GUWAHATI: At a time when comments by means of Tripura leader minister Biplab Deb over the past few weeks have invited censure and mock in equal measure, political scientists mentioned his statements point out the right-ward shift in the erstwhile Left bastion's politics.
"The narratives on reductionism of class struggle, bourgeoisie or imperialism did not help the Left retain power," says Nanigopal Mahanta, head of political science division at Gauhati University. While its ideas deal with the inequalities that persist in society, the Left was once now not in a position to succeed in out to the folk with the narrative of class battle this time. It ended up losing power in a state that were its stronghold for 25 years. "On the other hand, with his comments, the new chief minister is trying to address a particular section - maybe the RSS," he provides.
Under both regimes, Mahanta says, what remains missing is a "people's narrative". He explains, "Whatever be the power equation, people's narrative or governance narrative has taken the back seat. The struggle of ideology should not hijack the narrative of development or governance."
Two months in workplace, Deb has hit the headlines for all the incorrect causes. Starting along with his remark that web and satellite era existed all through the Mahabharata duration, which went viral, he went on to mention Diana Hayden being awarded the name of Miss World was once questionable because she didn't constitute "true Indian beauty", a comment that led to popular outrage.
For some, the statements Deb made - concerning the unfeasibility of going after govt jobs, or civil engineers coming into the civil services - don't seem totally devoid of good judgment. "What Deb said is relevant, if put in the right context. The Left's politics of class struggle did nothing for the development of the state. Deb has at least started out on a new path where progress is a priority," says Alak Bhattacharya, associate professor of political concept and public management at Tripura University.
"If you remove a selected portion from an entire statement and present it that way, it doesn't present the actual picture or the context and logic of the entire statement," Bhattacharya provides.
CPM, however, refuses to see the statements as an insignificant shift in the political narrative. "The way our party offices and members were being attacked was an assault on democracy itself. These are not simple narratives, but real threats to the state," CPM politburo member Brinda Karat says. "If graduates should rear cows, why did BJP go around promising jobs before election?" she provides.
"The narratives on reductionism of class struggle, bourgeoisie or imperialism did not help the Left retain power," says Nanigopal Mahanta, head of political science division at Gauhati University. While its ideas deal with the inequalities that persist in society, the Left was once now not in a position to succeed in out to the folk with the narrative of class battle this time. It ended up losing power in a state that were its stronghold for 25 years. "On the other hand, with his comments, the new chief minister is trying to address a particular section - maybe the RSS," he provides.
Under both regimes, Mahanta says, what remains missing is a "people's narrative". He explains, "Whatever be the power equation, people's narrative or governance narrative has taken the back seat. The struggle of ideology should not hijack the narrative of development or governance."
Two months in workplace, Deb has hit the headlines for all the incorrect causes. Starting along with his remark that web and satellite era existed all through the Mahabharata duration, which went viral, he went on to mention Diana Hayden being awarded the name of Miss World was once questionable because she didn't constitute "true Indian beauty", a comment that led to popular outrage.
For some, the statements Deb made - concerning the unfeasibility of going after govt jobs, or civil engineers coming into the civil services - don't seem totally devoid of good judgment. "What Deb said is relevant, if put in the right context. The Left's politics of class struggle did nothing for the development of the state. Deb has at least started out on a new path where progress is a priority," says Alak Bhattacharya, associate professor of political concept and public management at Tripura University.
"If you remove a selected portion from an entire statement and present it that way, it doesn't present the actual picture or the context and logic of the entire statement," Bhattacharya provides.
CPM, however, refuses to see the statements as an insignificant shift in the political narrative. "The way our party offices and members were being attacked was an assault on democracy itself. These are not simple narratives, but real threats to the state," CPM politburo member Brinda Karat says. "If graduates should rear cows, why did BJP go around promising jobs before election?" she provides.
'CM Biplab Deb remarks indicate right-ward shift in Tripura political narrative'
!['CM Biplab Deb remarks indicate right-ward shift in Tripura political narrative']()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 01, 2018
Rating:
