India, June 22 -- Kolkata: Stung by the results of the recent Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is trying to do some damage control and has ordered her party leaders to return all the "cut (bribe) money" they have taken for the implementation of government projects. The extortion of money by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders at different levels is one of the reasons why there is widespread anger against the Mamata Banerjee government in the state. However, Mamata Banerjee's diktat has led to infighting among TMC leaders, apart from criticism about too little and too late.

Ever since she has issued the diktat, the state has been witnessing a series of protests by common people who had to pay "cut money" to ava...