CM Mamata keeps promise, jobs given to families of TMC worker killed in Nandigram violence

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has fulfilled her promise of providing government jobs to the family members of victims of political violence in Nandigram. Sushmita Mandal, the widow of Bishnupada Mandal, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker killed in election-related violence, and her brother-in-law, Gurupada Mandal, who was injured in the same attack, were appointed to positions as attendants at the state-run Shakti Bhavan. Both individuals officially joined their roles on the evening of December 13, at the Nandigram-1 block office.

The incident that led to their appointments occurred on the night of December 8, when Bishnupada Mandal was killed in a violent attack allegedly carried out by armed assailants with connections to BJP supporters. Gurupada Mandal, while attempting to protect his brother, was severely injured in the assault. The violence was part of a broader pattern of post-election tensions and clashes in the region, particularly surrounding the representative elections for the Tamluk Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank.

In the aftermath of the incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolences and assured the family of support, including employment. Leaders such as Kunal Ghosh and Dola Sen visited the family to offer solidarity and confirm the state government's commitment to assist. Following these assurances, the state government processed the appointments for Sushmita and Gurupada Mandal. Their new positions are seen as a direct response to the political violence that caused the family’s suffering.

Sushmita Mandal expressed her gratitude after receiving her appointment, stating that the Chief Minister had kept her promise. She noted that the job offer was crucial in helping her family cope with the loss of her husband, the main earner in the family, and the emotional and financial strain caused by the violence.

The BJP, however, has raised concerns about the distribution of support. Sudip Das, a member of the BJP’s Tamluk organizational district committee, stated that BJP workers who were also victims of political violence, such as Debabrata Maity and Rathibala Ari, have not received similar assistance. Das criticized the government for focusing on one side of the political spectrum, claiming that the families of BJP workers killed in election-related violence should also receive comparable support. The BJP has demanded that the Chief Minister extend her assistance to the families of those victims as well.