https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=82.132.217.85Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]2026-08-08T03:00:17ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mamata_Banerjee&diff=547419Mamata Banerjee2026-05-08T20:12:01Z<p>82.132.217.85: rework details additionally and added references for consistency</p>
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<div>{{Short description|Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2011 to 2026}}<br />
{{Redirect|Mamata}}<br />
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2026}}<br />
{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| name = Mamata Banerjee<br />
| honorific_suffix = <!-- Please do not add honourifics, see [[MOS:HONOURIFICS]] --><br />
| image = File:Official portrait of Mamata Banerjee.jpg<br />
| caption = Official portrait, 2015<br />
| alt = Official portrait, 2015<br />
| signature = Mamata_Banerjee_Signature.png<br />
| office = Chief Minister of West Bengal<br />
| order = 8th<br />
| subterm = '''Cabinet'''<br />
| suboffice = [[First Banerjee ministry|Banerjee I]]<br/> [[Second Banerjee ministry|Banerjee II]]<br/> [[Third Banerjee ministry|Banerjee III]]<br />
| term_start = {{start date|2011|05|20|df=yes}}<br />
| term_end = {{end date|2026|05|07|df=yes}}<br />
| governor = {{Collapsible list|[[M. K. Narayanan]]<br />[[D. Y. Patil]] ''(additional charge)''<br />[[Keshari Nath Tripathi]]<br />[[Jagdeep Dhankhar]]<br />[[La. Ganesan]] ''(additional charge)''<br />[[C. V. Ananda Bose]]<br />[[R. N. Ravi]]}}<br />
| predecessor = [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee]]<br />
| successor = [[Suvendu Adhikari]]<br />
<!-- --><br />
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Additional ministries}}<br />
| 1blankname1 = [[Third Banerjee ministry|Ministry and Departments]]<br />
| 1namedata1 = * [[Department of Home and Hill Affairs|Home & Hill Affairs]]<br />
* [[Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (West Bengal)|Personnel & Administrative Reforms]]<br />
* Finance & Excise<br />
* Planning<br />
* Statistics Program Implementation<br />
* [[Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (West Bengal)|Health and Family Welfare]]<br />
* [[Ministry of Land & Land Reforms (West Bengal)|Land and Land Reforms]]<br />
* Refugee and Rehabilitation<br />
* [[Ministry of Information & Cultural Affairs (West Bengal)|Information & Cultural Affairs]]<br />
* [[Ministry of Minority Affairs & Madrassah Education (West Bengal)|Minority Affairs & Madrassah Education]]<br />
* Sports & Youth Affairs<br />
| term_start1 = {{start date|2011|05|20|df=yes}}<br />
| term_end1 = {{start date|2026|05|07|df=yes}}<br />
| predecessor1 = [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee]]<br />
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}<br />
| office2 = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]<br />
| constituency3 = [[Bhabanipur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|Bhabanipur]]<br />
| term_start3 = {{start date|2011|11|16|df=yes}}<br />
| term_end3 = {{start date|2021|05|02|df=yes}}<br />
| predecessor3 = [[Subrata Bakshi]]<br />
| successor3 = [[Sovandeb Chattopadhyay]]<br />
| ooffice3 = <br />
| constituency2 = [[Bhabanipur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|Bhabanipur]]<br />
| term_start2 = {{start date|2021|10|03|df=yes}}<br />
| term_end2 = {{start date|2026|05|04|df=yes}}<br />
| predecessor2 = [[Sovandeb Chattopadhyay]]<br />
| successor2 = [[Suvendu Adhikari]]<br />
| office4 = [[All India Trinamool Congress|President of the All India Trinamool Congress]]<br />
| term_start4 = {{Start date|2001|df=yes}}<br />
| term_end4 = <br />
| predecessor4 = [[Ajit Kumar Panja]]<br />
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Union Cabinet offices<br />
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed purple;}}{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| embed = yes<br />
| office5 = [[Minister of Railways (India)|Union Minister of Railways]]<br />
| predecessor5 = [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]<br />
| prime_minister5 = [[Manmohan Singh]]<br />
| term_start5 = {{Start date|2009|05|22|df=yes}}<br />
| term_end5 = {{End date|2011|05|19|df=yes}}<br />
| successor5 = [[Dinesh Trivedi]]<br />
| office6 = <br />
| prime_minister6 = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]<br />
| predecessor6 = [[Ram Naik]]<br />
| successor6 = [[Nitish Kumar]]<br />
| term_start6 = {{start date|1999|10|13|df=yes}}<br />
| term_end6 = {{end date|2001|03|15|df=yes}}<br />
| office7 = [[Ministry of Coal|Union Minister of Coal]]<br />
| prime_minister7 = Atal Bihari Vajpayee<br />
| term_start7 = 9 January 2004<br />
| term_end7 = 22 May 2004<br />
| predecessor7 = [[Karia Munda]]<br />
| successor7 = [[Shibu Soren]]<br />
| office9 = [[Ministry of Mines (India)|Union Minister of Mines]]<br />
| term_start9 = 9 January 2004<br />
| term_end9 = 22 May 2004<br />
| prime_minister9 = Atal Bihari Vajpayee<br />
| predecessor9 = [[Ramesh Bais]] ([[:Category:Union ministers of state of India with independent charge|''MOS (I/C)'']])<br />
| successor9 = Shibu Soren<br />
| office10 = [[Union Council of Ministers#Ranking|Union Minister of State]] for [[Ministry of Education (India)|Human Resource Development]]<br />
| term10 = 21 June 1991 — 17 January 1993<ref name="wbcmo">{{cite web|title=Chief Minister's Office – Government of West Bengal|url=http://wbcmo.gov.in/profile.aspx|website=wbcmo.gov.in|access-date=24 September 2021|archive-date=10 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610055638/http://wbcmo.gov.in/profile.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
| prime_minister10 = [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]<br />
| minister10 = [[Arjun Singh (politician, born 1930)|Arjun Singh]]<br />
| subterm10 = 1991—1993<br />
| suboffice10 = Departments in-charge for:{{Bulleted list|<br />
{{small|[[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports#History|Youth Affairs and Sports]]}}<br />
|{{small|[[Ministry of Women and Child Development#History|Woman and Child Development]]}}}}<br />
| predecessor10 = [[Bhagey Gobardhan]]<ref>{{cite web|title=tcpd/cabinet_data|url=https://github.com/tcpd/cabinet_data/blob/master/TCPD_Indian_Cabinet_1990_2019.csv|work=GitHub|access-date=26 September 2021|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925191212/https://github.com/tcpd/cabinet_data/blob/master/TCPD_Indian_Cabinet_1990_2019.csv|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sote103-('C) – Cabinet Secretariat|url=https://cabsec.nic.in/writereaddata/changeinportfolio/english/1_Upload_1574.pdf|access-date=26 September 2021|archive-date=4 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104102945/https://cabsec.nic.in/writereaddata/changeinportfolio/english/1_Upload_1574.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
| successor10 = {{Unbulleted list| [[Mukul Wasnik]]<br />{{small|(Youth Affairs and Sports)}}|[[Basavarajeshwari]]<br />{{small|(Women and Child Development)}}}}<br />
| office11 = [[Minister without portfolio#India|Union Cabinet Minister (without portfolio)]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Vajpayee reinducts Mamata Banerjee as cabinet minister without portfolio|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/glass-house/story/20030922-vajpayee-reinducts-mamata-banerjee-as-cabinet-minister-792033-2003-09-22|date=22 September 2003|work=India Today|access-date=4 January 2021|archive-date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201194502/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/glass-house/story/20030922-vajpayee-reinducts-mamata-banerjee-as-cabinet-minister-792033-2003-09-22|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
| term_start11 = 8 September 2003<br />
| term_end11 = 8 January 2004<ref name="wbcmo" /><br />
| prime_minister11 = Atal Bihari Vajpayee<br />
| predecessor11 = [[N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar]]<br />
| successor11 = [[Natwar Singh]]<br />
}}<br />
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}<br />
| office12 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]<br />
| constituency12 = [[Kolkata Dakshin (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kolkata Dakshin, West Bengal]]<br />
| term_start12 = {{start date|1991|06|19|df=yes}}<br />
| term_end12 = {{end date|2011|05|13|df=yes}}<br />
| predecessor12 = [[Biplab Dasgupta]]<br />
| successor12 = [[Subrata Bakshi]]<br />
| constituency13 = [[Jadavpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jadavpur, West Bengal]]<br />
| term_start13 = {{start date|1984|12|31|df=yes}}<br />
| term_end13 = {{end date|1989|12|02|df=yes}}<br />
| predecessor13 = [[Somnath Chatterjee]]<br />
| successor13 = [[Malini Bhattacharya]]<br />
| party = [[All India Trinamool Congress]]<br />(since 1998)<br />
| other_party = [[Indian National Congress]] (1975–1998)<br />
| birth_name = <br />
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|01|5|df=yes}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/Members/bioprofilediedresigned.aspx?mpsno=39|title=Mamata Banerjee's Biodata in Lok Sabha's Document|website=loksabha.nic.in|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525094119/http://164.100.47.132/Lssnew/Members/bioprofilediedresigned.aspx?mpsno=39|archive-date=25 May 2012}}</ref>{{efn|name=birth}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Calcutta, West Bengal]], India<br />
| spouse = <br />
| parents = <br />
| relations = [[Abhishek Banerjee (politician)|Abhishek Banerjee]] (nephew)<br />
| alma_mater = [[University of Calcutta]]<br />
| website = <br />
| image_size = <br />
| signature_size = <br />
| footnotes = {{Collapsible list<br />
| titlestyle = background-color:#56FF;text-align:center;<br />
| title = Position Held<br />
| bullets = on<br />
| 1970–80: General-Secretary, Mahila Congress (I), West Bengal<br />
| 1978–81: Secretary, District Congress Committee (Indira) [D.C.C. (I)], Calcutta South<br />
| 1984: General-Secretary, All India Youth Congress (I)<br />
| 1985–87: Member, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes<br />
| 1987–88: Member, National Council, All India Youth Congress (I)<br/>Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs<br/>Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Human Resource Development<br/>Member, Executive Committee, Congress Parliamentary Party [C.P.P. (I)]<br />
| 1989: Member, Executive Committee, Pradesh Congress Committee [P.C.C. (I)], West Bengal<br />
| 1990: President, Youth Congress, West Bengal<br />
| 1993–96: Member, Committee on Home Affairs<br />
| 1995–96: Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs<br/>Member, Committee on Public Accounts<br />
| 1996–97: Member, Committee on Home Affairs<br/>Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs<br />
| 1998–99: Chairman, Committee on Railways, Member of General Purposes Committee<br/>Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs<br />
| 1999: Leader, All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha<br/>Member, General Purposes Committee<br />
| 2001–2003: Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Industries<br />
| 8 September 2003 – 8 January 2004: Union Cabinet Minister (without any portfolio)<br />
| 2004: Member, Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law & Justice<br />
| 5 August 2006: Member, Committee on Home Affairs<br />
| 5 August 2007: Member, Committee on Home Affairs<br />
| 31 May 2009 – 19 July 2011: Leader, All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha<br />
}}<br />
| nickname = {{ubl|''Didi'' ({{translation|elder sister}})}}<br />
| source = http://wbcmo.gov.in/profile.aspx<br />
| date = 9 October 2011<br />
}}<br />
{{Mamata Banerjee sidebar}}<br />
<br />
'''Mamata Banerjee''' ({{IPA|bn|ˈmɔmot̪aˑ ˈbɔnd̪ːoˌpad̪ːʱae̯|audio=BN-Pronunciation-Mamata Banerjee.oga}}; born 5 January 1955){{efn|name=birth|Original date: 5 October 1959<ref>{{cite news |title=Mamata five years younger than official records |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mamata-five-years-younger-than-official-records-571219 |work=NDTV |date=25 January 2012 |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=26 January 2012 |title=Mamata Banerjee five years younger than official records |website=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mamata-banerjee-five-years-younger-than-official-records/articleshow/11641228.cms |access-date=17 September 2021 |archive-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916221632/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mamata-banerjee-five-years-younger-than-official-records/articleshow/11641228.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=15 November 2017|title=Mamata is 5 years younger than official age|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/Mamata-is-5-years-younger-than-official-age/article20388885.ece|website=Business Line|access-date=17 September 2021|archive-date=10 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610055636/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/Mamata-is-5-years-younger-than-official-age/article20388885.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>}} is an Indian politician and lawyer who served as the 8th [[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|chief minister]] of [[West Bengal]] from 2011 to 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 May 2026 |title=West Bengal: Modi's BJP conquers one of India's toughest political frontiers |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8pdvp5x5ro |access-date=4 May 2026 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> She was the first woman to hold the office. Being the founder and president of the [[All India Trinamool Congress]] (AITC or TMC), she previously served as a [[Cabinet Minister (India)|Union Cabinet Minister]].<br />
<br />
She founded the AITC in 1998 after separating from the [[Indian National Congress (I)]], and became its second president later in 2001. She often refers to herself as ''Didi'' (meaning, ''elder sister'' in [[Bengali language|Bengali]]). She made history as the first sitting Chief Minister of India to argue as a lawyer in the Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/mamata-banerjee-poem-narendra-modi-demonetisation-decision-abolision-of-500-and-1000-notes-4372074/ |title=Mamata Banerjee's hard-hitting poem targets PM Modi's demonetisation decision, but fails to woo Netizens |date=12 November 2016 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=7 October 2017 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007121246/http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/mamata-banerjee-poem-narendra-modi-demonetisation-decision-abolision-of-500-and-1000-notes-4372074/ |archive-date=7 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Roy|first=Sandip|date=17 October 2014|title=The 1.8 crore question: Is Mamata Banerjee India's most underrated artist?|language=en-US|work=Firstpost|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/the-1-8-crore-question-is-mamata-banerjee-indias-most-underrated-artist-1759725.html|url-status=dead|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007124128/http://www.firstpost.com/politics/the-1-8-crore-question-is-mamata-banerjee-indias-most-underrated-artist-1759725.html|archive-date=7 October 2017}}</ref> Banerjee previously served twice as [[Minister of Railways (India)|Minister of Railways]], becoming the first woman to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 March 2020|title=Did You Know? Mamata Banerjee was India's first-ever Sports Minister|url=https://thebridge.in/featured/mamata-banerjee-sports-football/|access-date=9 December 2021|website=The Bridge|archive-date=12 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112081300/https://thebridge.in/featured/mamata-banerjee-sports-football/|url-status=live}}</ref> She was also the second female [[Ministry of Coal|Minister of Coal]], and [[Ministry of Education|Minister of Human Resource Development]], [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports|Youth Affairs and Sports]], [[Ministry of Women and Child Development|Women and Child Development]] in the [[Union Council of Ministers of India|cabinet]] of the [[Government of India|Indian government]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=39 |title=Detailed Profile=Km. Mamata Banerjee |publisher=[[Government of India]] |access-date=11 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826092154/http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=39 |archive-date=26 August 2010 }}</ref> <br />
<br />
She rose to prominence after opposing the erstwhile land acquisition policies for [[industrialisation]] of the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]-led government in West Bengal for [[Special Economic Zones]] at the cost of agriculturalists and farmers at [[Singur]].<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|last=Yardley|first=Jim|date=14 January 2011|title=The Eye of an Indian Hurricane, Eager to Topple a Political Establishment|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/world/asia/15india.html|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=14 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113230008/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/world/asia/15india.html|archive-date=13 January 2012}}</ref> In [[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|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 (West Bengal)|Left Front]] government.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13374646 |title=India: Mamata Banerjee routs communists in West Bengal |work=BBC News |date=13 May 2011 |access-date=14 May 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513200342/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13374646 |archive-date=13 May 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Achin|first=Kurt|date=11 May 2011|title=India's West Bengal Set to End 34 Years of Communist Rule|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/indias-west-bengal-set-to-end-34-years-of-communist-rule-121723199/167457.html|access-date=9 December 2021|website=VOA|archive-date=12 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112081256/https://www.voanews.com/a/indias-west-bengal-set-to-end-34-years-of-communist-rule-121723199/167457.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite news|last=Biswas|first=Soutik|date=15 April 2011|title=The woman taking on India's communists|work=[[BBC World News]]|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13077902|url-status=live|access-date=15 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415062931/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13077902|archive-date=15 April 2011}}</ref> She led her party to a landslide victory in the 2021 West Bengal assembly polls.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/west-bengal-assembly/mamata-wins-west-bengal-but-loses-in-nandigram/article34466346.ece |title=Mamata wins West Bengal but loses in Nandigram |last=Singh |first=Shiv Sahay |date=2 May 2021 |website=The Hindu |access-date=11 July 2021 |archive-date=12 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112081257/https://www.thehindu.com/elections/west-bengal-assembly/mamata-wins-west-bengal-but-loses-in-nandigram/article34466346.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="pratidin">{{Cite web|last=Paul|first=Paramita|date=3 May 2021|title=মমতা একা নন, বিধায়ক না হয়ে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী হওয়ার নজির অতীতেও রয়েছে এ দেশে|trans-title=Mamata is not alone, there is a precedent in this country to be the Chief Minister without being a MLA|url=https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/india/wb-assembly-polls-2021-tmc-leader-mamata-banerjee-is-not-the-first-cm-to-lose/|access-date=22 October 2021|work=Sangbad Pratidin|language=bn|archive-date=12 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112082803/https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/india/wb-assembly-polls-2021-tmc-leader-mamata-banerjee-is-not-the-first-cm-to-lose/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="2024.">{{Cite web|last=Choudhury|first=Monishankar|date=12 May 2021|title=২০২৪ সালে বিজেপি বিরোধী শিবিরের মুখ কি মমতাই?|trans-title=Is Mamata the face of the anti-BJP camp in 2024?|url=https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/editorial/will-mamata-banerjee-be-the-face-against-bjp-in-2024/|access-date=22 October 2021|work=Sangbad Pratidin|language=bn|archive-date=12 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112081258/https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/editorial/will-mamata-banerjee-be-the-face-against-bjp-in-2024/|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
<br />
