Jump to content

Mamata Banerjee

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Mamata" redirects here. For other uses, see Mamata (disambiguation).

Mamata Banerjee
Official portrait, 2015
8th Chief Minister of West Bengal
Assumed office
20 May 2011 (2011-05-20)
Governor
Cabinet
Preceded byBuddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Additional ministries
Assumed office
20 May 2011 (2011-05-20)
Ministry and Departments
Preceded byBuddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
3 October 2021 (2021-10-03)
Preceded bySovandeb Chattopadhyay
ConstituencyBhabanipur
Majority58,835[1][2][3]
In office
16 November 2011 (2011-11-16) – 2 May 2021 (2021-05-02)
Preceded bySubrata Bakshi
Succeeded bySovandeb Chattopadhyay
ConstituencyBhabanipur
Majority54,213 (2011)[4]
Chairperson of the All India Trinamool Congress
Assumed office
2001 (2001)
Preceded byAjit Kumar Panja
Union Ministry offices
Minister of Railways
In office
22 May 2009 (2009-05-22) – 19 May 2011 (2011-05-19)
Prime MinisterManmohan Singh
Preceded byLalu Prasad Yadav
Succeeded byDinesh Trivedi
In office
13 October 1999 (1999-10-13) – 15 March 2001 (2001-03-15)
Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee
Preceded byRam Naik
Succeeded byNitish Kumar
Minister of Coal
In office
9 January 2004 – 22 May 2004
Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee
Preceded byKaria Munda
Succeeded byShibu Soren
Minister of Mines
In office
9 January 2004 – 22 May 2004
Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee
Preceded byRamesh Bais (MOS (I/C))
Succeeded byShibu Soren
Minister of State for Human Resource Development
In office
1991–1993[5]
Prime MinisterP. V. Narasimha Rao
MinisterArjun Singh
1991—1993Departments in-charge for:
Preceded byBhagey Gobardhan[6][7]
Succeeded by
Cabinet Minister (without portfolio)[8]
In office
8 September 2003 – 8 January 2004[5]
Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee
Preceded byN. Gopalaswami Ayyangar
Succeeded byNatwar Singh
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
1991 (1991)–2011 (2011)
Preceded byBiplab Dasgupta
Succeeded bySubrata Bakshi
ConstituencyKolkata Dakshin, West Bengal
In office
1984 (1984)–1989 (1989)
Preceded bySomnath Chatterjee
Succeeded byMalini Bhattacharya
ConstituencyJadavpur, West Bengal
Personal details
Born (1955-01-05) 5 January 1955 (age 69)[9][10][11]
Calcutta, West Bengal, India (present-day Kolkata, West Bengal, India)
Political partyAll India Trinamool Congress
(1998 – present)
Other political
affiliations		Indian National Congress (1975 - 1998)
RelationsAbhishek Banerjee (nephew)
Residence(s)30-B, Harish Chatterjee Street, Kolkata
Alma materUniversity of Calcutta (BA, MA, BEd, LLB)
Signature
Nickname(s)Didi (transl. elder sister)
Position Held
  • 1970–80: General-Secretary, Mahila Congress (I), West Bengal
  • 1978–81: Secretary, District Congress Committee (Indira) [D.C.C. (I)], Calcutta South
  • 1984: General-Secretary, All India Youth Congress (I)
  • 1985–87:Member, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
  • 1987–88:Member, National Council, All India Youth Congress (I)Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home AffairsMember, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Human Resource Development1988Member, Executive Committee, Congress Parliamentary Party [C.P.P. (I)]
  • 1989: Member, Executive Committee, Pradesh Congress Committee [P.C.C. (I)], West Bengal
  • 1990: President, Youth Congress, West Bengal
  • 1993–96: Member, Committee on Home Affairs
  • 1995–96:Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home AffairsMember, Committee on Public Accounts
  • 1996–97:Member, Committee on Home AffairsMember, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs
  • 1998–99: Chairman, Committee on Railways, Member of General Purposes CommitteeMember, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs
  • 1999: Leader, All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party, Lok SabhaMember, General Purposes Committee
  • 2001–2003: Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Industries
  • 8 September 2003 – 8 January 2004: Union Cabinet Minister (without any portfolio)
  • 2004: Member, Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law & Justice
  • 5 August 2006: Member, Committee on Home Affairs
  • 5 August 2007: Member, Committee on Home Affairs
  • 31 May 2009 – 19 July 2011: Leader, All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha
As of 9 October 2011
Source: [1]
This article is part of
a series about
Mamata Banerjee
Incumbent

Electoral Performance

Early Political Movements

Tenure as Chief Minister
Initiatives
Controversies
Political Slogans




Gallery: Picture, Sound, Video

Mamata Banerjee (Bengali pronunciation: [mɔmot̪a bɔnd̪ːopad̪d̪ʱae̯]; born 5 January 1955) is an Indian politician who is serving as the eighth and current chief minister of the Indian state of West Bengal since 20 May 2011, the first woman to hold the office. Having served multiple times as a Union Cabinet Minister, Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the first time in 2011. She founded the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC or TMC) in 1998 after separating from the Indian National Congress, and became its second chairperson later in 2001. She is often referred to as Didi (meaning, elder sister in Bengali).[12][13]

Banerjee previously served twice as Minister of Railways, the first woman to do so.[14] She is also the second female Minister of Coal, and Minister of Human Resource Development, Youth Affairs and Sports, Women and Child Development in the cabinet of the Indian government.[15] She rose to prominence after opposing the erstwhile land acquisition policies for industrialisation of the Communist-led government in West Bengal for Special Economic Zones at the cost of agriculturalists and farmers at Singur.[16] In 2011, Banerjee pulled off a landslide victory for the AITC alliance in West Bengal, defeating the 34-year-old Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front government, the world's longest-serving democratically elected communist-led government.[17][18][19]

She served as the member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Bhabanipur from 2011 to 2021. She contested the Nandigram assembly seat and lost to the BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections,[20][a] though her party won a large majority of seats.[21] She is the third West Bengal Chief Minister to lose an election from her own constituency, after Prafulla Chandra Sen in 1967 and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in 2011. Mamata challenged the result of Nandigram Constituency in Calcutta High Court and the matter is sub judice.[22] She led her party to a landslide victory in the 2021 West Bengal assembly polls.[23][24][25] She got elected as member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly again from Bhabanipur constituency in the bypoll.[26] She is the only female incumbent Chief Minister in India at present.

