few thousands votes in each parliamentry constituency can turn the tables on mamta.. Coongress if survived this shock will make some of it's lost ground by positive policy decions without being vetoed by mamta...

When the sun did finally set on the decaying political saga of the reds in that defining summer of 2011, people in west Bengal were desperately looking forward for a whiff of freshness. Fed up with the siege for three decades by a decadent party with decaying ideas, the mandate for a change was decisive. Emerging from the new horizon with new promise was an untested party called Trina mol congress led by a lady with a fiery tongue and tonnes of slogans of change. Or so it seemed. Mamata ,the leading lady protagonist of the May revolution was riding the crest of the popular wave of this change. Hopeless for years, the electorate had this time invested far too much of hope and expectations in this lady to usher in a much needed change, both political and economical. Rest of India watching this drama of change unfolding from the sidelines gave her an approving nod, almost as a gesture validating the popular mood in WB.

You are stupidly optimistic that UPA will now not only survive but even perform better!!! If they had any thoughts of giving a good governence, they could have done from 2004. They are single handedly responsible for the economic mess, corruption, loot of the public money, inflation, terror attacks, lack of security, weak and unprepared defence foreces, all in the name of aam adami and of course, psuedo-secularism. And even after Mamta quit, you want them to continue in govt. and keep looting the nation?

Extremely good analysis and very well balanced. People who are looking for growth and stability in this country should celebrate the exit of TMC and indeed this should strengthen the resolve of the current government to push reforms.

It is amazing that whilst on one hand you say that this govt. is totally ineffective, on the other hand you want this Govt. to be somehow kept going by all means. You almost attribute government's abject failure on all fronts to its allies, especially TMC who you do not hesitate to brand as troublemaker. It is pathetic that for you, the massive and unprecedented corruption and siphoning of public money by govt. ministers and their cronies in the corporate sector do not matter at all. The founder of this newspaper would be turning in his grave to see the way this newspaper, once an exceptional and often lonely media voice against the corrupt and mis-governace, has pawned its soul to vested interests within and outside the government and its power brokers.

I am afraid, it is not so simple. All parties are saying they are pro-peopple and would nlot support any policy decions which are against the peopple. Even SP or BSP may not come to the rescue of congress in view of the impending elections. They do not want to own up the unpoppularity of Manmohansingh Government. Rats are jumping out of the sinking ship.To me, mid-term poll appears to be on the horizon.

It is good that the government is rid of one trouble maker. Now there is nothing to keep the UPA goverment from going ahead with the bold initiative taken by them to put the economy on a sound footing. In the process the government should be careful in handling the constituents like the DMK who will try and use the opportunity to bargain for plum ministerial berths. The PM should exercise his prerogative and show such parties the place they deserve, instead of giving in to their unreasonable demands.

Mulayam or Maya have too many weak spots to openly revolt like Mamata. And they know that the moment they try to act difficult, CBI hounds will be let loose on them. They dare not act difficult. Mamata has no such fears because she has no skeletons in her cupboard.

Congress is a corrupt party and it should be totally uprooted from India. The turmoil in the government is a positive development. Some journalists will still find an arguement to boost the morel of congressmen and distract the attention of its readers from the various scams propagated by congress leadership.

Whatever be her posturing and stand one cant deny Mamtha was principled unlike the parties from UP BSP and SP which will sell themselves for money and dont have any ideology.Anyone hoping these parties will make life easier for congress are msitaken.Daily monetary demands will increase and ultimate sufferer will be the country as country

I do not know if its for good or bad, all i know is 2014 elections are now tough for UPA

You have rightly pointed that with Mamatas exit, the Government cannot offer coalation compulsions for speedy reforms. Unfortunately the main opposition party is bent on opposing many reform oriented programmes just for the sake of opposition. BJP has to change its mindset and work for the welfare of the government. Let us work for a broader spectrum of progress of the contry rather than be streemart street fighters.

Good riddance. Better to have her out of the combination. Absolutely useless ally. Now, as the editorial has said, the Government should go on on all four cylinders(may be six cylinders) to move on other areas of reform right from implementation, education, infrastructure, pension funds,power, railways, insurance, banking, land reforms. Totally bring in a new culture in the system of governance with transparency as the cardinal principle. Provide maximum space to industry to realise its potential. It has gone too far in India with political parties playing games throttling the development. In the process, if the Government is voted out, so be it. Now the Congress should seize the opportunity. If it fails now, there is no hope for the party

Finally, TMC has quit the UPA which is a boon to the Congress. Her attitude was dictatorial and she was a curse as a partner. Now, Congress should take bold steps as regards reforms are concerned and they will get support from SP and BSP etc.

Mamata is not the loser in this game as much as the congress. how much ever wishful thinking the durbari journalists think by assuming mamta will lose know that it is the country wich is going to suffer as congress will even sell the country (whatever isleft after their loot till now) so that they are in power.

Congress tried to do the impossible over years, trying to convince allies on policy initiatives. It tried desperately to keep majority numbers as block vote. It has now realised that it only needs votes enough on individual legislation, whoever will go with corresponding policy. In minority governments, this should be the principle rather than appeasement and vetting and teasing and bargaining. It is better for the country that issues are polarized and parties take a stand on policy level and not on "opposition for opposition sake" or " what is the quid pro quo" manner. Freedom comes with responsibility. Elected representatives have not shown responsibility so far. TMC leaving UPA should not bother Congress, nor should it matter for tongue wagging BJP or any gossip-minded politician, or for that matter the so-called elite users of social media (who have nothing to contribute as a suggestion but only to grind rumors). Better to get rid of these schackles. Think fresh.