She served as a member of [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]] from [[Bhabanipur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|Bhabanipur]] from 2011 to 2021. She contested the [[Nandigram (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Nandigram]] assembly seat and lost to the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]'s [[Suvendu Adhikari]] in the [[2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2021 state election]],<ref>{{cite news|date=2 May 2021|title=Nandigram election result 2021: Suvendu Adhikari beats Mamata by 1736 votes|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mamata-vs-suvendu-all-eyes-on-nandigram-as-counting-underway-in-west-bengal/articleshow/82350838.cms|access-date=7 May 2021|website=The Times of India|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504030010/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mamata-vs-suvendu-all-eyes-on-nandigram-as-counting-underway-in-west-bengal/articleshow/82350838.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|name=details|For more details see [[2021 Nandigram Legislative Assembly election result controversy|Nandigram Controversy]]}} though her party won a large majority of seats.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 May 2021 |title=Trinamool Congress wins big in Bengal and BJP scores less than half of what it aimed for |work=Business Insider India |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/mamata-banerjees-fate-in-west-bengal-assembly-election-results-2021-as-tmc-and-bjp-final-tally/articleshow/82347504.cms |access-date=2 August 2021 |archive-date=2 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802144750/https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/mamata-banerjees-fate-in-west-bengal-assembly-election-results-2021-as-tmc-and-bjp-final-tally/articleshow/82347504.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> 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. She got elected as member of [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]] again from [[Bhabanipur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|Bhabanipur constituency]] in the bypoll.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Shiv Sahay |date=3 October 2021 |title=Mamata Banerjee back in Bengal Assembly with Bhabanipur win |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mamata-banerjee-wins-bhabanipur-bypoll-with-record-margin/article36802508.ece |access-date=11 January 2023 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111070352/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mamata-banerjee-wins-bhabanipur-bypoll-with-record-margin/article36802508.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> Banerjee was one of the 18 [[List of female chief ministers in India|female]] Indian chief ministers.<br />
<br />
Banerjee lost her [[Bhabanipur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|seat]] in the [[2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2026 assembly elections]], with the Trinamool Congress being defeated in the elections at large. Having refused to resign voluntarily, her tenure as [[Chief Minister of West Bengal|chief minister]] came to an end as the [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly|assembly]] was [[Dissolution of parliament|dissolved]] upon the conclusion of the its five-year term.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanyal |first=Anindita |date=7 May 2026 |title=Governor Dissolves Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To Resign |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/west-bengal-results-2026-governor-dissolves-west-bengal-assembly-after-mamata-banerjee-refuses-to-resign-11463127 |work=NDTV |agency=India News |access-date=8 May 2026}}</ref><br />
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== Early life and education ==<br />
Banerjee was born in [[Calcutta]] (now Kolkata), [[West Bengal]], to a [[Bengali Brahmin]] family.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Bag|first=Kheya|date=2011|title=Red Bengal's Rise and Fall|url=http://newleftreview.org/II/70/kheya-bag-red-bengal-s-rise-and-fall|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330190401/http://newleftreview.org/II/70/kheya-bag-red-bengal-s-rise-and-fall|archive-date=30 March 2013|access-date=16 October 2012|journal=New Left Review|issue=70 |pages=69–98 |article-number=2909 |doi=10.64590/rqo |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Jha|first=Ajit Kumar|date=11 May 2014|title=Political Eclipse of Once Formidable Brahmins|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Political-Eclipse-of-Once-Formidable-Brahmins/2014/05/11/article2217601.ece|url-status=dead|access-date=7 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507060512/http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Political-Eclipse-of-Once-Formidable-Brahmins/2014/05/11/article2217601.ece|archive-date=7 May 2016}}</ref> Her parents were Promileswar Banerjee and Gayetri Devi.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=25 January 2021|title=Mamata's 5 years younger|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-whod-have-known-mamatas-5-years-younger/20120125.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307151929/http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-whod-have-known-mamatas-5-years-younger/20120125.htm|archive-date=7 March 2012|access-date=29 February 2012|website=Rediff}}</ref> Banerjee's father, Promileswar, died due to lack of medical treatment, when she was 17.<ref name="fire">{{cite news|last=Abdi|first=S.N.M.|date=5 November 2012|title=A Fire-Dweller At The Kiln|newspaper=Outlook India|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/a-fire-dweller-at-the-kiln/282724|url-status=live|access-date=5 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116202427/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/a-fire-dweller-at-the-kiln/282724|archive-date=16 November 2018}}</ref><br />
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In 1970, Banerjee completed the higher secondary board examination from Deshbandhu Sishu Sikshalay.<ref name="fire" /> She received a bachelor's degree in history from [[Jogamaya Devi College]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jogamayadevicollege.org/history.htm |title=History of the College |publisher=Jogamayadevicollege.org |access-date=13 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726210012/http://www.jogamayadevicollege.org/history.htm |archive-date=26 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Mitra|first=Arnab|date=23 April 2011|title='My focus is always to be with the people'|website=Hindustan Times|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/archive-news/|url-status=dead|access-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425225124/http://www.hindustantimes.com/My-focus-is-always-to-be-with-the-people/Article1-688732.aspx|archive-date=25 April 2011}}</ref> Later, she earned her master's degree in [[Islamic history]]<ref>{{cite news|date=27 May 2016|title=15 facts about Mamata Banerjee that you probably don't know|website=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/nation-world/15-facts-about-mamata-banerjee-that-you-probably-dont-know/education/slideshow/52465489.cms|url-status=live|access-date=19 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626174501/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/nation-world/15-facts-about-mamata-banerjee-that-you-probably-dont-know/education/slideshow/52465489.cms|archive-date=26 June 2017}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="biodata">{{cite web|title=Biographical Sketch, Member of Parliament, X Lok Sabha. BANERJEE, KUMARI MAMATA|url=http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok10/mp52.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726145746/http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok10/mp52.htm|archive-date=26 July 2010|website=parliamentofindia.nic.in}}</ref><br />
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In 1984, Mamata Banerjee prefixed her name with ‘Dr’, claiming that she had completed her doctorate. After it came to light that the University (University of East Georgia) from which Banerjee had putatively completed her PhD did not exist, she stopped prefixing her name with the ‘Dr’ title.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 April 2016 |title=Degree row: After Mamata Banerjee, Jitendra Tomar, it's WB education minister Partha Chatterjee's thesis raises eyebrows |url=https://www.india.com/news/india/degree-row-after-mamata-banerjee-jitendra-tomar-its-wb-education-minister-partha-chatterjees-thesis-raises-eyebrows-1104727/ |website=India.com}}</ref><br />
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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 [[Indian National Congress|Congress (I) Party]], defeating the [[All India Democratic Students Organisation]] affiliated with the [[Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)]].<ref name="fire" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|date=12 May 2011|title=Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee biography|work=India Today|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/assembly-elections-2011/west-bengal/story/mamata-banerjee-biography-133631-2011-05-12|access-date=15 May 2021|archive-date=15 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515051657/https://www.indiatoday.in/assembly-elections-2011/west-bengal/story/mamata-banerjee-biography-133631-2011-05-12|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
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== Early political career (1984–2011) ==<br />
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=== Political career with Congress (I) ===<br />
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[[File:Mamata Banerjee photographed by Viveka Tirtha (15772151282).jpg|thumb|right|Mamata Banerjee at Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centre for Human Excellence and Social Sciences, Rajarhat, New Town, Kolkata]]<br />
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Banerjee began her political career in the [[Indian National Congress (Requisitionists)|Congress (I)]] party as a young woman in the 1970s. In 1975 she gained attention in the [[News media|press media]] when she danced on the car of socialist activist and politician [[Jayaprakash Narayan]] as a protest against him, during the Emergency.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dhar|first=Sujoy|date=13 May 2011|title=Mamata's political journey: From a car dance to Chief Ministership|url=https://www.sify.com/news/mamatas-political-journey-from-a-car-dance-to-chief-ministership--news-national-lfnnQ3hibhhsi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527090140/http://www.sify.com/news/mamatas-political-journey-from-a-car-dance-to-chief-ministership--news-national-lfnnQ3hibhhsi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 May 2015|access-date=25 December 2020|website=[[Sify]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=1 June 2019|title=First, show us some 'Mamata'|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/first-show-us-some-mamata|access-date=25 December 2020|website=Free Press Journal|language=en|archive-date=8 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608013925/https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/first-show-us-some-mamata|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first1=Pradipta|last1=Mukherjee|first2=Jeanette|last2=Rodrigues|date=17 May 2016|title=From jumping on cars to hunger strikes, Mamata shakes up India's status quo|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/jvRw4QrDrA8yJ5V84gY3OK/From-jumping-on-cars-to-hunger-strikes-Mamata-Banerjee-shak.html|access-date=26 December 2020|website=mint|language=en|archive-date=26 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626192221/https://www.livemint.com/Politics/jvRw4QrDrA8yJ5V84gY3OK/From-jumping-on-cars-to-hunger-strikes-Mamata-Banerjee-shak.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profiles.incredible-people.com/mamta-banerjee/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220084704/http://profiles.incredible-people.com/mamta-banerjee/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2006 |title=Mamta Banerjee Profile |work=incredible-people.com }}</ref> In the [[1984 Indian general election|1984 general election]], Banerjee became one of India's youngest parliamentarians ever,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/only-mamata-banerjee-could-defeat-somnath-chatterjee-1312879-2018-08-13 |title=Only Mamata Banerjee could defeat Somnath Chatterjee |website=India Today |author=Prabhash K Dutta |date=13 August 2018 |access-date=24 March 2020 |archive-date=24 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224160318/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/only-mamata-banerjee-could-defeat-somnath-chatterjee-1312879-2018-08-13 |url-status=live }}</ref> defeating veteran Communist politician [[Somnath Chatterjee]], to win the [[Jadavpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|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 Indian general election|1989 general elections]] in an anti-Congress wave.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shubham|date=27 April 2016|title=Bengal polls: Mamata Banerjee has lost only 1 election till date|url=https://www.oneindia.com/feature/bengal-polls-2016-mamata-banerjee-election-performance-since-1984-2082091.html|access-date=25 December 2020|website=Oneindia|language=en|archive-date=10 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610055641/https://www.oneindia.com/feature/bengal-polls-2016-mamata-banerjee-election-performance-since-1984-2082091.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She was re-elected in the [[1991 Indian general election|1991 general elections]], having settled into the [[Calcutta South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Calcutta South constituency]]. She retained the Kolkata South seat in the [[1996 Indian general election|1996]], [[1998 Indian general election|1998]], [[1999 Indian general election|1999]], [[2004 Indian general election|2004]] and [[2009 Indian general election|2009 general elections]].<ref name="IndiaToday">{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/assembly-elections-2011/west-bengal/story/trinamool-congress-chief-mamata-banerjee-a-profile-133684-2011-05-12 |title=Mamata, the street-fighting politician and Left nemesis |work=[[India Today]] |date=13 May 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518043559/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/trinamool-congress-chief-mamata-banerjee-a-profile/1/138015.html |archive-date=18 May 2011 }}</ref><br />
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Banerjee was appointed the [[Council of Ministers of the Republic of India#Ministers of State|Union Minister of State]] for [[Ministry of Human Resource Development (India)|Human Resources Development]], [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports|Youth Affairs and Sports]], and [[Ministry of Women and Child Development|Women and Child Development]] in 1991 by [[Prime Minister of India|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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mamata mum on relations with BJP |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030107/nation.htm#1 |date=6 January 2003 |access-date=2 December 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110111304/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030107/nation.htm#1 |archive-date=10 January 2007 }}</ref> She was discharged of her portfolios in 1993. In April 1996, she alleged that Congress (I) 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".<ref>{{cite news |title=Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee biography |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/assembly-elections-2011/west-bengal/story/mamata-banerjee-biography-133631-2011-05-11 |website=[[India Today]] |date=12 May 2011 |access-date=26 December 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226192616/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mamata-banerjee-biography/1/137953.html |archive-date=26 December 2014 }}</ref><br />
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In December 1992, Banerjee took a physically challenged girl Dipali Basak, who was allegedly raped by CPI(M) cadre Souvagya Basak, to [[Writers' Building]] to the then Chief Minister [[Jyoti Basu]] but was harassed by the police before being arrested and put on detention.<ref name="millenniumpost 2012-07-21">{{cite news |date=21 July 2012 |title=Why Bengal can never forget 21 July |website=millenniumpost.in |url=http://www.millenniumpost.in/why-bengal-can-never-forget-21-july-5597 |access-date=13 June 2021 |archive-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601103647/http://www.millenniumpost.in/why-bengal-can-never-forget-21-july-5597 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Chaudhuri |first=Subhasish |date=23 March 2016 |title='Political pawns' Didi forgot |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/39-political-pawns-39-didi-forgot/cid/1321396 |work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph)]] |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref> She had sworn she would enter the building again only as chief minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2021/05/03/bengals-election-result-is-narendra-modis-personal-failure|title=Bengal's election result is Narendra Modi's personal failure|website=Newslaundry.com|date=3 May 2021|access-date=12 July 2021|archive-date=5 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705224957/https://www.newslaundry.com/2021/05/03/bengals-election-result-is-narendra-modis-personal-failure|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
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The State Youth Congress led by Mamata Banerjee organised a protest march to Writers' Building in Kolkata on 21 July 1993 against the Left Front government. They demanded that voters' ID cards be made the only required document for voting, to put a stop to CPM's "scientific rigging". [[1993 Kolkata firing|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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/1993-kolkata-police-firing-worse-than-jalianwallah-bagh/article10963265.ece |title=Report on Kolkata firing may spark a fresh row |first=Suvojit |last=Bagchi |date=29 December 2014 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=14 June 2021 |archive-date=27 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727081954/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/1993-kolkata-police-firing-worse-than-jalianwallah-bagh/article10963265.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/assembly-elections-2011/west-bengal/looking-back-at-july-21-1993/articleshow/8310909.cms|title=Looking back at July 21, 1993|website=The Times of India|date=14 May 2011|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=6 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706003735/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/assembly-elections-2011/west-bengal/looking-back-at-july-21-1993/articleshow/8310909.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/what-happened-on-july-21-1993/|title=What had happened on July 21 1993 at Writers' building in West Bengal?|date=29 December 2014|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=1 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601142811/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/what-happened-on-july-21-1993/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/what-happened-on-july-21-1993/cid/1266400|title=What happened on July 21, 1993|website=Telegraph India|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613192223/https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/what-happened-on-july-21-1993/cid/1266400|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="millenniumpost 2012-07-21" /><br />
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=== Founding Trinamool Congress ===<br />
[[File:Mamata Banerjee at Bongaon Stadium in 2008 IMG 0276.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Mamata Banerjee speaking to the elected members and party workers at Bongaon stadium after the West Bengal panchayat elections.]]<br />
In 1997, due to difference in political views with the then [[West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee]] president [[Somen Mitra|Somendra Nath Mitra]], Banerjee left the Congress (I) Party in West Bengal and became one of the founding members of the [[All India Trinamool Congress]], along with [[Mukul Roy]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Chaudhuri|first=Kalyan|date=4 July 2003|title=On the decline|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30217647.ece|access-date=2 January 2021|website=Frontline|language=en|archive-date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201085145/https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30217647.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> It quickly became the primary opposition party to the long-standing Left Front 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]].<ref>{{cite news |title=National Events in December 1998 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/revents/01/19980112.htm |work=The Hindu |location=India |access-date=12 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424085700/http://www.hinduonnet.com/revents/01/19980112.htm |archive-date=24 April 2011<br />
}}</ref><br />