Early life and education

Banerjee was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal, to a Bengali Hindu Brahmin family.[27][28] Her parents were Promileswar Banerjee and Gayetri Devi.[29] Banerjee's father, Promileswar, died due to lack of medical treatment, when she was 17.[30]

In 1970, Banerjee completed the higher secondary board examination from Deshbandhu Sishu Sikshalay.[30] She received a bachelor's degree in history from Jogamaya Devi College.[31][32] Later, she earned her master's degree in Islamic history[33] from the University of Calcutta. This was followed by a degree in education from Shri Shikshayatan College and a law degree from Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College, Kolkata.[34]

Banerjee became involved with politics when she was only 15. While studying at the Jogamaya Devi College, she established Chhatra Parishad Unions, the student wing of the Congress (I) Party, defeating the All India Democratic Students Organisation affiliated with the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist).[30] She continued in the Congress (I) Party in West Bengal, serving in a variety of positions within the party and in other local political organisations.[35]

Early political career, 1984–2011

Political career with Congress

Mamata Banerjee at Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centre for Human Excellence and Social Sciences, Rajarhat, New Town, Kolkata

Banerjee began her political career in the Congress party as a young woman in the 1970s. In 1975 she gained attention in the press media when she danced on the car of socialist activist and politician Jayaprakash Narayan as a protest against him.[36][37][38] She quickly rose in the ranks of the local Congress group and remained the general secretary of Mahila Congress (Indira), West Bengal, from 1976 to 1980.[39] In the 1984 general election, Banerjee became one of India's youngest parliamentarians ever,[40] defeating veteran Communist politician Somnath Chatterjee, to win the Jadavpur parliamentary Constituency in West Bengal. She also became the general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress in 1984. She lost her seat to Malini Bhattacharya of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the 1989 general elections in an anti-Congress wave.[41] She was re-elected in the 1991 general elections, having settled into the Calcutta South constituency. She retained the Kolkata South seat in the 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2009 general elections.[42]

Banerjee was appointed the Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Women and Child Development in 1991 by prime minister, P. V. Narasimha Rao. As the sports minister, she announced that she would resign and protested in a rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, against the Government's indifference towards her proposal to improve sports in the country.[43] She was discharged of her portfolios in 1993. In April 1996, she alleged that Congress was behaving as a stooge of the CPI-M in West Bengal. She said that she was the lone voice of reason and wanted a "clean Congress".[44]

In December 1992, Banerjee took a physically challenged girl, Felani Basak, who was allegedly raped by CPI(M) cadres to Writer's Building to the then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu but was harassed by the police before being arrested and put on detention.[45] She had sworn she would enter the building again only as chief minister.[46]

The State Youth Congress led by Mamata Banerjee organised a protest march to Writers Building in Kolkata on 21 July 1993 against the Communist government of the state. They demanded that voters' ID cards be made the only required document for voting, to put a stop to CPM's "scientific rigging". Thirteen people were shot and killed by police during the protest and many others were injured. Reacting to this incident the then-Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu, said that the "police had done a good job." During the 2014 inquiry, Justice (retired) Sushanta Chatterjee, former Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, described the police response as "unprovoked and unconstitutional". "The commission has come to the conclusion that the case is even worse than Jallianwala Bagh massacre," said Justice Chatterjee.[47][48][49][50][45]

Founding Trinamool Congress

Mamata Banerjee speaking to the elected members and party workers at Bongaon stadium after the West Bengal panchayat elections.

In 1997, due to difference in political views with the then West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Somendra Nath Mitra, Banerjee left the Congress Party in West Bengal and became one of the founding members of the All India Trinamool Congress, along with Mukul Roy.[51] It quickly became the primary opposition party to the long-standing Communist government in the state. On 11 December 1998, she controversially held a Samajwadi Party MP, Daroga Prasad Saroj, by the collar and dragged him out of the well of the Lok Sabha to prevent him from protesting against the Women's Reservation Bill.[52]

Railway Minister (first tenure), 1999–2000

In 1999, she joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and became Railways Minister.[42] In 2000, Banerjee presented her first Railway Budget. In it, she fulfilled many of her promises to her home state West Bengal.[53] She introduced a new biweekly New Delhi-Sealdah Rajdhani Express train and four express trains connecting various parts of West Bengal, namely the Howrah-Purulia Rupasi Bangla Express, the Sealdah-New Jalpaiguri Padatik Express, the Shalimar-Adra Aranyak Express, the Sealdah-Ajmer Ananya Superfast Express, and Sealdah-Amritsar Akal Takht Superfast Express.[53] She also increased the frequency of the Pune-Howrah Azad Hind Express and extended at least three express train services. Work on the Digha-Howrah Express service was also hastened during her brief tenure.[54]

She also focused on developing tourism, enabling the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway section to obtain two additional locomotives and proposing the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited. She also commented that India should play a pivotal role in the Trans-Asian Railway and that rail links between Bangladesh and Nepal would be reintroduced. In all, she introduced 19 new trains for the 2000–2001 fiscal year.[54]

In 2000, she and Ajit Kumar Panja resigned to protest the hike in petroleum prices,[55] and then withdrew their resignations without providing any reasons.[56]

2001 West Bengal election

In early 2001, after Tehelka's exposure of Operation West End,[57] Banerjee walked out of the NDA cabinet and allied with the Congress Party for West Bengal's 2001 elections, to protest the corruption charges levelled by the website against senior ministers of the government.[58]

Minister of Coal and Mines, January 2004 – May 2004

Banerjee assumes the charge of the Minister for Coal and Mines in New Delhi on 9 January 2004

She returned to the NDA government in September 2003 as a cabinet minister without any portfolio.[59] Along with Mamata, her party colleague Sudip Banerjee was also inducted in the Vajpayee ministry.[60] On 9 January 2004 she took charge as Ministry of Coal and Mines.[61] During her short term as the minister of coal and mines, the government disallowed the sale of the National Aluminium Company.[62] She held the Coal and Mines portfolios till 22 May 2004.

