Kolkata, March 17 (IANS) The Trinamool Congress "is an anarchy with an autocrat" at the helm but it's an "anarchy which works", says rebel MP Kabir Suman, describing a party wobbling in its efforts to create ripples at the national level.
"She (party chief Mamata Banerjee) is an absolute autocrat with no democratic values. In Trinamool, everything belongs to Big Mama," the Lok Sabha member from Jadavpur in West Bengal told IANS, quoting Gabriel Garcia Marquez's satirical commentary "Big Mama's Funeral".
"But then, much like (then US envoy to India) John Kenneth Galbraith had described India as a functioning anarchy, the Trinamool too is an anarchy that works," says Suman, an acclaimed singer-composer credited with having created a new popular genre of songs in Bengali.
Even as the Trinamool talks of a significant role in national politics and becoming the third largest party behind the Congress and the BJP after the Lok Sabha polls, Suman has reservations about Banerjee's bid to set up a Federal Front - a grouping of regional satraps like her.
"Except for the Trinamool, I don't see anybody excited about the Front. And as for Mamata becoming prime minister, I would be the first one to congratulate her if she manages to do it," says Suman, who last met the Trinamool supremo in 2011 at her swearing in ceremony as chief minister.
The 64-year-old blamed Banerjee's autocratic ways for his own fallout with the party.
"I wanted to quit, but stayed at the insistence of the people who voted me in. As regards Trinamool, I am surprised, they never expelled me. May be they can't afford to.
"Perhaps Mamata realises that her success is largely because of Mahasweta Devi's writings and Kabir Suman's songs that enabled the Trinamool make inroads into the urban masses and civil society," says the singer, who has rubbed shoulders with folk music legend Pete Seeger.
Observing that it is difficult for a first time MP to understand the nitty-gritty of parliament, Suman is unfazed at being denied a ticket this time by the Trinamool. He may contest as an independent.
"My health is degenerating very fast... Though highly unlikely, but if I contest, I will stress on development and poverty.
"Development doesn't mean you develop rocket science but your people go to sleep with empty stomachs," says Suman who defeated CPI-M's outgoing MP Sujan Chakraborty in 2009.
He said that in parliament he was "never given a chance to speak, not even once. May be if I was independent, I could have raised a few issues.
"Parliament is not a bad place.... one can do a few things. The Indian government has money. If there is a will, it can be used for development."
Radically opposed to any form of communal or theocratic politics, Suman says he cannot stand BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
"He has no secular or democratic values. I am radically opposed to him, to the BJP, and all forms of theocratic politics and parties."
He may have a soft corner for the ultra Left but Suman insists he is not a Communist.
"Are only the Maoists killing people? Every party has criminals. Just look at the number of people killed during elections. Maoists can't be our enemies, they are patriots.
"But that doesn't mean I am a Communist. In capitalism, at least, you will have a store where people can buy a Suman song. Communism is not my cup of tea."
For Suman, the most appropriate person to lead India for the next five years is Manmohan Singh.
"People may laugh at me, others may get peeved, but I would like to see Manmohan Singh yet again at the helm. His poise, his gentle ways and his knowledge, he is right up there, much the way I liked Atal Bihari Vajpayee."
Don't mislead the public... High Court's scathing remarks on Baba Ramdev's statements on Allopathy
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked yoga guru Baba Ramdev to not mislead the public on the statements of yoga guru Baba Ramdev on allopathy and treatment of Kovid-19. The High Court has said that
UP Budget: Airport in Ayodhya, metro received money in Kanpur, know what your area got including Purvanchal, Bundelkhand
Lucknow: The Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh presented a budget of 5 lakh 50 thousand 270 crore 78 lakh in the Legislature today. In this budget presented among the enthusiasts of the Panchayat
Fiscal Deficit: The government got Rs 5.96 lakh crore from tax, and spent Rs 9.48 lakh crore
The fiscal deficit has increased to Rs 3.51 lakh crore in the first quarter of April-June. This is around 21.2 percent of the annual budget estimate, up from 18.2 percent a year ago. Whereas tax
Saiyaara Worldwide Collection: 'Saiyaara' took a big leap on Sunday, shaking the box office with its earnings worldwide
This year, many star kids made their debut on the big screen, but their films neither earned money nor got praise; they only got criticism. But Mohit Suri directed Saiyyara, which surprised everyone.
41st day of the attack on Ukraine: the situation in Borodyanka city worse than butcha having suffered genocide, 10 killed, 46 injured in Russian attack on Mykolaiv
Today is the 41st day of the Russia-Ukraine war. The Russian army is slowly withdrawing from some areas of Ukraine. After which the scene of destruction of these places is coming to the fore. After
General Narwane's movement in Pakistan in Saudi Arabia-UAE
India's Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Narwane has been visiting UAE and Saudi Arabia for the past one week. December 14 is the last day of his visit.
Coronavirus: Corona cases caught pace in the country, with 5353 cases in 24 hours; This is the highest in the last 195 days
Corona cases have gained momentum in the country. It is being told that in the last 24 hours, more than five thousand i.e. 5,335 cases of corona have been reported in the country. This figure is the
Chemical attack on girl students in Iran: Hundreds were poisoned to prevent them from studying, mothers protested, pulled them by hair, arrested
Some videos of Iran are going viral on social media. In these, police are seen arresting women by pulling their hair. It is being told that these are the mothers of the girls who are currently
Cabinet Approves Revocation of President's Rule in Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) The union cabinet Friday approved the revocation of President's Rule in the national capital, paving the way for the Aam Aadmi Party government headed by Arvind Kejriwal
In the US, the FDA is ready to announce the use of Remedicivir drug results positive
Washington. In the US, there have been many positive results of anti-viral drug Remadecivir for treatment with coronavirus. President Donald Trump and Infexious Disease Scientist Anthony Fauci have
