Mamata Banerjee is the eighth Chief Minister of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal and the first woman to hold this office. She founded the Trinamool Congress in 1998 after splitting from the Indian National Congress and has represented the Bhabanipur constituency in the state assembly since 2011.
When Mamata Banerjee first joined the Congress (I) in the 1970s, she rose to be the General Secretary of the State Mahila Congress (I) from 1976 to 1980. She has previously served as an MP for Kolkata South in the Lok Sabha and was the Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Women and Child Development under the P.V. Narasimha Rao government.
One of the defining moments in Mamata Banerjee’s political career was her involvement in the Singur and Nandigram movements. These movements — centered around land acquisition issues, particularly the acquisition of agricultural land for industrial projects — saw her rise as a leader and advocate for the rights of farmers and local communities in Bengal’s Singur and Nandigram districts. She received widespread support, eventually leading to the downfall of the 34-year-old Left Front government in West Bengal and her ascent to power.
Let us for once dispel any coyness regarding politicians having any spiritual scruples. Ms Banerjee was screaming about muslim infiltration across the swiss cheese border between India and Bangladesh when she was a BJP ally. Now she is ready to “tolerate their tantrums as long as they give milk” (votes). Mr Adhikari couldn’t have enough of iftaars when he needed Muslim votes but now cannot tolerate the sight of Muslim MLAs. It’s plain and cynical politics. Personal religiosity holds no water under the bridge of political expediency. The apogee of Bengalee civilization is long over. Bengal is doomed. Now it’s just a matter of who will get to perform the last rites.