2004–2006 election setbacks

In Indian general election of 2004 her party aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, the alliance lost the election and she was the only Trinamool Congress member to be elected from a parliamentary seat from West Bengal.[42][63] Banerjee suffered further setbacks in 2005 when her party lost control of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the sitting mayor Subrata Mukherjee defected from her party.[64] In 2006, the Trinamool Congress was defeated in West Bengal's Assembly Elections, losing more than half of its sitting members. On 4 August 2006, Banerjee hurled her resignation papers at the deputy speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal in Lok Sabha. She was provoked by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's rejection of her adjournment motion on illegal infiltration by Bangladeshis in West Bengal[65][66][67] on the grounds that it was not in the proper format.[68][69]

Singur, Nandigram and other movements

On 20 October 2005, she protested against the forceful land acquisition and the atrocities perpetrated against local farmers in the name of the industrial development policy of the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government in West Bengal. Benny Santoso, CEO of the Indonesia-based Salim Group, had pledged a large investment in West Bengal, and the West Bengal government had given him farmland in Howrah, sparking protests. In soaking rain, Banerjee and other Trinamool Congress members stood in front of the Taj Hotel where Santoso had arrived, shut out by the police. Later, she and her supporters followed Santoso's convoy. A planned "black flag" protest was avoided when the government had Santoso arrive three hours ahead of schedule.[70][71]

Wrestler's protest

Several Olympic and World Championships medal-winning wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat, have been protesting in Delhi demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh for allegedly sexually harassing several women wrestlers and a minor. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to the streets of Kolkata to support wrestlers in their protest. "Will fight till the protesting wrestlers get justice," the Chief Minister said. "I will request the wrestlers to continue their movement. This fight is for life, for independence, for humanitarian justice."[72][73]

Singur protest

Main article: Tata Nano Singur controversy

In November 2006, Banerjee was forcibly stopped on her way to Singur for a rally against a proposed Tata Motors car project. Banerjee reached the West Bengal assembly and protested at the venue. She addressed a press conference at the assembly and announced a 12-hour shutdown by her party on Friday.[74] After being arrested by police earlier in that day "for violating prohibitory orders" near Singur, she alleged that the administration had acted "unconstitutionally" by preventing her from entering Singur where the Tata motors proposed to set up a small car factory. She was intercepted at Hooghly and sent back.[75] After this incident the Trinamool Congress MLAs protested by damaging furniture and microphones and vandalizing the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Building.[74][76] A major strike was called on 14 December 2006. But all in all there was no gain. On 4 December, Banerjee began the historic 26-day hunger strike in Kolkata protesting the forcible acquisition of farmland by the government. The then-President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who was concerned about her health, spoke to the then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to resolve the issue. Kalam also appealed to Banerjee to withdraw her fast as "life is precious". A letter from Manmohan Singh was faxed to Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the then-Governor of West Bengal, and then it was immediately delivered to Mamata. After receiving the letter Mamata finally broke her fast at midnight on 29 December.[77][78][79][80] In 2016 the Supreme Court declared that the acquisition of 997 acres of land by West Bengal's Left Front government for the Tata Motors plant in Singur was illegal.[81]

Nandigram protest

Main article: Nandigram violence

In 2007 a battalion of armed police stormed the rural area of Nandigram in the district of Purba Medinipur with the aim of quashing protests against the West Bengal government's plans to expropriate 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to be developed by the Indonesian-based Salim Group. At least 14 villagers were shot dead and 70 more were wounded. This led to a large number of intellectuals to protest on the streets.[82][83][84] CPI(M) cadres allegedly molested and raped 300 women and girls during the Nandigram invasions.[85][86]

Banerjee wrote letters to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to stop what she called "state-sponsored violence" promoted by CPI(M) in Nandigram.[87][88] Her political activism during the movement is widely believed to be one of the contributing causes to her landslide victory in 2011.

The CBI report on the incident vindicated CPI(M)'s stand that Buddhadeb did not order the police to open fire. They did so only to disperse the unlawful assembly after every other standard operating procedure had failed.[89][90] But supporting the violence in Nandigram by his own party workers, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had said earlier "They (the oppositions) have been paid back in the same coin."[91][92] There are allegations of involvement of some local TMC leaders in the Nandigram Violence[93][94][95]

Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister Government of West Bengal speaking at an event in London.

2009–2011 electoral progress

Before the 2009 parliamentary elections she allied with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by Indian National Congress. The alliance won 26 seats. Banerjee joined the central cabinet as the railway minister (second tenure). In the 2010 Municipal Elections in West Bengal, TMC won Kolkata Municipal Corporation by a margin of 62 seats. TMC also won Bidhan Nagar Corporation by a seven-seat margin.[96] In 2011, Banerjee won a sweeping majority and assumed the position of chief minister of the state of West Bengal. Her party ended the 34-year rule of the Left Front.

Trinamool Congress performed well in the 2009 parliamentary election, winning 19 seats. Its allies in Congress and SUCI also won six and one seats respectively marking the best performance by any opposition party in West Bengal since the beginning of the Left's regime. Until then, the Congress victory of 16 seats in 1984, was considered their best show in opposition.

Railway Minister (second tenure), 2009–2011

In 2009, Mamata Banerjee became the railway minister for the second time. Her focus was again on West Bengal.[97]

Banerjee has sworn again as Cabinet Minister at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi at 2009.

She led Indian Railways to introduce a number of non-stop Duronto Express trains connecting large cities[98] as well as a number of other passenger trains,[99] including women-only trains.[100][101][102] The Anantnag-Qadigund segment of the Jammu–Baramulla line that had been in the making since 1994[103] was inaugurated during her tenure.[104] She also declared the 25 km (16 mi) long line-1 of the Kolkata Metro as an independent zone of the Indian Railways[105] for which she was criticised.[106]

She stepped down as railway minister to become the chief minister of West Bengal. She commented: "The way I am leaving the railways behind, it will run well. Don't worry, my successor will get all my support."[107] Her nominee from her party, Dinesh Trivedi, succeeded her as railway minister.

Banerjee's tenure as railway minister was subsequently questioned as most of the big-ticket announcements made by her when she held the post, saw little or no progress.[108] Reuters reported that "Her two-year record as railway minister has been heavily criticized for running the network into more debt to pay for populist measures such as more passenger trains."[109] The Indian Railways became loss-making during her two-year tenure.[110]

Chief Minister of West Bengal

First term, 2011–16

Main article: First Mamata Banerjee ministry
Then United States secretary of State, Hillary Clinton during a meeting with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee at the Writers', Kolkata on 7 May 2012.
Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister Government of West Bengal shown at an event in London on 27 July 2015.

In 2011, the All India Trinamool Congress along with SUCI and the INC won the West Bengal legislative assembly election against the incumbent Left Alliance by securing 227 seats. TMC won 184 seats with the INC winning 42 seats and the SUCI secured one seat. This marked the end of the longest-ruling democratically elected Communist party in the world.[111]

Taking the Oath at Raj Bhavan, Kolkata
Mamata Banerjee takes the oath of office as Chief Minister administered by Governor M. K. Narayanan on 20 May 2011.