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==== Railway Minister (first tenure), 1999–2000 ====<br />
In 1999, she joined the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]-led [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA) government and became Railways Minister.<ref name="IndiaToday" /> In 2000, Banerjee presented her first [[Railway Budget of India|Railway Budget]]. In it, she fulfilled many of her promises to her home state West Bengal.<ref name="Tribune_new_2005">{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000226/main2.htm#4 |title=New trains for West Bengal |work=The Tribune |location=India |date=26 February 2000 |access-date=12 November 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930043335/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000226/main2.htm#4 |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> 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, Pakistan|Shalimar]]-[[Adra, Purulia|Adra]] Aranyak Express, the Sealdah-Ajmer Ananya Superfast Express, and Sealdah-Amritsar Akal Takht Superfast Express.<ref name="Tribune_new_2005" /> 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.<ref name="rediff_railways_2005">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/business/2000/feb/25rail2.htm |title=Railways to focus on tourism, trans-Asian role, hardselling freight services |work=[[Rediff.com]] |date=25 February 2000 |access-date=12 November 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050128115957/http://www.rediff.com/business/2000/feb/25rail2.htm |archive-date=28 January 2005 }}</ref><br />
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She also focused on developing tourism, enabling the [[Darjeeling Himalayan Railway]] section to obtain two additional locomotives and proposing the [[IRCTC|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.<ref name="rediff_railways_2005" /><br />
<br />
In 2000, she and [[Ajit Kumar Panja]] resigned to protest the hike in petroleum prices,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1001001/index.htm |title=Petrol Ignites Mamata Resignation |work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)]] |date=1 October 2000 |access-date=24 February 2012 |location=Calcutta |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127170851/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1001001/index.htm |archive-date=27 November 2013 }}</ref> and then withdrew their resignations without providing any reasons.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001009/nation.htm#1 |title=Mamata's antics invite criticism |work=[[Tribune India]] |date=9 October 2000 |access-date=24 February 2012 |author=Gupta, Subhrangshu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319001624/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001009/nation.htm#1 |archive-date=19 March 2012 }}</ref><br />
<br />
==== 2001 West Bengal election ====<br />
In early 2001, after ''[[Tehelka]]''{{'s}} exposure of [[Operation West End]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Harding|first=Luke|date=21 March 2001|title=Sting on a shoestring|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,3604,460371,00.html|url-status=live|access-date=23 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112063745/http://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0%2C3604%2C460371%2C00.html|archive-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?211498 |title=West Bengal: Elections 2001 Countdown |work=Outlook India |date=3 May 2001 |access-date=24 February 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207055623/http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?211498 |archive-date=7 December 2013 }}</ref><br />
<br />
==== Minister of Coal and Mines, January 2004 – May 2004 ====<br />
[[File:Sushree Mamata Banerjee assumes the charge of the Minister for Coal and Mines in New Delhi on January 9, 2004.jpg|thumb|Banerjee assumes the charge of the Minister for Coal and Mines in New Delhi on 9 January 2004|left]]<br />
She returned to the [[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]] government in September 2003 as a cabinet minister without any portfolio.<ref>{{Cite news|date=22 September 2003|title=Vajpayee reinducts Mamata Banerjee as cabinet minister without portfolio|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/glass-house/story/20030922-vajpayee-reinducts-mamata-banerjee-as-cabinet-minister-792033-2003-09-22|access-date=4 January 2021|work=India Today|language=en|archive-date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201194502/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/glass-house/story/20030922-vajpayee-reinducts-mamata-banerjee-as-cabinet-minister-792033-2003-09-22|url-status=live}}</ref> Along with Mamata, her party colleague Sudip Banerjee was also inducted in the Vajpayee ministry.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sahay|first=Tara Shankar|title=Mamata back in Cabinet, cut to size|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/08cab2.htm|access-date=4 January 2021|work=Rediff|language=en|archive-date=14 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514110949/https://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/08cab2.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 9 January 2004 she took charge as Ministry of Coal and Mines.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coal portfolio is good enough: Mamata|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/08cab1.htm|access-date=4 January 2021|website=Rediff|language=en|archive-date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201134835/https://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/08cab1.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> During her short term as the minister of coal and mines, the government disallowed the sale of the [[National Aluminium Company]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=20 January 2004|title=Mamata Tantrums Now Against Nalco Sale|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/archive/mamata-tantrums-now-against-nalco-sale/97712/|access-date=31 January 2021|work=The Financial Express|language=en-US|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205011114/https://www.financialexpress.com/archive/mamata-tantrums-now-against-nalco-sale/97712/|url-status=live}}</ref> She held the [[Ministry of Coal|Coal]] and [[Ministry of Mines (India)|Mines]] portfolios till 22 May 2004.<br />
<br />
==== 2004–2006 election setbacks ====<br />
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.<ref name="IndiaToday" /><ref>{{Cite news|date=14 May 2004|title=Why did the NDA lose West Bengal?|url=https://www.rediff.com/election/2004/may/14mamata.htm|access-date=28 December 2020|website=Rediff|language=en|archive-date=2 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902205412/https://www.rediff.com/election/2004/may/14mamata.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|date=5 May 2010|title=Subrata Mukherjee joins Trinamool|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/subrata-mukherjee-joins-trinamool/story-WKZAc5mqYelTwHS9AjowiM.html|access-date=5 February 2021|work=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=13 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513054937/https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/subrata-mukherjee-joins-trinamool/story-WKZAc5mqYelTwHS9AjowiM.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2006, the Trinamool Congress was defeated in West Bengal's Assembly Elections, losing more than half of its sitting members.<br />
On 4 August 2006, Banerjee hurled her resignation papers at the [[Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha|deputy speaker]] [[Charanjit Singh Atwal]] in [[Lok Sabha]]. She was provoked by [[Speaker of Lok Sabha|Speaker]] Somnath Chatterjee's rejection of her adjournment motion on illegal infiltration by [[Bangladeshis]] in West Bengal<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ww.itimes.com/photo/mamata-banerjee-cartoons-512c4fa31fae4|title=Mamata Banerjee cartoons |work=itimes|access-date=7 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807200203/http://ww.itimes.com/photo/mamata-banerjee-cartoons-512c4fa31fae4|archive-date=7 August 2016|date=26 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee biography |date=12 May 2011 |work=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/assembly-elections-2011/west-bengal/story/mamata-banerjee-biography-133631-2011-05-11 |access-date=7 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806091810/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mamata-banerjee-biography/1/137953.html |archive-date=6 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Harihar |last=Swarup |title=Profile: The incorrigible Mamata |work=Tribune India |location=Chandigarh |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061224/edit.htm#2 |access-date=7 July 2016|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307090736/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061224/edit.htm#2 |archive-date=7 March 2016}}</ref> on the grounds that it was not in the proper format.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mamata Banerjee's unending tantrums|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/08/stories/2005080804081000.htm|date=8 August 2005|access-date=2 December 2006 |location=Chennai |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320192445/http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/08/stories/2005080804081000.htm|work=[[The Hindu]]|archive-date=20 March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mamata casts shame at House Paper throw at Speaker|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050805/asp/frontpage/story_5077148.asp|date=4 August 2005|access-date=2 December 2006|location=Calcutta |work=The Telegraph|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822234553/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050805/asp/frontpage/story_5077148.asp|archive-date=22 August 2007}}</ref><br />
<br />
=== Singur, Nandigram and other movements ===<br />
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.<ref>{{cite news<br />
|title=Weather plays spoilsport for TMC|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct212005/national18114720051020.asp|date=21 October 2005|access-date=2 December 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218074247/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct212005/national18114720051020.asp |archive-date=18 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Missing on bandh day: its champions – Mamata stays indoors, Cong scarce|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061010/asp/bengal/story_6851157.asp|date=10 October 2006|access-date=2 December 2006|location=Calcutta|work=The Telegraph|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930041000/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061010/asp/bengal/story_6851157.asp|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref><br />
<br />
==== Singur protest ====<br />
{{Main|Tata Nano Singur controversy}}<br />
<br />
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.<ref name="Trinamool_violence">{{cite news |title=Trinamool unleashes violence in West Bengal|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1856399%2C000900030001.htm |date=30 November 2006 |access-date=2 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015135/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1856399%2C000900030001.htm |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-trinamool-congress-legislators-go-on-the-rampage-in-house-1067047|title=Trinamool Congress legislators go on the rampage in House|first=Sumanta Ray|last=Chaudhuri|date=30 November 2006|website=DNA India|access-date=13 June 2021|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613101934/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-trinamool-congress-legislators-go-on-the-rampage-in-house-1067047|url-status=live}}</ref> After this incident the Trinamool Congress MLAs protested by damaging furniture and microphones and vandalising the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Building.<ref name="Trinamool_violence" /><ref>{{cite news|date=2 December 2006|title=Heritage vandalised in Bengal House|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Heritage-vandalised-in-Bengal-House/articleshow/678018.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2 December 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103201138/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-12-02/india/27828165_1_bengal-house-assembly-building-benches|archive-date=3 November 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|date=29 December 2006|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/mamata-ends-25-day-hunger-strike/story-s7gIzBR4FvivAKFuYozrLM.html|title=Mamata ends 25-day hunger strike|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=19 June 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200335/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/mamata-ends-25-day-hunger-strike/story-s7gIzBR4FvivAKFuYozrLM.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=4 December 2020|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/farmers-agitation-mamata-reminds-people-of-her-26-day-hunger-strike-179907|title=Mamata Banerjee dials protesting farmers, assures TMC's support|website=The Tribune|access-date=19 June 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201106/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/farmers-agitation-mamata-reminds-people-of-her-26-day-hunger-strike-179907|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=4 December 2020|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/national-news/west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-reminds-people-of-her-26-day-hunger-strike-514753|title=West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee reminds people of her 26-day hunger strike|website=The Sentinel|access-date=19 June 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200747/https://www.sentinelassam.com/national-news/west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-reminds-people-of-her-26-day-hunger-strike-514753|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=4 December 2020|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/bengal/mamata-banerjee-remembers-singur-hunger-strike-context-ongoing-farmers-protest-1502938968.html|title=Mamata Banerjee remembers Singur hunger strike in context of ongoing farmers protest|website=The Statesman|access-date=19 June 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201349/https://www.thestatesman.com/bengal/mamata-banerjee-remembers-singur-hunger-strike-context-ongoing-farmers-protest-1502938968.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016 the [[Supreme Court of India|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/Yrl5OkSielFvHttnG4AajM/CPM-govts-acquisition-of-land-for-Tata-Motors-in-Singur-ill.html?facet=amp|title=Singur case: Supreme Court declares land acquisition for Tata plant illegal|website=livemint.com|date=1 September 2016|language=en|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202640/https://www.livemint.com/Politics/Yrl5OkSielFvHttnG4AajM/CPM-govts-acquisition-of-land-for-Tata-Motors-in-Singur-ill.html?facet=amp|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
<br />
==== Nandigram protest ====<br />
{{Main|Nandigram violence}}<br />
<br />
In 2007 a battalion of armed police stormed the rural area of [[Nandigram]] in the district of [[Midnapore East|Purba Medinipur]] with the aim of quashing protests against the West Bengal government's plans to expropriate {{convert|10000|acre|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2007/11/30/nandigram-peoples-struggle-heroic-clark-1196438590.html|title=Nandigram people's struggle "heroic": Clark|work=One India|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217023009/http://news.oneindia.in/2007/11/30/nandigram-peoples-struggle-heroic-clark-1196438590.html|archive-date=17 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.iacboston.org/india/1207-nandigram-says-no.html|title=Nandigram says 'No!' to Dow's chemical hub|work=International Action Center|author=Kirschbaum, Stevan|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706032521/http://www.iacboston.org/india/1207-nandigram-says-no.html|archive-date=6 July 2009|access-date=14 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/246969.html |title=The Great Left Debate: Chomsky to Saddam, Iraq to Nandigram |date=5 December 2007 |work=The Indian Express |location=India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416093108/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/246969.html |archive-date=16 April 2008 }}</ref> CPI(M) cadres allegedly molested and raped 300 women and girls during the Nandigram invasions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sarkar |first1=Arindam |title=Mamata promises to marry off raped girls of Nandigram |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/mamata-promises-to-marry-off-raped-girls-of-nandigram/story-umlmKryBUWdkP6re98mV2L.html |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=27 April 2019 |date=26 April 2007 |archive-date=27 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427095714/https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/mamata-promises-to-marry-off-raped-girls-of-nandigram/story-umlmKryBUWdkP6re98mV2L.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=19 December 2007|title=CPI(M) leaders raped mother and daughters in Nandigram: CBI|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/latest-headlines/story/cpim-leaders-raped-mother-and-daughters-in-nandigram-cbi-21735-2007-12-19|work=India Today|access-date=30 November 2021|archive-date=29 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129203547/https://www.indiatoday.in/latest-headlines/story/cpim-leaders-raped-mother-and-daughters-in-nandigram-cbi-21735-2007-12-19|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
<br />
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.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://sanhati.com/articles/446/| title=You are not what you were – Ashok Mitra after 14th November, 2007| author=Mitra, Ashok| date=15 November 2007| work=Sanhati| access-date=4 November 2021| archive-date=18 December 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218200129/http://sanhati.com/articles/446/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20061207/31650.htm| title='Go back Medha' posters in Kolkata| work=India eNews.com| date=7 December 2006| access-date=23 February 2010| archive-date=11 January 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070111170928/http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20061207/31650.htm| url-status=dead}}</ref> Her political activism during the movement is widely believed to be one of the contributing causes to her landslide victory in [[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2011]].<br />
<br />
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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sen|first=Saibal|title=Nandigram firing: Full text of CBI's Nandigram chargesheet|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nandigram-firing-Full-text-of-CBIs-Nandigram-chargesheet/articleshow/29665581.cms|access-date=17 March 2014|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=31 January 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201184221/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nandigram-firing-Full-text-of-CBIs-Nandigram-chargesheet/articleshow/29665581.cms|archive-date=1 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="telegraph140307">{{cite news |title=Red-hand Buddha: 14 killed in Nandigram re-entry bid |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070315/asp/frontpage/story_7519166.asp |work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |date=15 March 2007 |access-date=15 March 2007 |location=Calcutta |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317192827/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070315/asp/frontpage/story_7519166.asp |archive-date=17 March 2007 }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/violent-elements-paid-back-in-their-own-coin_407133.html|title='Violent elements paid back in their own coin'|date=13 November 2007|website=Zee News|access-date=13 June 2021|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613093249/https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/violent-elements-paid-back-in-their-own-coin_407133.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/13nandi6.htm|title=Oppn paid back in the same coin, says Bengal CM|website=Rediff.com|access-date=13 June 2021|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613093249/https://www.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/13nandi6.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> There are allegations of involvement of some local TMC leaders in the Nandigram Violence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/mamata-conducts-massive-roadshow-in-nandigram/article34188262.ece|title=West Bengal Assembly elections &#124; Battle for Nandigram turns personal|first=Shiv Sahay|last=Singh|date=29 March 2021|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=10 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610055642/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/mamata-conducts-massive-roadshow-in-nandigram/article34188262.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=30 March 2021|url=https://bartamanpatrika.com/detailNews.php?cID=13&nID=286426&P=1&nPID=20210330|title=এখানে জিতব, এখান থেকে সরকার গড়ব, নন্দীগ্রামে আত্মবিশ্বাসী মমতা &#124; হুইল চেয়ারেই নন্দীগ্রামের মানুষের দুয়ারে পৌঁছলেন নেত্রী|website=bartamanpatrika.com|language=bn|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614052833/https://bartamanpatrika.com/detailNews.php?cID=13&nID=286426&P=1&nPID=20210330|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=29 March 2021|url=https://www.aajkaal.in/news/state/west-bengal-assembly-election-2021-cm-mamata-banerjee-and-bjp-leader-suvendu-adhikaris-poll-campaign-at-nandigram-live-update-1e3v|title='চটি–পুলিশকে ওঁরাই ডেকেছে, পুলিশের ড্রেসেই নন্দীগ্রামে গুলি...', ফের বিস্ফোরক মমতা|website=aajkaal.in|language=bn|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614052820/https://www.aajkaal.in/news/state/west-bengal-assembly-election-2021-cm-mamata-banerjee-and-bjp-leader-suvendu-adhikaris-poll-campaign-at-nandigram-live-update-1e3v|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />
