OBC reservation issue, monk row intensifies polarisation in Bengal

Even as West Bengal gears up for the last leg of Lok Sabha elections slated for June 1, intensified communal polarisation over the OBC reservation controversy and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's contentious comments regarding monks from renowned religious institutions kept the state on edge till the very end of this mega electoral exercise.According to political observers, these developments have not only deepened existing divides but also put the TMC at a strategic disadvantage, with the BJP aggressively capitalising on the situation.In the final phase, Bengal will vote in nine constituencies across Kolkata and its adjacent South and North 24 Parganas districts. All nine seats are currently held by the Trinamool Congress and are considered party fortresses.
Last week, the Calcutta High Court struck down the Other Backward Classes (OBC) status of several classes in Bengal granted since 2010, observing that such reservations to vacancies in services and posts in the state are ''illegal, Last week, the Calcutta High Court struck down the Other Backward Classes (OBC) status of several classes in Bengal granted since 2010, observing that such reservations to vacancies in services and posts in the state are ''illegal''.
''Religion indeed appears to have been the sole criterion'' for declaring these communities as OBCs, the court said, adding that it ''is of the view that the selection of 77 classes of Muslims as backwards is an affront to the Muslim community as a whole.'' The ruling, which Mamata Banerjee said she would challenge before a higher court, has affected nearly five lakh OBC card holders. Alleging that court order was ''influenced'' by the BJP's poll narrative, Banerjee claimed no one can take away the constitutionally protected rights of the OBCs.
''Religion indeed appears to have been the sole criterion'' for declaring these communities as OBCs, the court said, adding that it ''is of the view that the selection of 77 classes of Muslims as backwards is an affront to the Muslim community as a whole.'' The ruling, which Mamata Banerjee said she would challenge before a higher court, has affected nearly five lakh OBC card holders. Alleging that court order was ''influenced'' by the BJP's poll narrative, Banerjee claimed no one can take away the constitutionally protected rights of the OBCs.
on May 18, Banerjee sparked another controversy by criticising a section of monks from Ramakrishna Mission (RKM), Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS), and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), accusing them of political involvement with the BJP.While the developments triggered different reactions across the state's political spectrum, they also led to both the TMC and the BJP intensifying their efforts to polarise voters.Political analyst Maidul Islam suggests that the court's ruling could exacerbate the communal divide, with the BJP effectively leveraging Hindu OBC grievances to bolster their electoral prospects.
''This ruling affects approximately 5 lakh people, leading to significant discontent among various communities. Muslim OBCs, who had shown signs of disillusionment with the TMC, may now realign with Banerjee's party in light of the court's decision. However, Hindu OBCs, who have increasingly supported the BJP since 2019, are likely to consolidate their backing for the saffron party,'' he said.
The issue of dragging certain monks of RKM and BSS into the vicious political arena of the state has similarly snowballed into a major controversy. The BJP, in its efforts to galvanise Hindu voters and portray itself as guardian of Hindu interests, framed Banerjee's comments as an attack on revered religious institutions.''The remarks reflect the anti-Hindu mindset of the TMC. Have you ever heard anyone raising a finger at Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha? Such remarks are being passed to only appease one section,'' BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.Another political analyst Suman Bhattacharya, however, suggested that Banerjee's remarks weren't without a political motive.