Banerjee was sworn in as chief minister of West Bengal on 20 May 2011.[112] As the first female chief minister of West Bengal,[112] one of her first decisions was to return 400 acres of land to Singur farmers. "The cabinet has decided to return 400 acres to unwilling farmers in Singur," the chief minister said. "I have instructed the department to prepare the papers for this. If Tata-babu (Ratan Tata) wants, he can set up his factory on the remaining 600 acres, otherwise we will see how to go about it."[113]

She has also been credited for setting up of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.[114]

She began various reforms in the education and health sectors. Some of the reforms in the education sector included the release of teachers' monthly pay on the first of every month[115][116] and quicker pensions for retiring teachers.[117] In the health sector Banerjee promised: "A three-phase developmental system will be taken up to improve the health infrastructure and service."[118] On 30 April 2015, a representative of UNICEF India congratulated the government for making Nadia the first Open Defecation Free district in the country.[119] In a statement on 17 October 2012, Banerjee attributed the increasing incidence of rape in the country to "more free interaction between men and women". She said that "Earlier if men and women would hold hands, they would get caught by parents and reprimanded but now everything is so open. It's like an open market with open options." She was criticised in the national media for these statements.[120]

She was also instrumental in the rollback of the petrol price hikes[121] and the suspension of FDI in the retail sector until a consensus is evolved.[122] In a bid to improve the law and enforcement situation in West Bengal, police commissioners were created at Howrah, Barrackpore, Durgapur-Asansol and Bidhannagar. The total area of Kolkata Municipal Corporation was brought under the control of the Kolkata Police.

Mamata Banerjee at the Inaugural Address of 38th International Kolkata Book Fair (3:48)
Mamata Banerjee at the Inaugural Address of 38th International Kolkata Book Fair in 2014.

Banerjee had shown a keen interest in making the public aware of the state's history and culture. She named several stations of the Kolkata Metro after freedom fighters,[123] and plans on naming upcoming stations after religious leaders, poets, singers and the like.[124] Mamata Banerjee has been criticised for starting controversial stipends to imams (Iman Bhatta)[125][126][127] which was ruled unconstitutional by Calcutta High Court.[128][129][130]

Priti Patel, then Minister of State for Employment in Government of United Kingdom, and former Home Secretary of United Kingdom meeting Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister Government of West Bengal in London.

On 16 February 2012, Bill Gates, of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, sent a letter to the West Bengal government praising Banerjee and her administration for achieving a full year without any reported cases of polio. The letter said this was not only a milestone for India but also for the whole world.[131]

In June 2012, she launched a Facebook page to rally and gather public support for A.P.J Abdul Kalam, her party's choice for the presidential elections.[132] After he refused to stand for the second time, she supported Pranab Mukherjee for the post, after a long tussle over the issue, commenting she was personally a "great fan" of Mukherjee and wishing that he "grows from strength to strength".[133][134]

She is against calling bandhs (work stoppage) although actively supported them when she was in opposition.[135]

Her tenure was also heavily marred by the Saradha Scam – financial embezzlement which led to the imprisonment of Madan Mitra – a former minister in her cabinet, Kunal Ghosh – a party MP, and rigorous grilling of several party men holding important posts.

Second term, 2016–2021

Main article: Second Mamata Banerjee ministry
Prime Minister Modi, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina and the Chief Minister Banerjee at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on 8 April 2017.
President Kovind during a Foundation Stone laying ceremony at the 64th Annual Convocation of IIT Kharagpur, in West Bengal. The Governor of West Bengal, and the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are also seen.

In the 2016 assembly elections, All India Trinamool Congress won with a landslide two-thirds majority under Mamata Banerjee winning 211 seats out of total 293,[136] who has been elected as Chief Minister West Bengal for the second term.[137] All India Trinamool Congress won with an enhanced majority contesting alone and became the first ruling party to win without an ally since 1962 in West Bengal.

In 2017 Kanyashree, a scheme launched by her government, was ranked the best by the United Nations among 552 social sector schemes from across 62 countries.[138]

Third term, 2021–present

Main article: Third Mamata Banerjee ministry
Banerjee giving speech at Bengal Global Business Summit - 2022 in Kolkata on 20 April.
Banerjee with UNESCO officers Érik Falt and Tim Curtis, during a celebration over the enlistment of Durga Puja as a intangible cultural heritage, on 1 September 2022.
Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah and Mamata Banerjee at the 25th Eastern Zonal Council meeting, in Kolkata on 17 December 2022.

In the 2021 assembly elections, AITC won with a landslide two-thirds majority. But, Mamata Banerjee who fought from Nandigram lost against Suvendu Adhikari of Bharatiya Janata Party by 1,956 votes.[139][140][141] Mamata Banerjee however challenged this outcome and the matter is sub judice.[a] As her party won 213 seats out of total 292, she was elected as Chief Minister of West Bengal for the third term. Later at Raj Bhawan, she tendered her resignation to Jagdeep Dhankhar.[142] She took oath as Chief Minister on 5 May 2021.[143][144] Her party later won 2 remaining seats and she herself won Bhabanipur by-election by a huge margin of 58,835[1][2][3] votes. She was sworn in as MLA on 7 October.[145][146][147]

Taking the Oath at Throne Room, Raj Bhavan, Kolkata
Mamata Banerjee takes the oath of office as Chief Minister administered by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on 5 May 2021.

After winning the election, following her promises she launched the scheme Lakshmir Bhandar. In this scheme women under the age of 60 were provided the basic financial help, about 500 rupees for general and 1000 rupees to minorities.[148] The scheme turned out to be a huge success as it became massively popular.[149]

Another scheme was also projected under her leadership, Students Credit Card scheme, to give financial supports in loan to intellectual students who are unable to keep higher studies due to lack of money. The loan limit was up to 10 lakh rupees, under the nominee of government of West Bengal.[150]

On 30 November 2021, she surpassed her immediate predecessor Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to become the third-longest-serving Chief Minister of West Bengal. If Mamata remains in office at least till 26 October 2025, she would become the second-longest-serving Chief Minister after Jyoti Basu, superseding Bidhan Chandra Roy.

