India has 2 women CMs now. Atishi and Mamata Banerjee are both victims of bad PR

Women look up to women in power as role models. But so far, Atishi’s public image is that of a woman-in-waiting rather than a woman-in-charge.

The video grabs and photographs in newspapers Monday show her seated in a white chair, next to the designated red chair of the CM. | ANI

As weeks go, this was shaping up into a good week for women in politics. Atishi was named Chief Minister of Delhi—only the second woman CM currently in office, apart from West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee.

Elsewhere, Sri Lanka has just appointed a woman MP as its latest Prime Minister and, in the US, Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris is leading over Donald Trump in the latest opinion polls. 

Why, even a maverick like actor-MP Kangana Ranaut has made news for the right reasons: She put out a contrite message on Wednesday, regretting her controversial remarks on reviving the farm laws repealed by the previous BJP government.

Yes, we should feel pleased and proud: hip-hip hurrah for women in power. Let them blossom, let their tribe grow.

And yet, and yet…Who is willing to wager against the film star blurting out something impolitic or inappropriate, soon? No one, despite her protestations that her “…opinions can’t be personal but the party’s stand”.

Atishi’s debut as the capital’s political leader has been ding-dong. She’s currently the youngest chief minister in the country and as a minister, she held 14 portfolios, simultaneously. Her rise in politics—and AAP—is remarkable. Especially considering she’s only been in politics for just over a decade.

And yet, her first public appearances and comments since former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal identified her as his successor has been disheartening for anyone who wanted to see her as her own woman—like her counterpart in West Bengal. Now, there’s a lady who is very much the chief minister in her own right.

Unfortunately, the recent actions—and public posturing—of both women CMs are a disappointment. They’ve forgotten that in this live, multimedia world, perception is everything.

Women look up to them as role models but what they’ve been seeing in the media has been something different. After the inhuman rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata, we saw the police fighting with protesting doctors and Mamata looking on. When they demanded the resignation of the police commissioner, we heard her say that she needed him to continue in office for festival celebrations. Poor PR.

As a CM and as a woman she ought to have conveyed outrage. Instead, she was just another politician trying to ‘manage’ a situation and silence dissent against her.

And so far, Atishi’s public image is that of a woman-in-waiting rather than a woman-in-charge.

Anything for political gain?

Is this unfair, unkind?

Well, what can one say after seeing Atishi, the newly appointed chief minister of Delhi, playing the supporting role to a crimson-brown leather chair?

The video grabs and photographs in newspapers Monday show her seated in a white chair, next to the designated red chair of the CM. “This chair is Arvind Kejriwal ji’s,” she said.

In her comments to the media and in public during the last week, she had the same chorus line: “Now all of us Delhiites have to do only one thing—to make Arvind Kejriwal chief minister again in the election to be held in February….’’

From whatever we have seen of her, she is waiting for Kejriwal to take the lead.

We understand the symbolism, we recognise the Ramayana comparison. Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and other AAP members have likened Kejriwal’s exile to Ram’s ‘vanvaas’. This might be good for an election campaign, but what about the optics?

The image projected in public is a woman, once again, walking two steps behind a man—in this case in his shadow. Is that what a modern New India, Viksit Bharat wants for its women?

The perception is that an urban, highly educated, intelligent woman is willing to fall back on much loved, familiar archetypes and play a secondary role—for political gain. Surely, there are other ways to showcase loyalty to Kejriwal and AAP, and still convey a modern, independent woman?

Strident and shrill

Mamata Banerjee’s strong standing as chief minister—one who had the support of women—has been damaged by her actions after the rape and murder at the RG Kar Hospital.

After the incident, she appeared strident and shrill—neither sage nor soft. She may have visited the medic’s family soon after the murder but she did not project the image of a sympathetic, determined leader who didn’t tolerate violence and violence against women. Instead, Mamata seemed to be backing her own administration, looking to justify its lapses.

She allowed the protests, seen on television day after day, to continue for 42 days. We ought to have seen the CM out there amongst the doctors from the first week. She eventually made a conciliatory statement on 14 September. It came over a month after the protests began on 9 August.

It didn’t look good on the screen or read well newspapers. She didn’t speak to the national media, or give interviews to clarify her position—perhaps she ought to have.

Once again, poor PR: She didn’t remember how the Congress government in Delhi, led by Sheila Dikshit was severely undermined by the ‘Nirbhaya’ gang rape and murder in 2012. The live coverage on TV news of the protests at India Gate and the anger against the government are unforgettable. The Dikshit government fell with a thud and Kejriwal came to power.

Mamata was seen as a strong woman who defeated the mighty BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha and assembly polls. Now, she looked small: Standing in the doorway of her home, waiting for doctors who failed to show up.

Atishi and Mamata, two CMs in hot seats, need to show that they are made of sterner stuff than this.

The author tweets @shailajabajpai. Views are personal.

(Edited by Theres Sudeep)