Will the real TMC please stand up?

A variation of Eminem's immortal lines from his 2000 song, 'The Real Slim Shady', is now echoing through Bengal - not to be confused with Bangladesh by people who don't know their 'For he's a jolly good fellah!' from their 'Bismillah!' Except, the chorus now is: 'Will the real Trinamool Congress please stand up? Please stand up? Please stand up?' This, compounded by the fact that in the June Kolkata heat, most people are seeing double anyway. What the Monster is to Dr Victor Frankenstein, TMC has been to Dr Mamata Banerjee - a composite creation from bits and bobs of the old Congress and CPI(M). Now, with villagers having chased off TMC with their pitchforks, and Count BJP residing in Castle Bengal, things in the TMC camp resemble a karaoke night gone wrong. Ritobrato Banerjee (no relation to the former CM) has emerged as the parallel frontman within TMC, with Didi's nephew Abhishek Banerjee falling foul of his fellow partymen for his Sanjay Gandhigiri. The rebels - not immediately finding shelter in BJP - insist they 'respect' Didi even as they claim to be the real TMC.

It's a rap battle, with Mamata and Ritobrato trading verses of loyalty and rebellion, while the Speaker plays DJ, spinning procedural beats. The two TMCs are spitting out verses, choruses, remixes, both claiming to be the real opposition, making the two Shiv Senas look sane.