Personal life and recognitions

Throughout her political life, Banerjee has maintained a publicly austere lifestyle, dressing in simple traditional Bengali clothes and avoiding luxuries.[151][152] During an interview in April 2019, Prime minister Narendra Modi claimed that despite their political differences, Banerjee sends her own selected kurtas and sweets to him every year.[153] Australian Envoy Barry O'Farrell thanked her for sending sweets on the occasion of Vijayadashami.[154] In September 2019 when Ms. Jashodaben, the wife of PM Modi, was leaving Kolkata, Mamata met her at the Kolkata airport and gifted her a saree.[155][156]

She identifies herself as a Hindu.[157] Banerjee is a self-taught painter and a poet.[158][159] Her 300 paintings were sold for ₹9crore (₹90 million, £990,000 or US$1,350,000).[160] In 2012, Time magazine named her as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.[161] Bloomberg Markets magazine listed her among the 50 most influential people in the world of finance in September 2012.[162] In 2018, she was conferred the Skoch Chief Minister of the Year Award.[163] Banerjee stepped out into the streets of Kolkata during lockdown, caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, to spread awareness among the common people.[164][165][166][167][168] While appealing for maintaining religious harmony, Banerjee has reiterated the fact on numerous occasions that "Religion is personal, but festivals are universal."[169][170]

"She has always been a fighter" said Yashwant Sinha while disclosing that Mamata had offered to be a hostage as part of a negotiation strategy during the Kandahar hijacking crisis. "She was ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the country" Sinha added.[171][172]

In 2021, Mamata Banerjee was invited to attend World Meeting for Peace in Rome.[173][174][175] She was the only Indian invited to attend the event. But in September, the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied her permission to attend the peace conference stating that the event was not "commensurate in status for participation by the chief minister of a state".[176][177][178] BJP MP Subramanian Swamy slammed Modi government on Banerjee's Rome visit cancelation.[179][180][181] According to Indian Diplomat K. P. Fabian, the reason cited by MEA was unconvincing.[182] Similarly, in December, Banerjee was denied permission by the MEA to visit Nepal.[183]

TIME magazine published its annual list of 'The 100 Most Influential People of 2021' on 15 September 2021. The list includes Mamata Banerjee among others.[184][185][186] She received an honorary doctorate from the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar.[187] She was also honoured with a Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt.) degree by Calcutta University.[188]

Baghini, a Bengali film, inspired by Mamata Banerjee's life, was released on 24 May 2019. It is not a biopic.[189][190]

Works in literature and other fields

Mamata Banerjee at 43rd International Kolkata Book Fair with her books in hand

Numerous books written by her have been published so far. On 2022, she was given Paschimbanga Akademy Award for 'Kabita Bitan' which consists of 946 poems.[191]

She is also a self-taught painter.[192] Her paintings are auctioned several times.[193]

She is also a lyricist and her compositions are mostly based on 'Durga Puja' and 'Motherland'. 'Maa Go Tumi Sarbojanin' sung by Shreya Ghoshal is one of her most popular songs.[194]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b For more details see Nandigram Controversy

