'Ami joldhora noi, ami gokhro', Mithun Da's grand entry into BJP Bengal
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Weeks before the elections in West Bengal, the BJP inducted yet another prime face from Bengal on Sunday at its Brigade Parade Ground mega rally in Kolkata about an hour before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plane arrived in the city. But this time it was not just any actor from Tollywood (Bengal's film industry) or the television industry. The party roped in Mithun Chakraborty, one of the biggest Bollywood superstars who has a great influence over Bengal's film industry as well.
His new political affiliation was speculated upon when he met RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat on Feb 17. He had also met a day before joining BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. And finally, Mithun Da was welcomed in BJP. He will be one of their prominent faces in the state. Having put his best years in the film industry over the decades, Chakraborty still has considerable popularity among Bengalis across age groups. He will be able to counter West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee’s “outsider” barb at them.
While joining BJP, Mithun Da said, “Have faith in your Dada (elder brother). I have always done what I promised. I will keep my word and never abandon you.” The actor also repeated two of his famous one-liners from a couple of Bengali movies. “I am about to start my campaign. I know you want to hear my famous dialogue ‘Maarbo ekhane, lash porbe soshane’ (I will hit you here and the body will land at the crematorium) but there is an even better one. ‘Ami joldhora noi. Ami gokhro. Ek chhobolei chhobi’ (I am not a water snake. I am a cobra. One bite will turn you into a photograph). This will be more appropriate now,” Chakraborty said.
Mithun Da said his dream came true by sharing a stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I had never imagined that I will be sharing the dais where the biggest leader of the biggest democracy our beloved PM Narendra Modi is about to speak. I always had a dream to work for the poor, downtrodden. Now, it is seen as being fulfilled," he said at the Brigade Parade Ground here.
In the middle of his speech, PM Modi referred to the veteran actor. “A great son of the soil, Mithun Chakraborty, is here. His life and struggle are examples for the people.”
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Chakraborty, 70, was a Rajya Sabha MP for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for two years. He resigned from the position in 2016 citing health reasons. In October 2019, the veteran actor visited Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur and paid tributes to the K. B. Hedgewar, the founder of RSS.
Several former TMC leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, Rajib Banerjee and more, had earlier joined the BJP in the run-up to Assembly elections. West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
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West Bengal is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance and the BJP in the fray. After winning 3 seats in the 2016 Assembly election in West Bengal, the BJP made deep inroads in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections winning 18 seats and reducing TMC's tally to 22. Out of the total 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, Congress won two seats, the Left drew a blank.