Democracy is for the masses. But the mob has no role in a democratic set-up. Yet, the spectre of mob violence has repeatedly blighted democratic polities. Sadly, Bengal and India think alike in this aspect. The mob assault on a team of officials of the Enforcement Directorate that had raided the home of the Trinamul Congress leader, Shahjahan Sheikh, has exposed, once again, the culture of impunity and vandalism that continues to afflict Bengal’s politics. The raid on the TMC functionary was part of the Central investigation into allegations of corruption in the distribution of ration — a political hot potato. Unsurprisingly, the Opposition is attempting to corner the TMC over the incident. The Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded Central intervention; the Bengal governor has deplored the attack; the Opposition has, in one voice, spoken up on the law and order situation in the state. The TMC has responded with whataboutery; there have also been attempts to dissociate the party from the chain of events. Care should be taken to ensure that the political sabre-rattling does not deflect attention from a fair investigation into the alleged irregularities in the public distribution system.

It will be interesting to see what kind of political reverberations Sandeshkhali will have on Bengal’s electoral turf. The TMC undoubtedly is on the back foot. There are uncomfortable accusations of its patronage for the principal accused. The party’s preparation for the Lok Sabha elections, already delayed on account of differences in the leadership, is likely to suffer on account of this new development. Worse, it would also hand the Opposition, especially the BJP, the political ammunition that it needs to corner the TMC in an election year. That the demand for president’s rule — the BJP did not press for it on this occasion — has come from the state Congress chief is also going to muddle the seat-sharing negotiations between the two parties that are constituents of the INDIA bloc. The strain on federal ties — Bengal and New Delhi seldom see eye to eye — is also going to increase. What should also make citizens ponder is the template of democracy that is operational at the grassroots. The fact that Mr Sheikh and his dubious enterprises managed to bloom under the Left Front as well as the TMC is suggestive of the infiltration of politics by crime. Justice will be elusive till this nexus exists.