 "Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee addresses All India Trinamool Congress at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Friday, Feb 12, 2016 PTI")
Mamata Banerjee
Party: Trinamool Congress
Contesting from: Bhawanipore constituency in South Kolkata
The ‘Didi’ of Bengal created history when she overthrew the 34-year-old CPI(M) regime in 2011 with a 54,000 vote margin.
Mamata’s supremacy in the state is being countered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress-Left alliance, where Modi once called her government, “Terror, Maut and Corruption ki Sarkar.”
Despite the prevailing Modi waive, her party had won majority Lok Sabha seats from the state and this gives her an impetus over her competitors.
Despite the prevailing Modi waive, her party had won majority Lok Sabha seats from the state and this gives her an impetus over her competitors.
Firebrand, rabble-rouser, feisty describe Mamata Banerjee. She quit the Indian National Congress to set up the All India Trinamool Congress in 1997. In 1999, she joined the BJP-led NDA government and was allocated the Railways portfolio.
Banerjee split from the NDA and then returned in 2004 when she was given the coal and mines portfolio. Her big opportunity came in 2006 when Tata Motors decided to set up the Nano factory in Singur. Cashing in on the resentment among a section of land losers Banerjee fought for their land rights which ultimately led to the pullout of the project. There has been looking back since.
Banerjee split from the NDA and then returned in 2004 when she was given the coal and mines portfolio. Her big opportunity came in 2006 when Tata Motors decided to set up the Nano factory in Singur. Cashing in on the resentment among a section of land losers Banerjee fought for their land rights which ultimately led to the pullout of the project. There has been looking back since.
In 2009, before the general elections, Banerjee allied with the Congress and became the second largest constituent of UPA II after the Congress. Banerjee was allocated the Railways portfolio.
Strength: It’s her home turf and she has never lost any election. She is known to be pro-farmer, pro-poor, and her popularity amongst the Muslim population could turn in her favour.
Weakness: Certain factors might slim her chances, including Saradha scam followed by Narada news sting, the violence at Malda and Tata Motors pulling out of Singur, and anti-incumbency, all of which happened right under her nose.