[[File:Chief Minister Government of West Bengal (20054618606).jpg|thumb|right|Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister Government of West Bengal speaking at an event in London.]]<br />
<br />
=== 2009–2011 electoral progress ===<br />
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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Singh|first=Raj|title=Who is Mamata Banerjee?|url=http://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/who-is-mamata-banerjee--5920.html|access-date=24 December 2014|publisher=[[India TV]]|date=20 April 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109064644/http://www.indiatvnews.com/politics/national/who-is-mamata-banerjee--5920.html|archive-date=9 January 2015}}</ref> 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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==== Railway Minister (second tenure), 2009–2011 ====<br />
In 2009, Mamata Banerjee became the railway minister for the second time. Her focus was again on West Bengal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article1137196.ece |title=Mamata gifts new projects to north Bengal |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=29 January 2011 |access-date=24 February 2012 |location=Chennai |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206223959/http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article1137196.ece |archive-date=6 December 2013 }}</ref><br />
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[[File:The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil administering the oath as Cabinet Minister to Km. Mamata Banerjee, at a Swearing-in Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 22, 2009.jpg|thumb|Banerjee has sworn again as Cabinet Minister at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi at 2009.]]<br />
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She led [[Indian Railways]] to introduce a number of non-stop ''[[Duronto Express]]'' trains connecting large cities<ref name="Duronto Express">{{cite web |url=http://trak.in/news/mamata-flags-off-sealdah-new-delhi-duronto-express/5901/ |title=mamata-flags-off-sealdah-new-delhi-duronto-express |publisher=Armoks News |access-date=16 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014075956/http://trak.in/news/mamata-flags-off-sealdah-new-delhi-duronto-express/5901/ |archive-date=14 October 2009 }}</ref> as well as a number of other passenger trains,<ref name="Nineteen New Trains">{{cite news |url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mamata-banerjee-to-start-19-new-trainsfebruary-7/384573/ |title=Mamata Banerjee to start 19 new trains on 7 February |work=[[Business Standard]] |access-date=4 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303003438/http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mamata-banerjee-to-start-19-new-trainsfebruary-7/384573/ |archive-date=3 March 2012 |date=4 February 2010 |last=Chatterji |first=Saubhadro }}</ref> including women-only trains.<ref name="Women-Only Trains">{{cite web |url=http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/opinion/india-women-only-trains |title=A New Way to Commute: Women-Only Trains in India |work=[[Marie Claire]] |access-date=27 January 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128121934/http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/opinion/india-women-only-trains |archive-date=28 January 2010 |date=27 January 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Ladies Special Bandel">{{cite news |url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/mamata-keeps-word-ladies-special-rolls-out-today-metro-link-on-track/491276/ |title=Ladies Special Rolls Out |work=[[Express India]] |access-date=16 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010191635/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/mamata-keeps-word-ladies-special-rolls-out-today-metro-link-on-track/491276/<br />
|archive-date=10 October 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Ladies Special Mumbai">{{cite web |url=http://bombay-local.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-cst-panvel-ladies-special-trains.html |title=New CST Panvel Ladies Special |work=Bombay-Local |access-date=16 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029141633/http://bombay-local.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-cst-panvel-ladies-special-trains.html |archive-date=29 October 2009 }}</ref> The Anantnag-Qadigund segment of the [[Jammu–Baramulla line]] that had been in the making since 1994<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19981010/28350834.html |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=10 October 1998 |title=Destination nowhere |first=Arun |last=Sharma |access-date=14 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318223757/http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19981010/28350834.html |archive-date=18 March 2012 }}</ref> was inaugurated during her tenure.<ref name="Qazigund">{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=53658|work=Press Release, Press Information Bureau, Government of India|date=28 October 2009|title=Prime Minister dedicates Anantnag-Quazigund rail line in Kashmir to nation|access-date=2 December 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112063748/http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=53658|archive-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> She also declared the {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} long line-1 of the [[Kolkata Metro]] as an independent [[Indian Railways#Railway zones|zone]] of the Indian Railways<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/30/stories/2010123067622400.htm |title=Kolkata Metro gets railway zone status |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=30 December 2010 |access-date=24 February 2012 |location=Chennai |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929030204/http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/30/stories/2010123067622400.htm |archive-date=29 September 2011 }}</ref> for which she was criticised.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.asianage.com/india/rail-budget-parliament-uproar-over-kolkata-metro-plan-615 |title=Rail budget: Parliament uproar over Kolkata metro plan |work=[[Asian Age]] |date=25 February 2011 |access-date=24 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324222150/http://www.asianage.com/india/rail-budget-parliament-uproar-over-kolkata-metro-plan-615 |archive-date=24 March 2011 }}</ref><br />
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She stepped down as [[Railway Minister of India|railway minister]] to become the [[Chief Minister of West Bengal|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."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110518/jsp/nation/story_13996638.jsp |title=Job done, successor only has to monitor |work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |date=18 May 2011 |access-date=24 February 2012 |location=Calcutta |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127173353/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110518/jsp/nation/story_13996638.jsp |archive-date=27 November 2013 }}</ref> Her nominee from her party, [[Dinesh Trivedi]], succeeded her as railway minister.<br />
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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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://business-standard.com/india/news/mamatas-big-rail-plans2011-12-still-stuckperformance-track/467535/|title=Mamata's big rail plans of 2011–12 still stuck on performance track|access-date=13 March 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707114911/http://business-standard.com/india/news/mamatas-big-rail-plans2011-12-still-stuckperformance-track/467535/|archive-date=7 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-56950620110512|title=Special Report – "Big Sister" Mamata set to evict Left from Kolkata|last=Scrutton|first=Alistair|date=12 May 2011|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=24 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303115523/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-56950620110512|archive-date=3 March 2012}}</ref> The Indian Railways became loss-making during her two-year tenure.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-budget-2011-railway-why-the-railways-under-mamata-are-incurring-loss/20110128.htm|title=Why Indian Railways is incurring losses under Mamata|date=28 January 2011|work=[[Rediff.com]]|access-date=24 February 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120174002/http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-budget-2011-railway-why-the-railways-under-mamata-are-incurring-loss/20110128.htm|archive-date=20 January 2012}}</ref><br />
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== Chief Minister of West Bengal (2011–2026) ==<br />
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[[File:Mamata Banerjee with Hillary Clinton.jpg|thumb|left|Then United States secretary of State, [[Hillary Clinton]] during a meeting with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee at the [[Writers' Building|Writers']], Kolkata on 7 May 2012.]]<br />
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[[File:Chief Minister Government of West Bengal (20086289081).jpg|thumb|left|Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister Government of West Bengal shown at an event in [[London]] on 27 July 2015.]]<br />
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In [[2011 West Bengal state assembly election|2011]], the All India Trinamool Congress along with [[Socialist Unity Centre of India|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 34-year long Left Front government.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=10 June 2011 |title=The defeat of the Left Front in West Bengal, India |url=https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/06/10/the-defeat-of-the-left-front-in-west-bengal-india/ |access-date=11 July 2022 |website=East Asia Forum |language=en |last1=Lahiri-Dutt |first1=Kuntala |archive-date=11 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711152314/https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/06/10/the-defeat-of-the-left-front-in-west-bengal-india/ |url-status=live }}</ref><br />
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Banerjee was sworn in as chief minister of West Bengal on 20 May 2011.<ref name="BBC20110520">{{cite news |title=Mamata Banerjee sworn in as West Bengal chief minister |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-13465915 |access-date=3 January 2021 |work=BBC News |date=20 May 2011 |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201064250/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-13465915 |url-status=live }}</ref> As the first female chief minister of West Bengal,<ref name="BBC20110520" /> 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."<ref name="singur">{{cite news |title=Singur Land Given Back |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Singur-land-return-kicks-off-Mamata-power-stint/articleshow/8476024.cms |access-date=30 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108045450/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-21/kolkata/29567996_1_unwilling-farmers-mamata-banerjee-singur |archive-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=live |work=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref><br />
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She has also been credited for setting up of the [[Gorkhaland Territorial Administration]].<ref name="Gorkhaland">{{cite news |title=Gorkhaland Autonomous Council |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Gorkhaland-pact-Chidambaram-credits-Didi-Gurung-with-deal/articleshow/9277972.cms |date=19 July 2011 |access-date=30 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108035912/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-19/kolkata/29790280_1_gjm-roshan-giri-mamata |archive-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=live |work=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref><br />
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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<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/04/stories/2011060458730100.htm |location=Chennai |title=College teachers to get salary by the first of every month |date=4 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825183018/http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/04/stories/2011060458730100.htm |archive-date=25 August 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/india/154568-mamata-effect-salaries-on-first-of-the-month.html |title=Mamata effect: Salaries on first day of the month |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721070317/http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/india/154568-mamata-effect-salaries-on-first-of-the-month.html |archive-date=21 July 2012 }}</ref> and quicker pensions for retiring teachers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Quicker pensions for retiring teachers: Mamata |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-03/kolkata/29616471_1_school-teachers-part-time-teachers-teaching-community }}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In the health sector Banerjee promised: "A three-phase developmental system will be taken up to improve the health infrastructure and service."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.aalatimes.com/2011/06/13/mamata-banerjee-announces-health-sector-reform/ |title=Mamata Banerjee announced health sector reform |access-date=3 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819080145/http://www.aalatimes.com/2011/06/13/mamata-banerjee-announces-health-sector-reform/ |archive-date=19 August 2011 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> On 30 April 2015, a representative of [[UNICEF]] India congratulated the government for making [[Nadia district|Nadia]] the first Open Defecation Free district in the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mamata-declares-nadia-first-opendefecation-free-district-in-india/article7158148.ece|title=Mamata declares Nadia first 'open defecation-free' district in India|newspaper=The Hindu|date=30 April 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112063746/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mamata-declares-nadia-first-opendefecation-free-district-in-india/article7158148.ece|archive-date=12 January 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-mamata-banerjee-blames-media-free-interaction-of-men-women-for-rising-cases-of-rape-3928213-.html|title=Mamata blames media, 'free interaction of men-women' for rising cases of rape!|date=17 October 2012|work=Daily Bhaskar|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101054330/http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-mamata-banerjee-blames-media-free-interaction-of-men-women-for-rising-cases-of-rape-3928213-.html|archive-date=1 January 2013}}</ref><br />
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She was also instrumental in the rollback of the petrol price hikes<ref>{{cite news |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/west-bengal/petrol-price-cut-a-positive-step-mamata-banerjee_742058.html |work=Zee News |title=Petrol price cut a positive step: Mamata Banerjee |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210012614/http://zeenews.india.com/news/west-bengal/petrol-price-cut-a-positive-step-mamata-banerjee_742058.html |archive-date=10 December 2013 }}</ref> and the suspension of FDI in the retail sector until a consensus is evolved.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dont-want-govt-to-fall-but-cant-support-fdi-mamata-to-pm/883290/ |work=The Indian Express |title=Dodon't want government to fail, but can't support FDI |access-date=3 December 2011 |archive-date=10 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610055645/https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/dont-want-govt-to-fall-but-cant-support-fdi-mamata-to-pm/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In a bid to improve the law and enforcement situation in West Bengal, police commissioners were created at [[Howrah Police Commissionerate|Howrah]], [[Barrackpore Police Commissionerate|Barrackpore]], [[Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate|Durgapur-Asansol]] and [[Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate|Bidhannagar]]. The total area of Kolkata Municipal Corporation was brought under the control of the [[Kolkata Police]].<br />
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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,<ref>{{cite news|title=Game of the name|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090726/jsp/calcutta/story_11281380.jsp|access-date=29 February 2012|work=The Telegraph India|location=Calcutta|first=Soumitra|last=Das|date=26 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127175711/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090726/jsp/calcutta/story_11281380.jsp|archive-date=27 November 2013}}</ref> and plans on naming upcoming stations after religious leaders, poets, singers and the like.<ref>{{cite news|title=Didi's metro name game|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110116/jsp/bengal/story_13447860.jsp|access-date=29 February 2012|work=The Telegraph India|location=Calcutta |first=Sanjay|last=Mandal|date=16 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417051853/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110116/jsp/bengal/story_13447860.jsp|archive-date=17 April 2012}}</ref> Mamata Banerjee has been criticised for starting controversial stipends to imams (Iman Bhatta)<ref name="Gupta">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mamata-muslims-and-paribartan/article8517367.ece|title=Mamata, Muslims and paribartan|last=Gupta|first=Smita|date=25 April 2016|work=The Hindu|access-date=2 January 2018|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101140247/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mamata-muslims-and-paribartan/article8517367.ece|archive-date=1 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NDTV.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/mamata-banerjees-appeasement-policies-have-created-real-danger-1721089|title=Opinion: Mamata Banerjee's Appeasement Policies Have Created Real Danger|work=NDTV |access-date=2 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103074037/https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/mamata-banerjees-appeasement-policies-have-created-real-danger-1721089|archive-date=3 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hindustan Times">{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/there-s-a-method-to-the-west-bengal-madness/story-2kOsMxzXPVVV4nIANYKoNM.html|title=Bengal's people must step in to save the state from communal politics|date=11 July 2017|work=hindustantimes.com/|access-date=2 January 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072625/http://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/there-s-a-method-to-the-west-bengal-madness/story-2kOsMxzXPVVV4nIANYKoNM.html|archive-date=3 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> which was ruled unconstitutional by [[Calcutta High Court]].<ref name="firstpost.com">{{Cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/mamatas-allowance-to-imams-unconstitutional-rules-calcutta-hc-1080409.html|title=Mamata's allowance to Imams unconstitutional, rules Calcutta HC|date=3 September 2013|work=Firstpost|access-date=2 January 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103081032/http://www.firstpost.com/politics/mamatas-allowance-to-imams-unconstitutional-rules-calcutta-hc-1080409.html|archive-date=3 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Chatterjee">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-dangerous-connivance/article4585420.ece|title=A dangerous connivance|last=Chatterjee|first=Garga|date=6 April 2013|work=The Hindu|access-date=2 January 2018|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430083844/http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-dangerous-connivance/article4585420.ece|archive-date=30 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NDTV 2013-09-02">{{Cite news |first=Monideepa |last=Banerjie |date=2 September 2013 |title=Calcutta High Court scraps Mamata Banerjee's stipend to imams |publisher=NDTV |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/calcutta-high-court-scraps-mamata-banerjees-stipend-to-imams-533409 |access-date=2 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072742/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/calcutta-high-court-scraps-mamata-banerjees-stipend-to-imams-533409 |archive-date=3 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><br />
