As the assembly election in West Bengal, one of India's most politically volatile states, just weeks away, the eastern border state finds itself firmly in the grip of election fever. The political climate has thickened with allegations and counter-allegations, recriminations and rhetoric—each day adding fresh layers of noise to an already charged atmosphere. 

Amid this din, a recent interview provided a telling glimpse into the state’s prevailing political culture. The interviewee was a very senior leader from the state; the interviewer, a journalist of national standing. Regrettably, the exchange yielded little of substance—an outcome emblematic of the deeper poverty of political discourse that continues to afflict our public life.

From Singur–Nandigram to the repeated invocation of religion, the interview circled familiar political flashpoints. Yet it offered little articulation of the party’s vision for reviving critical sectors such as health and education, and showed scant concern for youth unemployment and industrial stagnation that continue to cripple the state.

For nearly twenty-eight of the interview’s thirty minutes, the leader catalogued the alleged wrongs of every other political party. When asked about his own party’s uninspiring image and perceived decline in relevance, he spent barely two minutes, concluding with a mechanical reply: “Party shortcomings are being constantly monitored.”

Time for Course Correction 

Political interviews, however, are often short on ownership, accountability, or genuine corrective intent—a near-universal template across party lines. Disturbingly, citizens seem increasingly attuned to—and perhaps even resigned to—this political concoction, with the consequences falling hardest on ordinary people.

The lust for power has shaped human history across the ages. The people of the state have witnessed firsthand how past governments damaged its potential, imperilled the present, and dimmed hopes for the future.

Therefore, the forthcoming assembly election presents a crucial opportunity—not so much for political parties, which have shown little inclination to repair a derailed political culture, but for voters to see through the rosy narratives advanced by both incumbent and the opposition—narratives that conceal deeper and more troubling realities—before the state’s condition deteriorates further.

Political Stocktaking: 1977–Present

West Bengal exemplifies a broader pattern: the longer a political party remains in power, the greater the accumulation of vices that entangle both the party and the government it controls. The deeper consequences, however, are far more difficult to quantify.

When the Left Front came to power in 1977, it inherited a state in tatters. Its seven-term rule (1977–2011) is often viewed in two phases: an early period of transformative impact followed by later stagnation. The years from 1977 to the early 1990s saw significant agrarian reforms that benefited large sections of the rural population. However, over the remaining four terms, public disillusionment steadily grew. Complaints ranged from the high-handedness of local leaders to rising corruption at the grassroots, while industrial slowdown and investor flight deepened the state’s economic difficulties—ultimately contributing to the regime’s ignominious fall.

Although power changed in 2011, the state’s overall decline remained largely unabated. The landslide victory of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), under charismatic leadership, initially raised hopes of regeneration and a renewed positioning of the state. Yet, for nearly 15 years, governance has primarily centred on populism, welfarism and clientelism, even as physical infrastructure has expanded noticeably. The years have also been marked by recurring corruption controversies, misplaced priorities, industrial stagnation, and persistent concerns over law and order.

Yet, notwithstanding palpable middle-class disenchantment, this discontent has thus far made little dent at the ballot box, which has continued to favour the party.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), though untested in the state, has yet to establish itself as a convincing alternative. While hardline Hindutva has found limited resonance among voters in Bengal, the party is increasingly perceived as steadily delegitimising federalism. The much-touted “double-engine sarkar” model, too, has faced allegations of misgovernance and corruption in several states.

Politicisation, Polarisation and Rhetoric

For nearly five decades of entrenched two-party dominance, the state’s political landscape has been distinctly shaped by three defining features. First, politics has become increasingly defined by intense micromanagement, deep-rooted grassroots control, and the relentless politicisation of the administrative machinery.

Second, both the Left Front and the TMC have, to a considerable extent, persuaded large sections of the electorate that the Centre’s alleged non-cooperation or vindictiveness constitutes the principal obstacle to the state’s progress. While such claims may not be entirely baseless, they have more often served as convenient ploys to conceal governmental incapacity, structural limitations, policy failures, and insufficient commitment.

Third, with the Indian National Congress nearly eclipsed and the Left Front yet to re-establish itself as a serious contender, much of the media’s attention has shifted to the BJP–TMC tussle over largely trivial issues that carry little substantive consequence for the state’s citizens.

Thus, while politicians bear primary responsibility for the state’s steady decline, citizens too have contributed to it by repeatedly rewarding non-performance, mistaking politically calibrated actions for good governance, and succumbing to rhetoric and polarisation.

Are these trends inevitable? Can they be reversed?

The challenge is monumental. The imprint of a deeply flawed political culture runs so deep that rapid change appears almost inconceivable—unless voters begin to act as informed and responsible participants in the democratic process.

Candidates's Merit not Party Tag

Who will come to power in West Bengal after the forthcoming assembly election remains uncertain. What is certain, however, is that vice-laden politics will persist—eroding the very fabric of democracy—unless citizens assert their electoral power and demand better. Ultimately, it is for the people of the state to decide whether to return the Left Front—perhaps under wiser leadership—to office, re-elect the ruling TMC, or place their trust in the relatively untested BJP.

Before deciding whom to vote into power, voters would do well to consider the following:

The exploitation of social vulnerabilities — poverty, inadequate education, and insecurity — continues to serve as a powerful electoral strategy. Rather than addressing structural flaws, parties often resort to short-term freebies disguised as welfare. Such competitive populism — termed revdi, doles, or even a “people’s right” — eclipses genuine, sustainable development and inclusive economic growth.

As owners of the republic—not merely beneficiaries of electoral inducements timed for political gain—electorates must act as empowered, assertive and demanding citizens, carefully examining party positions on substantive issues. They must insist on time-bound job creation strategies and measurable improvements in key sectors such as education and healthcare, rather than settling for vague manifesto assurances. This becomes even more important in the absence of transparent public performance metrics to assess governmental delivery.

Voters must be concerned with candidates’ merit, not merely their party tag. They should evaluate the integrity, competence, and demonstrated record of public service of those contesting in their constituency. When candidates are manifestly unfit for democratic office, voters should also exercise the NOTA option responsibly. Not choosing anyone is also a choice—one that sends a sterner message to all parties.

Finally, the people must remember: they are living through a rupture, not a mere transition. Amid the flurry of sound and fury—bluster and chaos—the flame of optimism will endure only if voters draw strength from their electoral power. Victimhood, blame, and incessant mudslinging have brought the state to this pass. Whether we choose the comfort of complacency or the courage to confront reality is ultimately our call, not that of politicians.

Even as small, incremental steps, such a discerning approach by voters could open the door to renewed hope, restore confidence and optimism in public life, and send a clear and consequential message to political parties.

(The author is former Deputy General Manager, India International Centre, Delhi; former General Manager, International Centre Goa; and author of Whispers of an Ordinary Journey. Views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at db.bhattacharyya@gmail.com)