While the echoes of “Didi! O Didi…” faded away into the vast emptiness of Bengal’s hinterlands, a fresh realization has dawned upon India. The Modi-Shah juggernaut is not impregnable, and there is hope for those who seek and commit to it. What transpired on the eastern corridors of our country over the last few months, is surely a case study in political strategy. Two similar forces, backed by their respective powers determined to go all out against each other, disregarding all boundaries of electoral decorum, rhetoric, horse-trading, pandemic consciousness and constitutional structures. The Central forces thundered down on the State with all their might of ED, CBI, Election Commission, Governor, etc. While the State forces dealt every blow with repeated swings of “Banglar May” (daughter of Bengal), soft-Hindutva, nation-trending jingle and heavy deployment of feet on street. Coupled with a shrewd professional help stolen from the stables of the Centre, the State was actually better prepared for the war than they would have believed.

The results of the Bengal 2021 elections is like a small step for Didi but a giant leap for India!