References

  1. ^ a b "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Bhowanipore bypoll: Mamata Banerjee breaks her own record". The Telegraph. 4 October 2021. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Chief Minister's Office – Government of West Bengal". wbcmo.gov.in. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  6. ^ "tcpd/cabinet_data". GitHub. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Sote103-('C) – Cabinet Secretariat" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Vajpayee reinducts Mamata Banerjee as cabinet minister without portfolio". India Today. 22 September 2003. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Mamata Banerjee's Biodata in Lok Sabha's Document". loksabha.nic.in. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Mamata Banerjee five years younger than official records". The Times of India. 26 January 2012. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Mamata is 5 years younger than official age". Business Line. 15 November 2017. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Mamata Banerjee's hard-hitting poem targets PM Modi's demonetisation decision, but fails to woo Netizens". The Indian Express. 12 November 2016. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  13. ^ Roy, Sandip (17 October 2014). "The 1.8 crore question: Is Mamata Banerjee India's most underrated artist?". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 7 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  14. ^ "Did You Know? Mamata Banerjee was India's first-ever Sports Minister". The Bridge. 4 March 2020. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Detailed Profile=Km. Mamata Banerjee". Government of India. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  16. ^ Yardley, Jim (14 January 2011). "The Eye of an Indian Hurricane, Eager to Topple a Political Establishment". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  17. ^ "India: Mamata Banerjee routs communists in West Bengal". BBC News. 13 May 2011. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  18. ^ Achin, Kurt (11 May 2011). "India's West Bengal Set to End 34 Years of Communist Rule". VOA. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  19. ^ Biswas, Soutik (15 April 2011). "The woman taking on India's communists". BBC World News. Archived from the original on 15 April 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  20. ^ "Nandigram election result 2021: Suvendu Adhikari beats Mamata by 1736 votes". The Times of India. 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Trinamool Congress wins big in Bengal and BJP scores less than half of what it aimed for". Business Insider India. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  22. ^ Rajaram, Prema (12 August 2021). "Calcutta HC adjourns Mamata Banerjee's petition against Nandigram election result till November 15". India Today. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  23. ^ Singh, Shiv Sahay (2 May 2021). "Mamata wins West Bengal but loses in Nandigram". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  24. ^ Paul, Paramita (3 May 2021). "মমতা একা নন, বিধায়ক না হয়ে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী হওয়ার নজির অতীতেও রয়েছে এ দেশে" [Mamata is not alone, there is a precedent in this country to be the Chief Minister without being a MLA]. Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  25. ^ Choudhury, Monishankar (12 May 2021). "২০২৪ সালে বিজেপি বিরোধী শিবিরের মুখ কি মমতাই?" [Is Mamata the face of the anti-BJP camp in 2024?]. Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  26. ^ Singh, Shiv Sahay (3 October 2021). "Mamata Banerjee back in Bengal Assembly with Bhabanipur win". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  27. ^ Bag, Kheya (2011). "Red Bengal's Rise and Fall". New Left Review (70): 69–98. Archived from the original on 30 March 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  28. ^ Jha, Ajit Kumar (11 May 2014). "Political Eclipse of Once Formidable Brahmins". Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  29. ^ "Mamata's 5 years younger". Rediff. 25 January 2021. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  30. ^ a b c Abdi, S.N.M. (5 November 2012). "A Fire-Dweller At The Kiln". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  31. ^ "History of the College". Jogamayadevicollege.org. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  32. ^ Mitra, Arnab (23 April 2011). "'My focus is always to be with the people'". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 25 April 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  33. ^ "15 facts about Mamata Banerjee that you probably don't know". The Economic Times. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  34. ^ "Biographical Sketch, Member of Parliament, X Lok Sabha. BANERJEE, KUMARI MAMATA". parliamentofindia.nic.in. Archived from the original on 26 July 2010.
  35. ^ "Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee biography". India Today. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  36. ^ Dhar, Sujoy (13 May 2011). "Mamata's political journey: From a car dance to Chief Ministership". Sify. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  37. ^ "First, show us some 'Mamata'". Free Press Journal. 1 June 2019. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  38. ^ Mukherjee, Pradipta; Rodrigues, Jeanette (17 May 2016). "From jumping on cars to hunger strikes, Mamata shakes up India's status quo". mint. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  39. ^ "Mamta Banerjee Profile". incredible-people.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2006.
  40. ^ Prabhash K Dutta (13 August 2018). "Only Mamata Banerjee could defeat Somnath Chatterjee". India Today. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  41. ^ Shubham (27 April 2016). "Bengal polls: Mamata Banerjee has lost only 1 election till date". oneindia.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  42. ^ a b c "Mamata, the street-fighting politician and Left nemesis". India Today. 13 May 2011. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011.
  43. ^ "Mamata mum on relations with BJP". 6 January 2003. Archived from the original on 10 January 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  44. ^ "Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee biography". India Today. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  45. ^ a b "Why Bengal can never forget 21 July". millenniumpost.in. 21 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  46. ^ "Bengal's election result is Narendra Modi's personal failure". Newslaundry.com. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  47. ^ Bagchi, Suvojit (29 December 2014). "Report on Kolkata firing may spark a fresh row". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  48. ^ "Looking back at July 21, 1993". The Times of India. 14 May 2011. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  49. ^ "What had happened on July 21 1993 at Writers' building in West Bengal?". 29 December 2014. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  50. ^ "What happened on July 21, 1993". Telegraph India. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  51. ^ Chaudhuri, Kalyan (4 July 2003). "On the decline". Frontline. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  52. ^ "National Events in December 1998". The Hindu. India. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
  53. ^ a b "New trains for West Bengal". The Tribune. India. 26 February 2000. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
  54. ^ a b "Railways to focus on tourism, trans-Asian role, hardselling freight services". Rediff.com. 25 February 2000. Archived from the original on 28 January 2005. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
  55. ^ "Petrol Ignites Mamata Resignation". The Telegraph (Calcutta). Calcutta. 1 October 2000. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  56. ^ Gupta, Subhrangshu (9 October 2000). "Mamata's antics invite criticism". Tribune India. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  57. ^ Harding, Luke (21 March 2001). "Sting on a shoestring". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  58. ^ "West Bengal: Elections 2001 Countdown". Outlook India. 3 May 2001. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  59. ^ "Vajpayee reinducts Mamata Banerjee as cabinet minister without portfolio". India Today. 22 September 2003. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  60. ^ Sahay, Tara Shankar. "Mamata back in Cabinet, cut to size". Rediff. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  61. ^ "Coal portfolio is good enough: Mamata". Rediff. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  62. ^ "Mamata Tantrums Now Against Nalco Sale". The Financial Express. 20 January 2004. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  63. ^ "Why did the NDA lose West Bengal?". Rediff. 14 May 2004. Archived from the original on 2 September 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  64. ^ "Subrata Mukherjee joins Trinamool". Hindustan Times. 5 May 2010. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  65. ^ "Mamata Banerjee cartoons". itimes. 26 February 2013. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  66. ^ "Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee biography". India Today. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  67. ^ Swarup, Harihar. "Profile: The incorrigible Mamata". Tribune India. Chandigarh. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  68. ^ "Mamata Banerjee's unending tantrums". The Hindu. Chennai. 8 August 2005. Archived from the original on 20 March 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  69. ^ "Mamata casts shame at House Paper throw at Speaker". The Telegraph. Calcutta. 4 August 2005. Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  70. ^ "Weather plays spoilsport for TMC". 21 October 2005. Archived from the original on 18 February 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  71. ^ "Missing on bandh day: its champions – Mamata stays indoors, Cong scarce". The Telegraph. Calcutta. 10 October 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  72. ^ "Watch: Mamata Banerjee Holds March For Wrestlers, Then A Motorcycle Ride". NDTV. 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  73. ^ "Mamata Banerjee leads candlelight march in support of protesting wrestlers in Kolkata". Hindustan Times. 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  74. ^ a b "Trinamool unleashes violence in West Bengal". 30 November 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  75. ^ Chaudhuri, Sumanta Ray (30 November 2006). "Trinamool Congress legislators go on the rampage in House". DNA India. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  76. ^ "Heritage vandalised in Bengal House". The Times of India. 2 December 2006. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