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[[File:Chief Minister Government of West Bengal (19892837430).jpg|thumb|left|[[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.]]<br />
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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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://post.jagran.com/bill-gates-appreciates-mamata-banerjee-for-polio-eradication-1329885022 |title=Bill Gates appreciates Mamata Banerjee for polio eradication |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223041241/http://post.jagran.com/bill-gates-appreciates-mamata-banerjee-for-polio-eradication-1329885022 |archive-date=23 February 2012 |access-date=23 February 2012}}</ref><br />
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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.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/mamata-launches-facebook-page-seeks-support-for-apj-abdul-kalam-232142 |title=Mamata launches Facebook page – seeks support for APJ Abdul Kalam |date=16 June 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616082835/http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/mamata-launches-facebook-page-seeks-support-for-apj-abdul-kalam-232142 |archive-date=16 June 2012 }}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite news |title=Mamata didi is a big fan of Pranab Mukherjee |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-05-03/news/31558997_1_pranab-mukherjee-trinamool-congress-congress-party |work=Economic Times |date=3 May 2012 |access-date=26 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226202800/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-05-03/news/31558997_1_pranab-mukherjee-trinamool-congress-congress-party |archive-date=26 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=R.N. Subrahmanyam|date=3 May 2012|title=Prez polls: Mamata throws surprise on Pranab Mukherjee|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/prez-polls-mamata-throws-surprise-on-pranab-mukherjee/944883/2|access-date=16 October 2012|work=The Indian Express|archive-date=10 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610055646/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/latest-news/prez-polls-mamata-throws-surprise-on-pranab-mukherjee/|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
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She is against calling ''bandhs'' (work stoppage) although actively supported them when she was in opposition.<ref>{{cite news|date=28 February 2012|title=Mamata Banerjee admits her calls for bandh were a mistake|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-admits-her-calls-for-bandh-were-a-mistake-469147|work=NDTV|access-date=26 September 2021|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925205930/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-admits-her-calls-for-bandh-were-a-mistake-469147|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
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Her tenure was also heavily marred by the [[Saradha Group financial scandal|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. The Saradha Group financial scandal and the [[Rose Valley financial scandal]] came to light during her tenure and her painting being sold to the firms were being scrutinised by law enforcement agencies. One of her paintings was also sold to Sudipto Sen (central figure in the [[Saradha scam]]) for {{INRConvert|1.8|c|lk=on|year=2018}}, while 20 more of her pictures were seized from other Saradha Group shareholders.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Saradha scam: Sale of Mamata Banerjee's painting for Rs 1.8 crore under CBI lens |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Saradha-scam-Sale-of-Mamata-Banerjees-painting-for-Rs-1-8-crore-under-CBI-lens/articleshow/44807114.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628101631/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Saradha-scam-Sale-of-Mamata-Banerjees-painting-for-Rs-1-8-crore-under-CBI-lens/articleshow/44807114.cms |archive-date=28 June 2018 |access-date=12 May 2018 |work=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Sale of Mamata Banerjee's Paintings Under Scrutiny as CBI Asks For Trinamool Income |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/proceeds-from-mamata-banerjees-paintings-under-scrutiny-as-cbi-asks-for-trinamool-accounts-745419 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513080903/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/proceeds-from-mamata-banerjees-paintings-under-scrutiny-as-cbi-asks-for-trinamool-accounts-745419 |archive-date=13 May 2018 |access-date=12 May 2018 |work=NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The 1.8 crore question: Is Mamata Banerjee India's most underrated artist? |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/the-1-8-crore-question-is-mamata-banerjee-indias-most-underrated-artist-1759725.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513014451/https://www.firstpost.com/politics/the-1-8-crore-question-is-mamata-banerjee-indias-most-underrated-artist-1759725.html |archive-date=13 May 2018 |access-date=12 May 2018 |website=firstpost.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=From Rs 2 Cr to 9 Cr in 48 Hrs: Mamata Paints Bank Balance Green |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/painter-didi-in-trouble-cbi-quizzes-tmc-on-sale-of-mamatas-paintings |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007121103/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/painter-didi-in-trouble-cbi-quizzes-tmc-on-sale-of-mamatas-paintings |archive-date=7 October 2017 |access-date=12 May 2018 |work=The Quint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Das |first=Madhuparna |date=19 December 2018 |title=CBI seizes Didi's 20 paintings from chit fund firm owners |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cbi-seizes-didis-20-paintings-from-chit-fund-firm-owners/articleshow/67155786.cms?from=mdr |access-date=22 October 2019 |newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref> During her tenure she challenged the federal system of India when she ordered the arrest of [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] officials, who arrived in Kolkata to investigate the Saradha Group financial scandal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kolkata police 'nab' CBI men, Mamata Banerjee at war with Centre – Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cops-nab-cbi-men-mamata-banerjee-at-war-with-centre/articleshow/67824420.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212043850/https://m.timesofindia.com/india/cops-nab-cbi-men-mamata-banerjee-at-war-with-centre/amp_articleshow/67824420.cms |archive-date=12 February 2019 |access-date=11 February 2019}}</ref> But CBI's attempted arrest of Kolkata Police Commissioner was also an attack on federalism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2019 |title=CBI's Attempted Arrest of Kolkata Police Commissioner Was an Attack on Federalism |url=https://thewire.in/politics/cbis-attempted-arrest-of-kolkata-police-commissioner-was-an-attack-on-federalism |website=The Wire}}</ref><br />
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[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Ms. Sheikh Hasina and the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms. Mamata Banerjee at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on April 08, 2017.jpg|thumb|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.]]<br />
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[[File:The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind unveiling the Foundation Stone of Savitribai Public Girls Hostel and APJ Abdul Kalam International Visitors Guest House, at the 64th Annual Convocation of IIT Kharagpur, in West Bengal.JPG|thumb|left|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.]]<br />
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In the [[2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2016 assembly elections]], All India Trinamool Congress won with a landslide two-thirds majority under Mamata Banerjee winning 211 seats out of total 293,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/elections|title=NDTV Live Results|access-date=19 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517184429/http://www.ndtv.com/elections|archive-date=17 May 2016}}</ref> who has been elected as Chief Minister West Bengal for the second term.<ref>{{cite news|title=TMC storms back to power in Bengal, Cong-Left alliance loses|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/article/india-news/west-bengal-election-results-2016-counting-begins-for-294-assembly-seats/259295/|access-date=21 May 2016|agency=The Financial Express|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520213107/http://www.financialexpress.com/article/india-news/west-bengal-election-results-2016-counting-begins-for-294-assembly-seats/259295/|archive-date=20 May 2016}}</ref> 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.<br />
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In 2017 [[Kanyashree Prakalpa]], a scheme launched by her government, was ranked the best by the [[United Nations]] among 552 social sector schemes from across 62 countries.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kundu|first=Indrajit|date=7 October 2021|title=UN honours Mamata Banerjee with highest public service award for girl child project Kanyashree|work=India Today|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mamata-banerjee-un-public-service-award-kanyashree-netherlands-984439-2017-06-23|access-date=25 September 2021|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925205929/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mamata-banerjee-un-public-service-award-kanyashree-netherlands-984439-2017-06-23|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
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[[File:Bengal Global Business Summit - 2022.jpg|thumb|left|'''Banerjee''' giving speech at ''Bengal Global Business Summit - 2022'' in Kolkata on 20 April.]]<br />
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[[File:Mamata Banerjee with UNESCO officers.jpg|thumb| 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.]]<br />
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[[File:The Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah at the 25th Eastern Zonal Council meeting, in Kolkata on December 17, 2022 (3).jpg|thumb|Minister of Home Affairs, [[Amit Shah]] and Mamata Banerjee at the 25th Eastern Zonal Council meeting, in [[Kolkata]] on 17 December 2022.]]<br />
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In the [[2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2021 assembly elections]], AITC won with a landslide two-thirds majority. But, Mamata Banerjee who fought from [[Nandigram Assembly constituency|Nandigram]] lost against [[Suvendu Adhikari]] of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] by 1,956 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 May 2021|title=Nandigram: After Hours of Confusion, BJP's Suvendu Adhikari Emerges Winner|url=https://thewire.in/politics/nandigram-election-bengal-mamata-banerjee-suvendu-adhikari|work=The Wire|access-date=24 September 2021|archive-date=8 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608203828/https://thewire.in/politics/nandigram-election-bengal-mamata-banerjee-suvendu-adhikari|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Commission of India|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/ConstituencywiseS25210.htm?ac=210|access-date=2 May 2021|website=results.eci.gov.in|archive-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503202328/https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/ConstituencywiseS25210.htm?ac=210|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Nandigram Election Result 2021 LIVE: Nandigram MLA Election Result & Vote Share|url=https://www.oneindia.com/nandigram-assembly-elections-wb-210/|work=Oneindia|access-date=5 October 2021|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627210242/https://www.oneindia.com/nandigram-assembly-elections-wb-210/|url-status=live}}</ref> Mamata Banerjee however challenged this outcome and the matter is sub judice.{{efn|name=details}} 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]].<ref name="Zee News 2021-05-03">{{Cite news |date=3 May 2021 |title=West Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee arrives at Raj Bhavan |website=Zee News |url=https://zeenews.india.com/video/india/west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-arrives-at-raj-bhavan-2359539.html |access-date=5 May 2021 |archive-date=5 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505092208/https://zeenews.india.com/video/india/west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-arrives-at-raj-bhavan-2359539.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She took oath as Chief Minister on 5 May 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Singh|first=Shiv Sahay|date=5 May 2021|title=Mamata Banerjee sworn in as West Bengal Chief Minister for third time|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/mamata-sworn-in-as-bengal-cm-for-third-time/article34487107.ece|access-date=5 May 2021|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505065018/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/mamata-sworn-in-as-bengal-cm-for-third-time/article34487107.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=5 May 2021|title=Mamata Banerjee takes oath as Bengal CM, says violence will be tackled firmly|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mamata-banerjee-takes-oath-as-west-bengal-cm-7302681/|access-date=5 May 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505082127/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mamata-banerjee-takes-oath-as-west-bengal-cm-7302681/|url-status=live}}</ref> Her party later won 2 remaining seats and she herself won Bhabanipur by-election by a huge margin of 58,835<ref name=Constituencywise>{{Cite web|title=Election Commission of India|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/ResultByeOct2021/ConstituencywiseS25159.htm?ac=159|access-date=3 October 2021|website=results.eci.gov.in|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003142939/https://results.eci.gov.in/ResultByeOct2021/ConstituencywiseS25159.htm?ac=159|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Roundwise>{{Cite web|title=Election Commission of India|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/ResultByeOct2021/RoundwiseS25159.htm?ac=159|access-date=3 October 2021|website=results.eci.gov.in|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003174241/https://results.eci.gov.in/ResultByeOct2021/RoundwiseS25159.htm?ac=159|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=partywise>{{Cite web|title=Election Commission of India|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/ResultByeOct2021/partywiseresult-S25.htm?st=S25|access-date=3 October 2021|website=results.eci.gov.in|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003174612/https://results.eci.gov.in/ResultByeOct2021/partywiseresult-S25.htm?st=S25|url-status=live}}</ref> votes. She was sworn in as MLA on 7 October.<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 October 2021|title=বিধায়ক পদে শপথ নিলেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়, প্রথা ভেঙে শপথ বাক্য পাঠ করালেন রাজ্যপাল|url=https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/kolkata/mamata-banerjee-takes-oath-as-mla/|work=Sangbad Pratidin|language=bn|access-date=7 October 2021|archive-date=7 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007085122/https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/kolkata/mamata-banerjee-takes-oath-as-mla/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=7 October 2021|title=Mamata Banerjee, 2 other TMC MLAs take oath of office in presence of governor Jagdeep Dhankhar|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/kolkata-news/mamata-banerjee-2-other-tmc-mlas-take-oath-of-office-in-presence-of-governor-jagdeep-dhankhar-101633599454467.html|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=10 October 2021|archive-date=10 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010024827/https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/kolkata-news/mamata-banerjee-2-other-tmc-mlas-take-oath-of-office-in-presence-of-governor-jagdeep-dhankhar-101633599454467.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=8 October 2021|title=West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and 2 other TMC MLAs take oath, BJP legislators skip assembly|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/mamata-and-2-other-tmc-mlas-take-oath-bjp-legislators-skip-assembly/articleshow/86852464.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=10 October 2021|archive-date=8 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008160752/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/mamata-and-2-other-tmc-mlas-take-oath-bjp-legislators-skip-assembly/articleshow/86852464.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
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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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 November 2021 |title=Bengal Govt in Financial Fix After Launch of Flagship 'Lakshmir Bhandar' Scheme |url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/bengal-govt-in-financial-fix-after-launch-of-flagship-lakshmir-bhandar-scheme-4400186.html |access-date=10 July 2022 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=10 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710150702/https://www.news18.com/news/politics/bengal-govt-in-financial-fix-after-launch-of-flagship-lakshmir-bhandar-scheme-4400186.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The scheme turned out to be a huge success as it became massively popular.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 August 2021 |title=On First Day, 1.23 Million Register for Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme in West Bengal |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/on-first-day-1-23-million-register-for-lakshmi-bhandar-scheme-in-west-bengal-4095743.html |access-date=10 July 2022 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=10 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710145157/https://www.news18.com/news/india/on-first-day-1-23-million-register-for-lakshmi-bhandar-scheme-in-west-bengal-4095743.html |url-status=live }}</ref><br />
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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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Ronit Kumar |date=10 July 2022 |title=West Bengal Govt Distributes 'Student Credit Card' Among Beneficiaries To Help Them Pursue Higher Studies |url=https://thelogicalindian.com/trending/west-bengal-government-distributes-student-credit-card-among-students-36456 |access-date=10 July 2022 |website=thelogicalindian.com |language=en |archive-date=10 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710145151/https://thelogicalindian.com/trending/west-bengal-government-distributes-student-credit-card-among-students-36456 |url-status=live }}</ref><br />
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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]] and if remains in office till 22 September 2025, she would also be become the second-female-longest-serving Chief Minister after [[Sheila Dikshit]], superseding [[J. Jayalalithaa]].<br />
