In the realm of ‘politics’, the word ‘loyalty’ — more often than not — gets new appearances. Shifting allegiance is a common phenomenon that surprises none.
Thus, can some form of political loyalty test be made requisite while inducting one into a political fold?
Political scientists, namely, Jean Hampton, Christopher W. Morris and others have explained faults in the examples that tend to stand the test of loyalty.
Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, whose writings cover politics, too, makes a startling revelation in this regard. He says the quality of someone’s loyalty does not depend on one’s support to a person [institution] or idea but instead is related to the intentions behind that support.
This understanding finds resonance in the political space too. A person is undeceitful towards an individual or political outfit until his intentions behind the allegiance remains unperturbed.
There are several examples of fidelity getting breached in politics. However, a recent incident reported from West Bengal is making one question the base of political parties and their workers.
Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh has recently been released from all party posts — TMC spokesperson and state general secretary — allegedly for praising Tapas Roy. The latter is a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha seat. Roy left the TMC to join the saffron clan.
Ghosh was heard to be lamenting on the fact that the TMC could not retain a credible leader like Roy.
There was a hush-hush in the political corridors that sharing stage with the BJP leader has cajoled the party to make such a move against Ghosh.
However, one must not forget, a few days ago Ghosh had exhorted the party to release him of all the party posts, as he wishes to be associated with the TMC only as a “worker”.
The move had ignited the old versus new narrative that is integral to the TMC. However, the subsequent events make one question the leader’s ‘faithfulness’ towards the party.
In an interview, a day after Ghosh was released from all the party posts, he asserted that TMC leadership was aware of the irregularities that were taking place under the banner of West Bengal School Service Commission.
He even expressed confidence in his belief that the “uneasy situation” pertaining to the scam could have been avoided had the party intervened on time.
The statement leaves the ruling party of the state red-faced. Moreover, the scam was brewing since 2016, Ghosh got the courage to speak against the party only after he was released from all the party posts?
Does his intentions towards extending support to the party received a jolt after TMC’s move against him?
Ghosh has been a TMC veteran as he represented the party in the Parliament and advocated for the party’s cause at various platforms.
While none is questioning his allegiance to the TMC — as he continues to wear the shoes of a party worker — the ‘intention’ behind the support leaves room for speculation.
“I am happy in this phase of being relieved from all the duties. And will enjoy the movie which the party is showing,” said Ghosh, in an interview, which marks a dubious indication towards how he has perceived TMC’s move to give him a break.
Being a TMC leader, when Ghosh was arrested in the Saradha chit-fund scam, among others. he had mentioned CM Mamata Banerjee’s name. He said CM Banerjee “was fully aware of Sudipta Sen”.
Sen, who was the CEO of the Saradha Group, was the mastermind of the fraud.
There was a time when Ghosh even alleged that TMC supremo Mamata Banrejee “was the biggest beneficiary of the Saradha chit fund scam”.
As a result, he was sidelined from the party and got the chance to return after years as its spokesperson.
Ghosh had spent 34 months in jail and in the custody of the state police and the Central Bureau of Investigation. He got bail in October 2016.
Changing of turfs and shifting of allegiance are not new in politics. However, can a leader be considered loyal to one’s political lineage who goes on to accuse the party leadership whenever things don't go his way?
After the Saradha chit-fund case, which was a Rs 2,459 scam, this is Ghosh’s second fall-out with the party and a former journalist is not only confusing party insiders but also several others with his ‘sensational’ and ‘dubious’ statements.
In the most-recent development, Ghosh is heard favouring the TMC on Sandeshkhali sting row, which claims that the allegations of sexual assault were made at the behest of the BJP.
However, he has said that allegations of land acquisition may have some credibility.
Every action comes with a hidden motive. And as Aristotle stresses on loyal support to be relying on ‘intention’, Ghosh’s actions time and action have left others perplexed about his intent.
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