The Bengal mandate must not be wasted once again

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.As a non-resident Bengali of my generation, I have witnessed with deep anguish the steady decline of West Bengal from its once-prominent position in India’s economic and intellectual landscape. What has been even more disheartening is the repeated pattern of large electoral mandates being given to successive governments—first the Left Front, and then the Trinamool Congress—followed by a growing sense of unmet expectations and a sense of repeated betrayal of trust.When Mamata Banerjee came to power in 2011, she carried with her a powerful promise of change: an end to decades of Left Front rule, which many believe had pushed the state into fiscal stress, industrial stagnation, and governance fatigue.

The mandate was not merely political—it was emotional. Given her image, it was driven by hope for cleaner governance, renewed growth, and dignity in public life.Fifteen years later, that hope feels significantly eroded for many citizens, even though Mamata Banerjee herself continues to retain personal popularity among large sections.

Over time, concerns have grown around institutional accountability, allegations of corruption at various levels, and a perceived normalization of political influence and deep-rooted corruption in local administration. Many citizens also speak of deteriorating public interfaces with the state—ranging from municipal inefficiency to everyday interactions marked by bureaucratic opacity and, at most times, arrogance.The tragic RG Kar Medical College incident became a focal point in public discourse not only because of the crime itself, but also due to the intense debate around institutional response, law enforcement credibility, and allegations—widely discussed but