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On 18 August 2025, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched the ''Shramashree'' scheme,<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 August 2025 |title=Mamata Banerjee: পরিযায়ীদের জন্য শ্রমশ্রী প্রকল্প নবান্নর! মাসে মিলবে ৫০০০ টাকা {{!}} Nabanna Shramshree Scheme |work=India Hood |url=https://indiahood.in/news/west-bengal/nabanna-announcement-shramashree-scheme-for-migrant-workers-ppd-18-08/299797/ |access-date=4 September 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> a rehabilitation initiative aimed at Bengali-speaking migrant workers returning to West Bengal following alleged harassment in certain other states. Under the scheme, each returning worker receives a one-time travel grant of ₹5,000 and a monthly allowance of ₹5,000 for up to one year or until they secure employment. Beneficiaries are also provided with ''Khadya Sathi'' ration cards for food security, ''Swasthya Sathi'' health insurance, and their children are enrolled in state schools; those without homes are offered accommodation in community kitchens. The scheme further includes skill assessment and training under the ''Utkarsha Bangla'' initiative, with job cards issued through the ''Karmashree'' scheme. A dedicated online portal and mobile app facilitate registration, and once registered, beneficiaries are issued identity cards to access these services. State outreach camps—''[[:bn:দুয়ারে সরকার|Duare Sarkar]]'' and ''Amader Para Amader Samadhan''<ref>{{Cite web |title=দুয়ারে সরকার |url=https://ds.wb.gov.in/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428024853/https://ds.wb.gov.in/ |archive-date=28 April 2025 |access-date=4 September 2025 |website=ds.wb.gov.in}}</ref>''(APAS)''—have been designated as venues for enrolment and awareness campaigns to encourage participation in the scheme until early November 2025.{{citation needed|date=March 2026}}<br />
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The [[Trinamool Congress|All India Trinamool Congress]] lost the [[2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly Election]] to the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|Bhartiya Janata Party]] with Mamata Banerjee losing her seat of [[Bhabanipur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|Bhabanipur]] to [[Suvendu Adhikari]] of the BJP.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ellis-Petersen |first=Hannah |date=4 May 2026 |title=Narendra Modi’s BJP wins election in West Bengal for the first time |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/04/modis-bjp-party-win-election-west-bengal-first-time |access-date=5 May 2026 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Travelli |first=Alex |last2=Kumar |first2=Hari |last3=K.B |first3=Pragati |date=4 May 2026 |title=Modi’s B.J.P. Wins West Bengal State Election for the First Time |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/world/asia/india-modi-hindu-bjp-west-bengal.html |access-date=5 May 2026 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Banerjee declared the election as rigged and refused to resign, claiming she had won the election.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chatterjee |first=Shiv Sahay Singh & Shrabana |date=5 May 2026 |title=Mamata Banerjee on West Bengal election 2026: No question of resigning as CM, we did not lose |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/west-bengal-assembly/no-question-of-resigning-as-cm-we-did-not-lose-elections-says-mamata/article70942822.ece |access-date=5 May 2026 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=5 May 2026 |title='I won’t resign, we haven’t lost': Mamata Banerjee rejects Bengal verdict |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/west-bengal/mamata-banerjee-declares-we-havent-lost-as-she-rejects-bengal-election-results-amid-allegations-of-rigging-and-violence/articleshow/130826725.cms?from=mdr |access-date=5 May 2026 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><br />
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Banerjee forfeited her office as the West Bengal Legislative Assembly was dissolved upon the conclusion of its term by governor R.N. Ravi on 7 May 2026.<ref name="ndtv-dissolve">{{cite news |last1=Haq |first1=Noor Ul |title=West Bengal Assembly, Cabinet Dissolved; Mamata Banerjee No Longer CM |url=https://www.ndtvprofit.com/india/west-bengal-legislative-assembly-dissolved-with-effect-from-may-7-11463163 |access-date=7 May 2026 |publisher=[[NDTV]] |date=7 May 2026}}</ref><ref name="telegraph -dissolve">{{cite news |title=Governor R N Ravi dissolves West Bengal legislative assembly effective from May 7 |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/elections/west-bengal-assembly-election-2026/governor-r-n-ravi-dissolves-west-bengal-legislative-assembly-effective-from-may-7/cid/2159487 |access-date=7 May 2026 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |publisher=[[The Telegraph (India)]] |date=7 May 2026}}</ref><br />
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==Issues and protests==<br />
=== Park Street gangrape ===<br />
In the night of 5 February 2012, [[Suzette Jordan]] met five youths at a night club on Park Street. They offered a lift and promised to drop her home when she was leaving the nightclub. After that, she was gang-raped by the five— Kader Khan, Md. Ali, Nasir Khan, Ruman Khan and Sumit Bajaj—in a moving car and later thrown out of a car half naked, in the dead of night. Mohommad Ali and Kader Khan (then the boyfriend of Nusrat Jahan) who were absconding had political connection with TMC. Mamata Banerjee publicly dismissed the victim's complaint as a "sajano ghatana" (fabricated incident/staged story), which was widely criticized as victim-shaming as well as transferred Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Damayanti Sen, who identified the perpetrators, to a lower-profile post shortly after stating the complaint was genuine.<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kolkatas-park-street-rape-survivor-dies/articleshow/46551499.cms</ref><ref>https://www.ndtv.com/video/suzette-jordan-was-made-a-victim-all-her-life-though-she-was-a-survivor-say-friends-activists-360038</ref><ref>https://www.ndtv.com/kolkata-news/judgement-in-kolkata-park-street-rape-case-likely-today-1253120</ref><br />
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=== No NRC movement ===<br />
No NRC movement was widespread and widely successful in [[West Bengal]]. The movement was supported and consolidated by [[All India Trinamool Congress|Trinamool Congress]]. Due to the popularity of the movement, the BJP was forced to disown and distance from All India NRC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=No Plans For Pan-India NRC For Now, Government Tells Parliament |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/no-decision-to-prepare-nrc-on-national-level-government-to-parliament-2172891 |access-date=12 March 2020 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> [[Amit Shah]] did not refer to NRC in his visit to Kolkata on 1 March, denoting its success.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Daniyal |first1=Shoaib |title=Protest impact: Why did Amit Shah avoid any mention of NRC in Kolkata? |url=https://scroll.in/article/954948/protest-impact-why-did-amit-shah-avoid-any-mention-of-nrc-in-kolkata |access-date=11 March 2020 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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Mamata Banerjee had argued that NRC in Assam was a 'game plan' to 'divide and rule' Indians accusing the Assam Government and the Center under BJP.<ref>{{Citation |title=Mamata Banerjee on NRC Draft Released in Assam |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lASTpfPu22E |access-date=6 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Mamata Banerjee slams NRC Final draft |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az7QgsPg0x0 |access-date=6 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref> That the NRC would make Indians refugees in their own country.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Divide-And-Rule": Mamata Banerjee Slams Assam's Draft Citizens' List |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-slams-assams-draft-list-of-citizens-as-divide-and-rule-policy-says-people-made-refug-1892002 |access-date=6 March 2020 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> On 12 September 2019, Mamata Banerjee led a protest rally in Kolkata against NRC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mamata Banerjee to hold protest rally against NRC today |url=https://www.indiablooms.com/news-details/N/54481/mamata-banerjee-to-hold-protest-rally-against-nrc-today.html |access-date=6 March 2020 |website=Indiablooms}}</ref> In the rally, she declared that "You can silence Assam but not Bengal".<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 September 2019 |title='You can silence Assam but not Bengal,' Mamata Banerjee challenges BJP after leading rally against NRC |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/you-can-silence-assam-but-not-bengal-mamata-challenges-bjp-after-leading-rally-against-nrc/story-t6z1BVGMRRSwsUuPR8ka3K.html |access-date=6 March 2020 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> On 26 December 2019, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a massive rally against NRC and CAA from Kolkata's Raja Bazar to Mullick Bazar.On that protest attacking the Modi government she said, "I don't know my mother's birth date, birth place, how will you know".<ref>{{Cite magazine |author=Manogya Loiwal |date=26 December 2019 |title=I don't know my mother's birth date, birthplace, how will you: Mamata Banerjee at CAA protest |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mamata-banerjee-dont-know-my-mother-birthplace-birth-date-1631688-2019-12-26 |access-date=29 March 2020 |magazine=India Today |language=en}}</ref><br />
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Park Circus ground became the major venue for anti CAA protests in Kolkata<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Shiv Sahay |date=25 March 2020 |title=Kolkata's anti-CAA protesters leave placards, shoes |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kolkatas-anti-caa-protesters-leave-placards-shoes/article31165884.ece |access-date=29 March 2020 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> where various personalities, politicians and social activists joined the protest. E.g.:P [[P. Chidambaram|P. Chidamabaram]] joined the anti CAA protests in Kolkata on 18 January 2020.<ref>{{Citation |title=P Chidambaram joins anti-CAA, NRC protest in Kolkata |date=18 January 2020 |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/p-chidambaram-joins-anti-caa-nrc-protest-in-kolkata/videoshow/73348823.cms |access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref> Singer [[Kabir Suman]], activist [[Umar Khalid]] and [[Yogendra Yadav]] also visited the venue to express their support to the protestors.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=18 January 2020 |title='It's do-or-die battle': Women protesters at Kolkata's Park Circus Maidan to continue anti-CAA stir till favourable outcome |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/its-do-or-die-battle-women-protesters-at-kolkatas-park-circus-maidan-to-continue-anti-caa-stir-till-favourable-outcome-7925621.html |access-date=29 March 2020 |website=Firstpost}}</ref><br />
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Women also actively participated in the anti NRC and anti CAA protest in Kolkata and staged a sit in protest in the park circus maidan on 8 January. One of the protestors said, "I want to ask Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] and his ministers what documents they have which prove them Indians."<ref name=":1"/> The anti NRC movement in Kolkata was characterised by placards, posters and slogans targeting the BJP and the centre.<ref name=":02"/> People have also left behind dozens of pair of shoes, scarves and dupattas in the park circus ground as a protest against NRC AND CAA.{{citation needed|date=March 2026}}<br />
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=== COVID-19 management ===<br />
{{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in West Bengal}}<br />
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Banerjee and her government was accused of concealing facts by the opposition parties like CPI(M) and Congress, other critics and many doctors.<ref name="HuffCovid">{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/west-bengal-coronavirus-death-toll-mamata-banerjee-tablighi-jamaat_in_5e85646ac5b6f55ebf47d216 |date=2 April 2020 |website=[[HuffPost]] |first=Rohini |last=Chatterji |quote=Confusion prevailed on the death toll from the novel coronavirus in West Bengal with Mamata Banerjee claiming only three people had been confirmed to have died of the coronavirus. However, a state health department official told PTI the death toll was now at 7. |title=Only 3 Dead In West Bengal, Says Mamata; 54 Tablighi Jamaat Attendees Quarantined |access-date=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="FBCOVID">{{cite news |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/coronavirus-outbreak-mamata-banerjee-displays-little-cooperation-even-as-opposition-unites-to-stand-behind-centre-8239541.html |quote=Again, on 2 April, while seven coronavirus deaths in the state were confirmed by its health department, the figure was soon revised to three. |title=Coronavirus Outbreak: Mamata Banerjee displays little cooperation even as Opposition unites to stand behind Centre |website=Firstpost |first=Debobrat |last=Ghose |date=8 April 2020 |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=ANI |date=23 April 2020 |title='Gross under-testing, misreporting of Covid data': Non-resident Bengali doctors write to Mamata Banerjee |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gross-under-testing-misreporting-of-covid-data-non-resident-bengali-doctors-write-to-mamata-banerjee/articleshow/75316682.cms |access-date=23 April 2020 |website=The Times of India |location=Kolkata |quote=Citing a media report, the doctors said that West Bengal has conducted just 33.7 tests per million, compared to a national average of around 156.9 per million, despite having the capacity to conduct around 1,000 tests a day.}}<br />
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-{{cite news |last=Loiwal |first=Manogya |date=15 April 2020 |title=West Bengal doctors forum hits out at govt, says not enough tests being conducted |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/west-bengal-doctors-forum-hits-out-at-govt-says-not-enough-tests-being-conducted-1667141-2020-04-15 |website=indiatoday.in |location=Kolkata}}</ref> The BJP also accused Mamata of doing "appeasement" and made Covid issues related to communalism and Taglibhi Jamaat in Delhi.<ref name="IndiaTodayCovid">{{cite news |date=8 April 2020 |title=Is hiding Jamaat cases about vote bank: BJP asks Mamata on Bengal coronavirus numbers |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/bjp-mamata-banerjee-coronavirus-bengal-tablighi-jamaat-1664619-2020-04-08 |access-date=9 April 2020 |website=India Today |quote=The BJP has accused Mamata Banerjee of indulging in vote bank politics after the West Bengal Chief Minister refused to share update on those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi, identified as a hotspot for the spread of novel coronavirus.}}</ref> She blamed them for raising "false alarm" and "maligning West Bengal’s health department" over COVID-19 deaths in Bengal. Mamata Banerjee also blamed BJP's IT cell for using fake news.<ref>{{cite news |date=6 April 2020 |title='Fake news' to malign health dept: Mamata Banerjee on allegation of foul play over COVID-19 death figures |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/coronavirus/fake-news-to-malign-health-dept-mamata-banerjee-on-allegation-of-foul-play-over-covid-19-death-figures-1502874514.html |website=The Statesman}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDubAO1ytww |title=বাম বিজেপীর মিথ্যাচারের পর্দা ফাঁস |date=2 May 2020 |language=bn |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxXFvfqlea8 |title=Comrade, আপনাকেই বলছি... &#124; |date=22 April 2020 |language=bn |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=17 April 2020 |title=Covid 'false alarm': FIR against West Bengal BJP MP |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/covid-false-alarm-fir-against-bengal-bjp-mp/articleshow/75190516.cms |website=Times of India}}</ref> The government later banned use of cellphones in hospitals.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Ajanta |last2=Ghosh |first2=Dwaipayan |last3=Banerjee |first3=Tamaghna |date=23 April 2020 |title=West Bengal: No mobile in coronavirus facilities, says health department |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/no-mobile-in-corona-facilities-health-dept/articleshow/75305469.cms |access-date=23 April 2020 |newspaper=The Times of India |location=Kolkata |quote=Union minister Babul Supriyo tweeted on the ban on mobiles in hospitals, questioning its timing. He questioned whether the person who recorded the video had been "booked". Kolkata Police responded it was completely incorrect and a misinformation.}}</ref> Many people were arrested for spreading fake news related to communalism amid the lockdown.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 April 2020 |title=QCrime: 8-Year-Old Raped, Killed; 32 Arrested in WB Over Fake News |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/india-crime-news-06-april-2020 |website=The Quint}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=5 April 2020 |title=In Bengal, 32 arrested in 7 days for spreading fake news amid lockdown |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-bengal-32-arrested-in-7-days-for-spreading-fake-news-amid-lockdown/story-kyKfmauGsoUUlqhAuhlixH.html |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> FIR was lodged against a Bengal BJP MP. The [[National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections]] (NIRBI) lodged complains against the West Bengal Government for not sending enough samples to them for testing.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kundu |first=Indrajit |date=13 April 2020 |title=Mamata govt not sending enough samples for Covid-19 testing, says central lab director |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/central-lab-says-mamata-govt-not-sending-enough-samples-for-covid-19-tests-as-bengal-reports-fewer-cases-1666467-2020-04-13 |access-date=14 April 2020 |website=[[India Today]] |location=[[Kolkata]] |quote=Responding to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s complaints about lack of testing kits in West Bengal, Dutta said ICMR has dispatched 42,500 kits to NICED so far.}}</ref><br />
<br />
=== 2024 RG Kar incident and others ===<br />
{{Main|2024 Kolkata rape and murder}}<br />
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Banerjee was widely<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dhillon |first=Amrit |date=16 August 2024 |title=Indian medics step up strike in protest at doctor's rape and murder |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/16/indian-medics-strike-protest-doctor-rape-murder-kolkata |access-date=29 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> criticised for handling of the [[2024 Kolkata rape and murder incident|rape and murder]] of a young trainee doctor at [[R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital]] and alleged coverup.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 September 2024 |title=Kolkata rape-murder case: RG Kar senior medics allege evidence tampering as protesting colleagues meet Mamata Banerjee |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/kolkata-rape-murder-case-rg-kar-senior-medics-allege-evidence-tampering-as-protesting-colleagues-meet-mamata-banerjee-11726492463973.html |work=Mint}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Ex-head of India's RG Kar College charged for alleged evidence tampering in rape case |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/ex-head-indias-rg-kar-college-charged-alleged-evidence-tampering-rape-case-2024-09-15/ |work=Reuters}}</ref> She was accused by the family<ref>{{Cite news |agency=ANI |date=18 September 2024 |title=R.G. Kar Medical College victim's father accuses Mamata Banerjee of inaction: 'My daughter would have been alive...' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/my-daughter-would-have-been-alive-rg-kar-medical-college-victims-father-accuses-mamata-banerjee-of-inaction/article68654960.ece |access-date=29 September 2024 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |agency=ANI |date=11 September 2024 |title=R.G. Kar victim doctor's parents question Bengal CM; Not satisfied with Mamata Banerjee's role in case |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/not-satisfied-with-mamata-banerjees-role-in-case-rg-kar-victim-doctors-parents-question-bengal-cm/article68629063.ece |access-date=29 September 2024 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> of trying to protect the now ex-principal Sandip Ghosh<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mondal |first=Pranab |date=21 August 2024 |title=The power and peril of Dr Sandip Ghosh: From 'reserved teen' to principal who ran Kolkata college as 'fiefdom' |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2024/08/21/the-power-and-peril-of-dr-sandip-ghosh-from-reserved-teen-to-principal-who-ran-kolkata-college-as-fiefdom |access-date=29 September 2024 |website=Newslaundry |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Sandip Ghosh indulged in 'business of dead bodies', says RG Kar medical college ex-colleague: Report |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kolkata-rape-murder-case-rg-kar-ex-employee-accuses-sandip-ghosh-of-selling-unclaimed-bodies-report-101724225179973.html |access-date=29 September 2024}}</ref> whose involvement in the incident is being investigated by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]]. It was followed by widespread protests related to women's rights and doctor's protests in the city of Kolkata, some other cities in India and in Bangladesh.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}<br />