  77. ^ "Mamata ends 25-day hunger strike". Hindustan Times. 29 December 2006. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  78. ^ "Mamata Banerjee dials protesting farmers, assures TMC's support". The Tribune. 4 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  79. ^ "West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee reminds people of her 26-day hunger strike". The Sentinel. 4 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  80. ^ "Mamata Banerjee remembers Singur hunger strike in context of ongoing farmers protest". The Statesman. 4 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  81. ^ "Singur case: Supreme Court declares land acquisition for Tata plant illegal". livemint.com. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  82. ^ "Nandigram people's struggle "heroic": Clark". One India. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012.
  83. ^ Kirschbaum, Stevan. "Nandigram says 'No!' to Dow's chemical hub". International Action Center. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
  84. ^ "The Great Left Debate: Chomsky to Saddam, Iraq to Nandigram". The Indian Express. India. 5 December 2007. Archived from the original on 16 April 2008.
  85. ^ Sarkar, Arindam (26 April 2007). "Mamata promises to marry off raped girls of Nandigram". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  86. ^ "CPI(M) leaders raped mother and daughters in Nandigram: CBI". India Today. 19 December 2007. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  87. ^ Mitra, Ashok (15 November 2007). "You are not what you were – Ashok Mitra after 14th November, 2007". Sanhati. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  88. ^ "'Go back Medha' posters in Kolkata". India eNews.com. 7 December 2006. Archived from the original on 11 January 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  89. ^ Sen, Saibal (31 January 2014). "Nandigram firing: Full text of CBI's Nandigram chargesheet". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  90. ^ "Red-hand Buddha: 14 killed in Nandigram re-entry bid". The Telegraph. Calcutta. 15 March 2007. Archived from the original on 17 March 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2007.
  91. ^ "'Violent elements paid back in their own coin'". Zee News. 13 November 2007. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  92. ^ "Oppn paid back in the same coin, says Bengal CM". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  93. ^ Singh, Shiv Sahay (29 March 2021). "West Bengal Assembly elections | Battle for Nandigram turns personal". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  94. ^ "এখানে জিতব, এখান থেকে সরকার গড়ব, নন্দীগ্রামে আত্মবিশ্বাসী মমতা | হুইল চেয়ারেই নন্দীগ্রামের মানুষের দুয়ারে পৌঁছলেন নেত্রী". bartamanpatrika.com (in Bengali). 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  95. ^ "'‌চটি–পুলিশকে ওঁরাই ডেকেছে, পুলিশের ড্রেসেই নন্দীগ্রামে গুলি.‌.‌.‌', ফের বিস্ফোরক মমতা‌". aajkaal.in (in Bengali). 29 March 2021. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  96. ^ Singh, Raj (20 April 2014). "Who is Mamata Banerjee?". India TV. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  97. ^ "Mamata gifts new projects to north Bengal". The Hindu. Chennai. 29 January 2011. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  98. ^ "mamata-flags-off-sealdah-new-delhi-duronto-express". Armoks News. Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  99. ^ Chatterji, Saubhadro (4 February 2010). "Mamata Banerjee to start 19 new trains on 7 February". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  100. ^ "A New Way to Commute: Women-Only Trains in India". Marie Claire. 27 January 2010. Archived from the original on 28 January 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  101. ^ "Ladies Special Rolls Out". Express India. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  102. ^ "New CST Panvel Ladies Special". Bombay-Local. Archived from the original on 29 October 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  103. ^ Sharma, Arun (10 October 1998). "Destination nowhere". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
  104. ^ "Prime Minister dedicates Anantnag-Quazigund rail line in Kashmir to nation". Press Release, Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 28 October 2009. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  105. ^ "Kolkata Metro gets railway zone status". The Hindu. Chennai. 30 December 2010. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  106. ^ "Rail budget: Parliament uproar over Kolkata metro plan". Asian Age. 25 February 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  107. ^ "Job done, successor only has to monitor". The Telegraph. Calcutta. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  108. ^ "Mamata's big rail plans of 2011–12 still stuck on performance track". Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  109. ^ Scrutton, Alistair (12 May 2011). "Special Report – "Big Sister" Mamata set to evict Left from Kolkata". Reuters. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  110. ^ "Why Indian Railways is incurring losses under Mamata". Rediff.com. 28 January 2011. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  111. ^ Lahiri-Dutt, Kuntala (10 June 2011). "The defeat of the Left Front in West Bengal, India". East Asia Forum. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  112. ^ a b "Mamata Banerjee sworn in as West Bengal chief minister". BBC News. 20 May 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  113. ^ "Singur Land Given Back". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  114. ^ "Gorkhaland Autonomous Council". The Times of India. 19 July 2011. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  115. ^ "College teachers to get salary by the first of every month". The Hindu. Chennai. 4 June 2011. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011.
  116. ^ "Mamata effect: Salaries on first day of the month". Archived from the original on 21 July 2012.
  117. ^ "Quicker pensions for retiring teachers: Mamata". The Times of India. [dead link]
  118. ^ "Mamata Banerjee announced health sector reform". Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  119. ^ "Mamata declares Nadia first 'open defecation-free' district in India". The Hindu. 30 April 2015. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016.
  120. ^ "Mamata blames media, 'free interaction of men-women' for rising cases of rape!". Daily Bhaskar. 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013.
  121. ^ "Petrol price cut a positive step: Mamata Banerjee". Zee News. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013.
  122. ^ "Dodon't want government to fail, but can't support FDI". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  123. ^ Das, Soumitra (26 July 2009). "Game of the name". The Telegraph India. Calcutta. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  124. ^ Mandal, Sanjay (16 January 2011). "Didi's metro name game". The Telegraph India. Calcutta. Archived from the original on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  125. ^ Gupta, Smita (25 April 2016). "Mamata, Muslims and paribartan". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  126. ^ "Opinion: Mamata Banerjee's Appeasement Policies Have Created Real Danger". NDTV. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  127. ^ "Bengal's people must step in to save the state from communal politics". hindustantimes.com/. 11 July 2017. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  128. ^ "Mamata's allowance to Imams unconstitutional, rules Calcutta HC". Firstpost. 3 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  129. ^ Chatterjee, Garga (6 April 2013). "A dangerous connivance". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  130. ^ Banerjie, Monideepa (2 September 2013). "Calcutta High Court scraps Mamata Banerjee's stipend to imams". NDTV. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  131. ^ "Bill Gates appreciates Mamata Banerjee for polio eradication". Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  132. ^ "Mamata launches Facebook page – seeks support for APJ Abdul Kalam". 16 June 2012. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012.