<br />
==== Sandeshkhali incident ====<br />
{{main|2024 Sandeshkhali violence}}<br />
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In February 2024, several women in [[Sandeshkhali]] village came forward, first on Republic TV saying that Trinamool Congress local bloc leader and alleged strongmen Sheikh Shahjahan, Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra had been sexually assaulting and raping them. Mamata Bannerjee was accused by the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] leaders for keeping silence on the crime and protecting such criminal politicians and the BJP was accused of trying to turn a land-grab incident into a communal issue against Muslims with accusations of sexual assault by Sheikh Shahjahan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sandeshkhali: BJP says Mamata Banerjee's conscience dead, questions Rahul Gandhi's 'silence' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sandeshkhali-bjp-says-mamata-banerjees-conscience-dead-questions-rahul-gandhis-silence-101708499091890.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=21 February 2024 |access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sandeshkhali-bengal-minister-no-woman-complained-assault-partha-bhowmick-sujit-bose-2506693-2024-02-24 |title=Trinamool minister visits Sandeshkhali, claims assault allegations 'fake' |magazine=India Today |date=24 February 2024 |access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref> He has been on the run, after Enforcement Directorate officers attempted to arrest him on a corruption case, who were [[2024 Sandeshkhali violence|attacked]] by his supporters.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Shiv Sanjay |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/ed-conducts-fresh-raids-at-tmc-leader-shahjahan-sheikhs-home-again/article67771376.ece|title=ED searches Sheikh Shahjahan house, asks him to appear on January 29 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=24 January 2024 |access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref> On 29 February 2024, at around 5:30 am (IST), Shahjahan was arrested by the West Bengal police from [[Minakhan]], [[North 24 Parganas]] by them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/sandeshkhali-violence-west-bengal-police-arrests-tmc-leader-sheikh-shahjahan-11709172057783.html|title=Sandeshkhali violence: West Bengal Police arrests TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan|date=29 February 2024|work=[[Livemint]]}}</ref><br />
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==== 2026 Enforcement Directorate — I-PAC searches ====<br />
In January 2026, the [[Enforcement Directorate]] (ED) carried out searches at the offices of the political consultancy Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in [[Kolkata]] and at related locations as part of a money-laundering probe linked to an alleged coal pilferage case. During the operation on 8 January 2026, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the premises, including the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain and the company's office, while searches were underway. The ED alleged that Banerjee and members of her party's team removed physical documents and electronic devices from the premises, which the agency described as interference with its investigation; Banerjee and the [[Trinamool Congress]] denied the allegation, saying she was safeguarding party documents and accusing the agency of political motivation. The ED subsequently approached the Calcutta High Court and later the Supreme Court alleging obstruction of its investigation, and Kolkata Police registered FIRs and began separate inquiries related to the incident; the matter is the subject of ongoing litigation and investigation.<ref name="NDTV">{{cite news |title=Probe agency ED approaches Supreme Court in showdown with Mamata Banerjee |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/probe-agency-ed-complains-to-supreme-court-in-showdown-with-mamata-banerjee-10600365 |newspaper=NDTV |date=10 January 2026 |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="TOI">{{cite news |title=I-PAC raids: ED moves SC over 'interference' from Mamata govt, Bengal files counter-petition caveat |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/i-pac-raids-ed-moves-sc-over-alleged-interference-from-mamata-govt-bengal-files-counter-petition-caveat-hc-hearing-pushed-to-jan-14/articleshow/126450932.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |date=10 January 2026 |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="ET">{{cite news |title=ED moves Supreme Court in I-PAC case, alleges interference by Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal govt |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/ed-moves-supreme-court-in-i-pac-case-alleges-interference-by-mamata-banerjee-led-bengal-govt/articleshow/126453569.cms |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=10 January 2026 |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref><ref name="IE">{{cite news |title=ED raids on I-PAC: Kolkata police start recording statements of guards, house help at Pratik Jain's house |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/ed-raids-i-pac-kolkata-police-guards-house-prateek-jain-house-10466280/ |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=11 January 2026 |access-date=11 January 2026}}</ref><br />
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==== 2026 Electoral Violence ====<br />
Mamata Banerjee's party [[Trinamool Congress|TMC]] allegedly used force which caused sporadic incidents of violence during phase 1 of voting <ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bengal-votes-amid-sporadic-incidents-of-violence-in-phase-1-candidates-heckled-top-developments/articleshow/130463417.cms</ref>, Election Commission deployed central forces for West Bengal election in order to curb political violence.<ref> https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/kolkata/election-commission-deploys-additional-150-central-force-units-in-bengal-total-reaches-2550-prnt/cid/2155236</ref><ref>https://www.ndtv.com/video/tmc-goons-stopped-me-humayun-kabir-on-murshidabad-violence-1089144</ref><ref>https://www.bhaskarenglish.in/national/news/bjp-tmc-clashes-west-bengal-phase-2-polls-violence-chapra-shantipur-137813846.html</ref> [[Indian National Congress|INC]]'s [[Rahul Gandhi]] accused Trinamool of running a reign of terror in the State following the death of a Congress worker by hands of TMC workers.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/elections/west-bengal-assembly/tmcs-reign-of-terror-prevails-in-west-bengal-rahul-gandhi/article70908217.ece</ref><ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/not-democracy-but-tmcs-reign-of-thuggery-rahul-gandhi-over-killing-of-congress-worker/articleshow/130526666.cms</ref><br />
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== Personal life and recognitions ==<br />
Throughout her political life, Banerjee has maintained a publicly austere lifestyle, dressing in simple traditional Bengali clothes and avoiding luxuries.<ref name="taat">{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/living/mamata-saris-the-rage-in-kolkata-this-durga-puja-99919.html|title=Mamata saris the rage in Kolkata this Durga Puja|website=FirstPost|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107080747/http://www.firstpost.com/living/mamata-saris-the-rage-in-kolkata-this-durga-puja-99919.html|archive-date=7 January 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=11 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="lifestyle">{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/diptoshmajumdar/5/61837/mamata-express-you-cant-stop-her-anymore.html|title=Blog article in IBNLive.in.com|publisher=[[CNN-IBN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606192506/http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/diptoshmajumdar/5/61837/mamata-express-you-cant-stop-her-anymore.html|archive-date=6 June 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=3 June 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-47114401|title=On Wednesday, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar interviews PM Modi|work=[[BBC]]|access-date=25 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409193052/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-47114401|archive-date=9 April 2019|url-status=live|quote=West Bengal chief minister and arch rival Mamata Banerjee sends him sweets and kurtas every year}}</ref><br />
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She identifies herself as a [[Hindu]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Watch: Nusrat's Muslim, I am Hindu but we are exactly alike except she's beautiful and I am not, says Mamata |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/photo-gallery-watch-nusrat-s-muslim-i-am-hindu-but-we-are-exactly-alike-except-she-s-beautiful-and-i-am-not-says-mamata-banerje-2748543 |access-date=8 June 2019 |work=[[Daily News and Analysis|DNA]] |date=12 May 2019 |archive-date=14 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614073906/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/photo-gallery-watch-nusrat-s-muslim-i-am-hindu-but-we-are-exactly-alike-except-she-s-beautiful-and-i-am-not-says-mamata-banerje-2748543 |url-status=live }}</ref> Banerjee is a self-taught painter and a poet.<ref>{{cite news|title=The poet and painter in Mamata Banerjee's looks beyond Bengal|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-poet-and-painter-in-mamata-banerjees-looks-beyond-bengal/1075840/0|access-date=2 April 2013|newspaper=Indian Express|date=18 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://aitcofficial.org/publications-by-didi/|title=Publications, Poetry and Paintings : All India Trinamool Congress|website=aitcofficial.org|language=en-US|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104004315/http://aitcofficial.org/publications-by-didi/|archive-date=4 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Her 300 paintings were sold for ₹9crore ([[Indian Rupee|₹]]90 million, [[Pound Sterling|£]]990,000 or [[United States Dollar|US$]]1,350,000).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/culture/who-we-are/wtf-mamata-banerjee-paintings-sold-for-9-crores-285240.html|title=WTF: Mamata Banerjee Paintings Sold For 9 Crores|work=indiatimes.com|access-date=12 May 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513081145/https://www.indiatimes.com/culture/who-we-are/wtf-mamata-banerjee-paintings-sold-for-9-crores-285240.html|archive-date=13 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine named her as one of the [[Time 100|100 Most Influential People in the World]].<ref name="Time 100">{{cite magazine|title=Time 100: Mamata Banerjee, Populist|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2111984,00.html|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=18 April 2012|date=18 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419073120/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0%2C28804%2C2111975_2111976_2111984%2C00.html|archive-date=19 April 2012}}</ref> ''[[Bloomberg Markets]]'' magazine listed her among the [[50 Most Influential (Bloomberg Markets ranking)|50 most influential people in the world of finance]] in September 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://zeenews.india.com/business/news/finance/mamata-banerjee-among-worlds-50-influential-leaders-in-finance_59747.html |title=Mamata Banerjee among world's 50 influential leaders in finance |website=Zeenews.india.com |access-date=16 October 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214095120/http://zeenews.india.com/business/news/finance/mamata-banerjee-among-worlds-50-influential-leaders-in-finance_59747.html |archive-date=14 December 2013 |date=6 September 2012 }}</ref> In 2018, she was conferred the Skoch Chief Minister of the Year Award.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/mamata-banerjee-is-the-skoch-chief-minister-of-the-year/articleshow/67178399.cms |title=Mamata Banerjee is the Skoch Chief Minister of the Year |website=[[The Economic Times]] |date=20 December 2018 |access-date=26 April 2019 |archive-date=6 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206080605/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/mamata-banerjee-is-the-skoch-chief-minister-of-the-year/articleshow/67178399.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Banerjee stepped out into the streets of Kolkata during lockdown, caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, to spread awareness among the common people.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 March 2020|title=Didi's lessons on social distancing: Mamata Banerjee takes to Kolkata streets to fight Covid19|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/didi-s-lessons-on-social-distancing-mamata-banerjee-takes-to-kolkata-streets-to-fight-covid19/story-oMNOulx2aPn1i2bbpjvwrO.html|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114165647/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/didi-s-lessons-on-social-distancing-mamata-banerjee-takes-to-kolkata-streets-to-fight-covid19/story-oMNOulx2aPn1i2bbpjvwrO.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=28 March 2020|title='Keep Shops Open, What Will People Eat?' Mamata Banerjee Takes to The Streets During Lockdown|url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/keep-shops-open-what-will-people-eat-mamata-banerjee-takes-to-the-streets-during-lockdown-2554567.html|work=News18|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114165647/https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/keep-shops-open-what-will-people-eat-mamata-banerjee-takes-to-the-streets-during-lockdown-2554567.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=23 April 2020|title=Mamata Banerjee Hits Kolkata Streets Again, Urges People To Stay Indoors|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-lockdown-west-bengal-chief-minister-mamata-banerjee-hits-kolkata-streets-again-urges-peo-2217243|work=NDTV|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114165647/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-lockdown-west-bengal-chief-minister-mamata-banerjee-hits-kolkata-streets-again-urges-peo-2217243|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=24 April 2020|title=Mamata hits the streets, speaks directly to locked-down Kolkata|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/mamata-hits-the-streets-speaks-directly-to-locked-down-kolkata-6376681/|work=The Indian Express|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114165649/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/mamata-hits-the-streets-speaks-directly-to-locked-down-kolkata-6376681/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=24 April 2020|title=Mamata Hits Streets of Kolkata to Address Citizens Amid Lockdown|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/west-bengal-news-coronavirus-mamata-banerjee-hits-kolkata-streets-talks-directly-to-citizens-to-maintain-lockdown|work=The Quint|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114165647/https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/west-bengal-news-coronavirus-mamata-banerjee-hits-kolkata-streets-talks-directly-to-citizens-to-maintain-lockdown|url-status=live}}</ref> While appealing for maintaining religious harmony, Banerjee has reiterated the fact on numerous occasions that ''"''Religion is personal, but festivals are universal."<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 July 2019|title=Religion is personal, but festivals are universal says Mamata Banerjee|url=http://www.uniindia.com/religion-is-personal-but-festivals-are-universal-says-mamata-banerjee/east/news/1654080.html|work=United News of India|access-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023082359/http://www.uniindia.com/religion-is-personal-but-festivals-are-universal-says-mamata-banerjee/east/news/1654080.html|archive-date=23 October 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=7 September 2021|title=Faith may be personal but festivals are universal: Mamata Banerjee on Durga puja celebrations|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/west-bengal-durga-puja-2021-cm-mamata-banerjee-faith-festivals-covid-rules-1850248-2021-09-07|work=India Today|access-date=23 October 2021|archive-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023000838/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/west-bengal-durga-puja-2021-cm-mamata-banerjee-faith-festivals-covid-rules-1850248-2021-09-07|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
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She received an Honorary D.Litt in Literature from [[St. Xavier's University, Kolkata|St. Xavier's University]] on 6 February 2023<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 February 2023 |title=West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee conferred honorary doctorate for contributions to literature and art |url=https://www.edexlive.com/news/2023/Feb/06/west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-conferred-honorary-doctorate-for-contributions-to-literature-and-art-33766.html |website=EdexLive}}</ref> and another from [[Calcutta University]] on 12 January 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 January 2018 |title=Never gave up despite being hurt all my life, says emotional Mamata after accepting honorary doctorate |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/never-gave-up-despite-being-hurt-all-my-life-says-emotional-mamata-after-accepting-honorary-doctorate-1137459-2018-01-11 |website=India Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 January 2018 |title=Mamata Banerjee receives D Litt degree, says intolerance is rising in the country |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mamata-banerjee-to-receive-d-litt-degree-calcutta-hc-to-hear-pil-today-5020036/ |website=Indian Express}}</ref> She also received an honorary doctorate from the [[Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology]], a Bhubaneshwar-based deemed university.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 September 2018 |title=Odisha varsity to confer doctorate on Mamata |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Odisha-varsity-to-confer-doctorate-on-Mamata/articleshow/16443132.cms |website=Times of India}}</ref><br />