  133. ^ "Mamata didi is a big fan of Pranab Mukherjee". Economic Times. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  134. ^ R.N. Subrahmanyam (3 May 2012). "Prez polls: Mamata throws surprise on Pranab Mukherjee". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  135. ^ "Mamata Banerjee admits her calls for bandh were a mistake". NDTV. 28 February 2012. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  136. ^ "NDTV Live Results". Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  137. ^ "TMC storms back to power in Bengal, Cong-Left alliance loses". The Financial Express. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  138. ^ Kundu, Indrajit (7 October 2021). "UN honours Mamata Banerjee with highest public service award for girl child project Kanyashree". India Today. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  139. ^ "Nandigram: After Hours of Confusion, BJP's Suvendu Adhikari Emerges Winner". The Wire. 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  140. ^ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  141. ^ "Nandigram Election Result 2021 LIVE: Nandigram MLA Election Result & Vote Share". Oneindia. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  142. ^ "West Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee arrives at Raj Bhavan". Zee News. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  143. ^ Singh, Shiv Sahay (5 May 2021). "Mamata Banerjee sworn in as West Bengal Chief Minister for third time". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  144. ^ "Mamata Banerjee takes oath as Bengal CM, says violence will be tackled firmly". The Indian Express. 5 May 2021. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  145. ^ "বিধায়ক পদে শপথ নিলেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়, প্রথা ভেঙে শপথ বাক্য পাঠ করালেন রাজ্যপাল". Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). 7 October 2021. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  146. ^ "Mamata Banerjee, 2 other TMC MLAs take oath of office in presence of governor Jagdeep Dhankhar". Hindustan Times. 7 October 2021. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  147. ^ "West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and 2 other TMC MLAs take oath, BJP legislators skip assembly". The Times of India. 8 October 2021. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  148. ^ "Bengal Govt in Financial Fix After Launch of Flagship 'Lakshmir Bhandar' Scheme". News18. 3 November 2021. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  149. ^ "On First Day, 1.23 Million Register for Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme in West Bengal". News18. 17 August 2021. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  150. ^ Singh, Ronit Kumar (10 July 2022). "West Bengal Govt Distributes 'Student Credit Card' Among Beneficiaries To Help Them Pursue Higher Studies". thelogicalindian.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  151. ^ "Mamata saris the rage in Kolkata this Durga Puja". FirstPost. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  152. ^ "Blog article in IBNLive.in.com". CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 6 June 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
  153. ^ "On Wednesday, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar interviews PM Modi". BBC. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019. West Bengal chief minister and arch rival Mamata Banerjee sends him sweets and kurtas every year
  154. ^ "Australian Envoy Thanks Mamata Banerjee For Sending "Sandesh" On Dussehra". NDTV. 19 October 2021. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  155. ^ "Mamata Banerjee Runs Into PM Modi's Wife Before Boarding Flight To Meet Him". NDTV. 18 September 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  156. ^ "Mamata Banerjee meets PM Modi's wife at Kolkata airport". The Hindu. 18 September 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  157. ^ "Watch: Nusrat's Muslim, I am Hindu but we are exactly alike except she's beautiful and I am not, says Mamata". DNA. 12 May 2019. Archived from the original on 14 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  158. ^ "The poet and painter in Mamata Banerjee's looks beyond Bengal". Indian Express. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  159. ^ "Publications, Poetry and Paintings : All India Trinamool Congress". aitcofficial.org. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  160. ^ "WTF: Mamata Banerjee Paintings Sold For 9 Crores". indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  161. ^ "Time 100: Mamata Banerjee, Populist". Time. 18 April 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  162. ^ "Mamata Banerjee among world's 50 influential leaders in finance". Zeenews.india.com. 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  163. ^ "Mamata Banerjee is the Skoch Chief Minister of the Year". The Economic Times. 20 December 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  164. ^ "Didi's lessons on social distancing: Mamata Banerjee takes to Kolkata streets to fight Covid19". Hindustan Times. 26 March 2020. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  165. ^ "'Keep Shops Open, What Will People Eat?' Mamata Banerjee Takes to The Streets During Lockdown". News18. 28 March 2020. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  166. ^ "Mamata Banerjee Hits Kolkata Streets Again, Urges People To Stay Indoors". NDTV. 23 April 2020. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  167. ^ "Mamata hits the streets, speaks directly to locked-down Kolkata". The Indian Express. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  168. ^ "Mamata Hits Streets of Kolkata to Address Citizens Amid Lockdown". The Quint. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  169. ^ "Religion is personal, but festivals are universal says Mamata Banerjee". United News of India. 4 July 2019. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  170. ^ "Faith may be personal but festivals are universal: Mamata Banerjee on Durga puja celebrations". India Today. 7 September 2021. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  171. ^ "Mamata offered herself in exchange for Kandahar hostages: Yashwant Sinha". The Times of India. 13 March 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  172. ^ "Yashwant Sinha joins TMC, recalls Didi's 'hostage offer'". The Times of India. 14 March 2021. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  173. ^ "Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee invited to attend peace conference in Rome". Hindustan Times. 11 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  174. ^ "Mamata Banerjee invited to 'World Meeting for Peace' in Rome along with Pope, Angela Merkel". India Today. 12 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  175. ^ "Lack of vaccine acceptance a travel barrier: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee". The Times of India. 9 September 2021. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  176. ^ "Centre denies permission to Mamata for trip to Rome next month". Hindustan Times. 25 September 2021. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  177. ^ "Centre Denies Mamata Banerjee Permission To Attend Peace Conference in Rome". The Quint. 25 September 2021. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  178. ^ "Centre Didn't Let Me Go To Rome Peace Meet Out Of "Jealousy": Mamata Banerjee". NDTV. 25 September 2021. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  179. ^ "Modi should permit Mamata to travel to Rome: Subramanian Swamy". The Week. 26 September 2021. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  180. ^ "কোন আইনে মমতাকে রোম যেতে বাধা দেওয়া হল? কেন্দ্রের ভূমিকা নিয়ে প্রশ্ন বিজেপি সাংসদের". Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). 26 September 2021. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  181. ^ "Subramanian Swamy: 'কোন আইনে Mamata-র রোম সফর বাতিল', কেন্দ্রকে তোপ BJP সাংসদের". Zee 24 Ghanta (in Bengali). 26 September 2021. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  182. ^ "Italian organisation that invited Mamata highly prestigious: ex-envoy". The Hindu. 26 September 2021. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  183. ^ "'Vindictive,' cries TMC as Centre bars Mamata Banerjee from visiting Nepal". Hindustan Times. 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  184. ^ Dutt, Barkha (15 September 2021). "The 100 Most Influential People of 2021. Mamata Banerjee". TIME. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  185. ^ "PM Modi, Mamata Banerjee Among TIME's 100 Most Influential People". NDTV. PTI. 15 September 2021. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  186. ^ "বিশ্বের ১০০ প্রভাবশালীর তালিকায় মমতা, তীব্র সমালোচনা মোদির নামে" [Mamata in the list of 100 most influential people in the world, sharp criticism of Modi]. Bartaman (in Bengali). 16 September 2021. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  187. ^ "Odisha varsity to confer doctorate on Mamata". The Times of India. 18 September 2012. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  188. ^ "Mamata Banerjee receives D Litt degree, says intolerance is rising in the country". The Indian Express. 11 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  189. ^ Ghosh, Devarsi (15 April 2019). "'Baghini: Bengal Tigress' is inspired by Mamata Banerjee but is not a biopic, filmmakers say". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  190. ^ Itengar, Shriram (15 April 2019). "After Narendra Modi, Baghini: Bengal Tigress evokes Mamata Banerjee". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  191. ^ "সাহিত্য চর্চায় নিরলস সাধনার জন্য বাংলা আকাদেমির বিশেষ পুরস্কার পেলেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়". ABP Ananda (in Bengali). 9 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  192. ^ "Mamata Banerjee, chief minister, painter and fighter, faces tough polls". Business Standard India. 1 April 2021. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  193. ^ "WTF: Mamata Banerjee Paintings Sold For 9 Crores". IndiaTimes. 14 April 2015. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  194. ^ Prakashan, Priya (14 October 2015). "Durga Puja 2015: Mamata Banerjee pens Maa Go Tumi Sarbojonin on the auspicious occasion of the Navratri | India.com". India.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2022.

Further reading

Books
Journals
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mamata_Banerjee&oldid=1236563025"