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In 2021, Mamata Banerjee was invited to attend ''World Meeting for Peace'' in [[Rome]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee invited to attend peace conference in Rome|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bengal-chief-minister-mamata-banerjee-invited-to-attend-peace-conference-at-rome-101628698080852.html|work=Hindustan Times|date=11 August 2021|access-date=26 September 2021|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925192744/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bengal-chief-minister-mamata-banerjee-invited-to-attend-peace-conference-at-rome-101628698080852.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mamata Banerjee invited to 'World Meeting for Peace' in Rome along with Pope, Angela Merkel|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mamata-banerjee-invited-to-world-meeting-for-peace-1839838-2021-08-12|work=India Today|date=12 August 2021|access-date=26 September 2021|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925192743/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mamata-banerjee-invited-to-world-meeting-for-peace-1839838-2021-08-12|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Lack of vaccine acceptance a travel barrier: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/cm-lack-of-vax-acceptance-a-travel-barrier/articleshow/86052006.cms|work=The Times of India|date=9 September 2021|access-date=26 September 2021|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925192739/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/cm-lack-of-vax-acceptance-a-travel-barrier/articleshow/86052006.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> She was the only Indian invited to attend the event. But in September, the [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|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".<ref>{{cite news|title=Centre denies permission to Mamata for trip to Rome next month|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/centre-denies-permission-to-mamata-for-trip-to-rome-next-month-101632573497938.html|work=Hindustan Times|date=25 September 2021|access-date=26 September 2021|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925195844/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/centre-denies-permission-to-mamata-for-trip-to-rome-next-month-101632573497938.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Centre Denies Mamata Banerjee Permission To Attend Peace Conference in Rome|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/west-bengal-news-mamata-banerjee-says-centre-denied-her-permission-to-attend-peace-conference-in-rome|work=The Quint|date=25 September 2021|access-date=26 September 2021|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925195845/https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/west-bengal-news-mamata-banerjee-says-centre-denied-her-permission-to-attend-peace-conference-in-rome|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Centre Didn't Let Me Go To Rome Peace Meet Out Of "Jealousy": Mamata Banerjee|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/centre-did-not-let-me-to-go-to-rome-global-peace-meet-out-of-jealousy-mamata-2553629|work=NDTV|date=25 September 2021|access-date=26 September 2021|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925200631/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/centre-did-not-let-me-to-go-to-rome-global-peace-meet-out-of-jealousy-mamata-2553629|url-status=live}}</ref> BJP MP [[Subramanian Swamy]] slammed Modi government on Banerjee's Rome visit cancelation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Modi should permit Mamata to travel to Rome: Subramanian Swamy|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2021/09/26/modi-should-permit-mamata-to-travel-to-rome-subramanian-swamy.html|work=The Week|date=26 September 2021|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927015445/https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2021/09/26/modi-should-permit-mamata-to-travel-to-rome-subramanian-swamy.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=কোন আইনে মমতাকে রোম যেতে বাধা দেওয়া হল? কেন্দ্রের ভূমিকা নিয়ে প্রশ্ন বিজেপি সাংসদের|url=https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/india/subramanian-swamy-questions-centres-move-to-stop-mamata-banerjees-italy-tour/|language=bn|work=Sangbad Pratidin|date=26 September 2021|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926211727/https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/india/subramanian-swamy-questions-centres-move-to-stop-mamata-banerjees-italy-tour/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Subramanian Swamy: 'কোন আইনে Mamata-র রোম সফর বাতিল', কেন্দ্রকে তোপ BJP সাংসদের|url=https://zeenews.india.com/bengali/nation/subramanian-swamy-slams-narendra-modi-govt-on-mamata-banerjees-rome-visit-cancelation_406330.html|language=bn|work=Zee 24 Ghanta|date=26 September 2021|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926211711/https://zeenews.india.com/bengali/nation/subramanian-swamy-slams-narendra-modi-govt-on-mamata-banerjees-rome-visit-cancelation_406330.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Indian Diplomat [[K. P. Fabian]], the reason cited by MEA was unconvincing.<ref>{{cite news|title=Italian organisation that invited Mamata highly prestigious: ex-envoy|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/italian-organisation-that-invited-mamata-highly-prestigious-ex-envoy/article36684864.ece|work=The Hindu|date=26 September 2021|access-date=27 September 2021|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926180130/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/italian-organisation-that-invited-mamata-highly-prestigious-ex-envoy/article36684864.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly, in December, Banerjee was denied permission by the MEA to visit [[Nepal]].<ref>{{cite news|title='Vindictive,' cries TMC as Centre bars Mamata Banerjee from visiting Nepal|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/vindictive-cries-tmc-as-centre-bars-mamata-banerjee-from-visiting-nepal-101639159824014.html|work=Hindustan Times|date=10 December 2021|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-date=10 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210181616/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/vindictive-cries-tmc-as-centre-bars-mamata-banerjee-from-visiting-nepal-101639159824014.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
<br />
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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dutt|first=Barkha|date=15 September 2021|title=The 100 Most Influential People of 2021. Mamata Banerjee.|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]|url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2021/6096016/mamata-banerjee/|access-date=16 September 2021|archive-date=15 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915212047/https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2021/6096016/mamata-banerjee/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=15 September 2021|title=PM Modi, Mamata Banerjee Among TIME's 100 Most Influential People|website=NDTV|agency=PTI|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-mamata-and-adar-poonawalla-among-time-magazines-100-most-influential-people-of-2021-2542154|access-date=16 September 2021|archive-date=15 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915234109/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-mamata-and-adar-poonawalla-among-time-magazines-100-most-influential-people-of-2021-2542154|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=16 September 2021|title=বিশ্বের ১০০ প্রভাবশালীর তালিকায় মমতা, তীব্র সমালোচনা মোদির নামে|language=bn|trans-title=Mamata in the list of 100 most influential people in the world, sharp criticism of Modi|newspaper=Bartaman|url=https://bartamanpatrika.com/detailNews.php?cID=14&nID=319131&P=1&nPID=20210916|access-date=16 September 2021|archive-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916173559/https://bartamanpatrika.com/detailNews.php?cID=14&nID=319131&P=1&nPID=20210916|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
<br />
=== In popular culture ===<br />
* ''[[Baghini (2019 Film)|Baghini]]'', a [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali film]], inspired by Mamata Banerjee's life, was released on 24 May 2019. It is not a [[Biographical film|biopic]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ghosh|first=Devarsi|date=15 April 2019|title='Baghini: Bengal Tigress' is inspired by Mamata Banerjee but is not a biopic, filmmakers say|url=https://scroll.in/reel/919749/baghini-bengal-tigress-is-inspired-by-mamata-banerjee-but-is-not-a-biopic-filmmakers-say|access-date=9 December 2021|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US|archive-date=9 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209051427/https://scroll.in/reel/919749/baghini-bengal-tigress-is-inspired-by-mamata-banerjee-but-is-not-a-biopic-filmmakers-say|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Itengar|first=Shriram|date=15 April 2019|title=After Narendra Modi, Baghini: Bengal Tigress evokes Mamata Banerjee|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2019/apr/15/20107/after-narendra-modi-baghini-bengal-tigress-evokes-mamata-banerjee|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415193949/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2019/apr/15/20107/after-narendra-modi-baghini-bengal-tigress-evokes-mamata-banerjee|archive-date=15 April 2019|access-date=16 April 2019|publisher=Cinestaan}}</ref><br />
* Former Trinamool Congress MLA Dipak Kumar Ghosh wrote a controversial book on her personal life, ''Mamata Bandopadhyayke Jemon Dekhechi''.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Deepak Ghosh |url=http://archive.org/details/mamatakejemondekhechi |title=মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় কে যেমন দেখেছি - দীপক ঘোষ |date=2013}}</ref> It creates critical response among the Bengali readers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 May 2025 |title=FIR filed against BJP's Koustav Bagchi: Posting excerpts from late TMC leader's book sparks row on woman's dignity, political decorum in Bengal – Kolkata News |url=https://www.bhaskarenglish.in/local/west-bengal/kolkata/news/koustav-bagchi-complaint-for-posting-dipak-ghosh-against-mamata-banerjee-sparks-controversy-135139838.html |access-date=23 July 2025 |website=Bhaskar English |language=en}}</ref> A [[defamation]] case was also filed against Deepak Ghosh but the case has not been resolved yet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 March 2025 |title=Dipak Ghosh Passed Away: বিতর্ক আর রাজনীতির ঘূর্ণাবর্ত পেরিয়ে প্রয়াত একদা IAS-বিধায়ক দীপক ঘোষ... |url=https://zeenews.india.com/bengali/kolkata/retired-ias-and-controversial-ex-tmc-mla-dipak-ghosh-passed-away_571830.html |access-date=23 July 2025 |website=Zee24Ghanta.com |language=bn}}</ref> The controversial book was banned by an interim order of Civil Judge, [[Barasat]] Court on 22 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 July 2025 |title=মমতাকে নিয়ে লেখা বিতর্কিত বইয়ের প্রচার ও বিক্রিতে আদালতের স্থগিতাদেশ – Barasat Court Imposes Ban on Book About Deepak Ghosh, Controversial Book on Mamata Banerjee |url=https://www.thewall.in/west-bengal/barasat-court-imposes-ban-on-book-about-deepak-ghosh-controversial-book-on-mamata-banerjee/tid/167129 |access-date=23 July 2025 |website=TheWall |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/bn-in/news/national/mamata-banerjee-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%98-%E0%A6%B7-%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%87-banned-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BC-%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%B6-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%B0/ar-AA1J6R3O |access-date=23 July 2025 |website=msn.com}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Works in arts and literature ==<br />
[[File:Mamata Banerjee at 43rd International Kolkata Book Fair.jpg|thumb|right|Mamata Banerjee at 43rd [[International Kolkata Book Fair]] with her books in hand]]<br />
<br />
Numerous books written by her have been published so far. In 2022, she was given ''Paschimbanga Akademy Award'' for 'Kabita Bitan' which consists of 946 poems.<ref>{{Cite news |title=সাহিত্য চর্চায় নিরলস সাধনার জন্য বাংলা আকাদেমির বিশেষ পুরস্কার পেলেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় |url=https://bengali.abplive.com/district/mamata-banerjee-chief-minister-of-west-bengal-mamata-banerjee-gets-bangla-academy-award-for-literary-contribution-887048 |access-date=11 May 2022 |work=ABP Ananda |date=9 May 2022 |language=bn}}</ref><br />
<br />
She is also a self-taught painter.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mamata Banerjee, chief minister, painter and fighter, faces tough polls |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/elections/writer-painter-fighter-mamata-banerjee-faces-major-political-challenge-121040100095_1.html |access-date=20 May 2022 |work=Business Standard India |date=1 April 2021 |archive-date=20 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520164813/https://www.business-standard.com/article/elections/writer-painter-fighter-mamata-banerjee-faces-major-political-challenge-121040100095_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Her paintings have also been auctioned several times.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 April 2015 |title=WTF: Mamata Banerjee Paintings Sold For 9 Crores |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/culture/who-we-are/wtf-mamata-banerjee-paintings-sold-for-9-crores-285240.html |access-date=20 May 2022 |work=IndiaTimes |archive-date=13 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513081145/https://www.indiatimes.com/culture/who-we-are/wtf-mamata-banerjee-paintings-sold-for-9-crores-285240.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />
<br />
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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prakashan |first=Priya |date=14 October 2015 |title=Durga Puja 2015: Mamata Banerjee pens Maa Go Tumi Sarbojonin on the auspicious occasion of the Navratri |url=https://www.india.com/viral/durga-puja-2015-mamata-banerjee-pens-maa-go-tumi-sarbojonin-on-the-auspicious-occasion-of-the-navratri-629627/ |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=India.com |archive-date=10 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610060145/https://www.india.com/viral/durga-puja-2015-mamata-banerjee-pens-maa-go-tumi-sarbojonin-on-the-auspicious-occasion-of-the-navratri-629627/ |url-status=live }}</ref><br />
<br />
== Electoral history ==<br />
{{Main|Electoral history of Mamata Banerjee}}<br />
<br />
===Lok Sabha===<br />
{| class="sortable wikitable"<br />
! Year<br />
! <small>Constituency</small><br />
! colspan="2"|Party<br />
! Votes<br />
! %<br />
! Opponent<br />
! colspan="2"|<small>Opponent Party</small><br />
! <small>Opponent Votes</small><br />
! %<br />
! <small>Result</small><br />
! Margin<br />
! %<br />
|-<br />
! [[2009 Indian general election|2009]]<br />
| [[Kolkata Dakshin (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kolkata Dakshin]]<br />
| {{Party name with color|All India Trinamool Congress|rowspan=4}}<br />
| 576,045<br />
| 57.19<br />
| rowspan="2"|<small>[[Rabin Deb]]</small><br />
| {{Party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)|rowspan=8}}<br />
| 356,474<br />
| 35.39<br />
| {{yes2|Won}}<br />
| 219,571<br />
| 21.8<br />
|-<br />
! [[2004 Indian general election|2004]]<br />
| rowspan="5"|[[Calcutta South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Calcutta South]]<br />
| 393,561<br />
| 51.1<br />
| 295,132<br />
| 38.3<br />
| {{yes2|Won}}<br />
| 98,429<br />
| 12.8<br />
|-<br />
! [[1999 Indian general election|1999]]<br />
| 469,103<br />
| 58.26<br />
| <small>Subhankar Chakraborty</small><br />
| 255,095<br />
| 31.68<br />
| {{yes2|Won}}<br />
| 214,008<br />
| 26.58<br />
|-<br />
! [[1998 Indian general election|1998]]<br />
| 503,551<br />
| 59.37<br />
| <small>Prasanta Kumar Sur</small><br />
| 279,470<br />
| 32.95<br />
| {{yes2|Won}}<br />
| 224,081<br />
| 26.42<br />
|-<br />
! [[1996 Indian general election|1996]]<br />
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress|rowspan=4}}<br />
| 438,252<br />
| 52.5<br />
| <small>Bharati Mukherjee</small><br />
| 334,991<br />
| 40.1<br />
| {{yes2|Won}}<br />
| 103,261<br />
| 12.4<br />
|-<br />
! [[1991 Indian general election|1991]]<br />
| 367,896<br />
| 52.46<br />
| <small>[[Biplab Dasgupta]]</small><br />
| 274,233<br />
| 39.1<br />
| {{yes2|Won}}<br />
| 93,663<br />
| 13.36<br />
|-<br />
! [[1989 Indian general election|1989]]<br />
| rowspan="2"|[[Jadavpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jadavpur]]<br />
| 410,288<br />
| 46.67<br />
| <small>[[Malini Bhattacharya]]</small><br />
| 441,188<br />
| 50.19<br />
| {{no2|Lost}}<br />
| -30,900<br />
| -3.52<br />
|-<br />
! [[1984 Indian general election|1984]]<br />
| 331,618<br />
| 50.87<br />
| <small>[[Somnath Chatterjee]]</small><br />
| 311,958<br />
| 47.85<br />
| {{yes2|Won}}<br />
| 19,660<br />
| 3.02<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections ===<br />
{| class="sortable wikitable"<br />
! Year<br />
! <small>Constituency</small><br />
! colspan="2"|Party<br />
! Votes<br />
! %<br />
! Opponent<br />
! colspan="2"|<small>Opponent Party</small><br />
! <small>Opponent Votes</small><br />
! %<br />
! <small>Result</small><br />
! Margin<br />
! %<br />
|-<br />
![[2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2026]]<br />
|[[Bhabanipur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|Bhabanipur]]<br />
| {{Party name with color|All India Trinamool Congress|rowspan=5}}<br />
|58,812 <br />
|42.19<br />
|<small>[[Suvendu Adhikari]]</small><br />
|{{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party|rowspan=3}}<br />
|73,917<br />
|53.02<br />
| {{no2|Lost}}<br />
| -15,105<br />
| -10.83<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" | [[2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2021]]<br />
| [[Bhabanipur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|Bhabanipur <br/><small>''(by-election)''</small>]]<br />
| 85,263<br />
| 71.9<br />
| <small>Priyanka Tibrewal</small><br />
| 26,428<br />
| 22.29<br />
| {{yes2|Won}}<br />
| 58,835<br />
| 49.61<br />
|-<br />
| [[Nandigram (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Nandigram]]<br />
| 108,808<br />
| 47.64<br />
| <small>[[Suvendu Adhikari]]</small><br />
| 110,764<br />
| 48.49<br />
| {{no2|Lost}}<br />
| -1,956<br />
| -0.85<br />
|-<br />
! [[2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2016]]<br />
| [[Bhabanipur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|Bhabanipur]]<br />
| 65,520<br />
| 47.67<br />
| <small>[[Deepa Dasmunshi]]</small><br />
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress}}<br />
| 40,219<br />
| 29.96<br />
| {{yes2|Won}}<br />
| 25,301<br />
| 17.71<br />
|-<br />
! [[2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election|2011]]<br />
| [[Bhabanipur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|Bhabanipur<br/><small>''(by-election)''</small>]]<br />
| 73,635<br />
| 77.46<br />
| <small>[[Nandini Mukherjee]]</small><br />
| {{Party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}<br />
| 19,422<br />
| 20.43<br />
| {{yes2|Won}}<br />
| 54,213<br />
| 57.03<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[Ma Mati Manush]]<br />
* [[Khela Hobe]]<br />
* [[Didi Ke Bolo]]<br />
<br />
== Notes ==<br />
{{notelist}}<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{Reflist|30em}}<br />
<br />
== Further reading ==<br />
;Books<br />
*{{Cite book|last=Paul|first=Shutapa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G_V5DwAAQBAJ|title=Didi: The Untold Mamata Banerjee|date=2018|publisher=Penguin Random House India|isbn=978-93-5305-360-4|language=en}}<br />
*{{Cite book|last=Gupta|first=Monobina|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VcfjAAAAQBAJ|title=Didi|date=2012|publisher=Harper Collins|isbn=978-93-5116-044-1|language=en}}<br />
*{{Cite book|last=Nielsen|first=Kenneth Bo|url=https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/29645/indias-democracies.pdf?sequence=1#page=101|title=India's Democracies|publisher=Scandinavian University Press (Universitetsforlaget)|year=2016|isbn=978-82-15-02689-3|editor-last=Ruud|editor-first=Arild Engelsen|pages=101–130|chapter=5. Mamata Banerjee. Redefining Female Leadership|editor-last2=Heierstad|editor-first2=Geir}}<br />
*{{Cite book|last=Mitra|first=Dola|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rei6oQEACAAJ|title=Decoding Didi: Making Sense of Mamata Banerjee|date=2014|publisher=Rupa|isbn=978-81-291-3267-3|language=en}}<br />
<br />
;Journals<br />
*{{Cite journal|last=Kariwal|first=Yash|date=January–March 2019|title=Role of Print Media in the Construction of a Political Image of Mamata Banerjee: A Content Analysis of News Coverage in The Telegraph Newspaper|url=http://ijrar.com/upload_issue/ijrar_issue_20543201.pdf|journal=International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews|volume=6|issue=1|issn=2349-5138|eissn=2348-1269}}<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
{{Subject bar<br />
|commons = yes<br />
|d = yes<br />
|q = yes<br />
|portal1 = Biography<br />
|portal2 = Politics<br />
|portal3 = India<br />
}}<br />
* [https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/meet-the-chief-minister Official website (Chief Minister's office)]<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150811034532/http://aitcofficial.org/biography/ Official page on Trinamool Congress Party's website]<br />
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13297763 Profile] at ''[[BBC News]]''<br />
<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Banerjee, Mamata}}<br />
[[Category:Mamata Banerjee| ]]<br />
[[Category:1955 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Bengali politicians]]<br />
[[Category:Bengali writers]]<br />
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[[Category:Hindu poets]]<br />
[[Category:Indian political party founders]]<br />
[[Category:People from Bhowanipore]]<br />
[[Category:Poets from West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Women artists from West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Painters from West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Politicians from Kolkata]]<br />
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[[Category:India MPs 2004–2009]]<br />
[[Category:India MPs 2009–2014]]<br />
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 2011–2016]]<br />
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 2016–2021]]<br />
[[Category:West Bengal MLAs 2021–2026]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian women politicians]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Bengali poets]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian poets]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian women writers]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian painters]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian women painters]]<br />
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of India]]<br />
[[Category:Railway ministers of India]]<br />
[[Category:Coal ministers of India]]<br />
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Trinamool Congress politicians from West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Chief ministers of West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Women members of the Cabinet of India]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Bengali people]]<br />
[[Category:Women chief ministers of Indian states]]<br />
[[Category:Women members of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]<br />
[[Category:Women members of the Lok Sabha]]</div>82.132.217.85