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{{short description|8th and current Chief Minister of West Bengal}}
{{Redirect|Mamata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name               = Mamata Banerjee
| name           = Mamata Banerjee <br/> মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়
| honorific_suffix   = <!-- Please do not add honourifics, see [[MOS:HONOURIFICS]] -->
|honorific_suffix =<!-- CHECK OUT ARTICLE ABOUT BRITISH PM DAVID CAMERON. SIMILAR SUFFIX USED--> | image              = Mamata banerjee.jpg
| image              = MamataBanerjeeinIIPGMERKolkata.jpg
| imagesize            =
| caption            = Banerjee in 2019
| alt                = Portrait of Mamata Banerjee
| alt                =  
| signature          = Mamata Banerjee signature.jpg
| office              = 8th [[Chief Minister of West Bengal]]
| office              = 8th [[Chief Minister of West Bengal]]
| term_start          = {{start date|2011|05|20|df=yes}}
| term_start          = 20 May 2011
| governor            = {{Unbulleted list|[[M. K. Narayanan]]|[[D. Y. Patil]]|[[Keshari Nath Tripathi]]|[[Jagdeep Dhankhar]]}}
| term_end            =
| predecessor        = [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharya]]
| predecessor        = [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Additional ministries}}
| governor            = [[M. K. Narayanan]]
| 1blankname1        = [[Third Banerjee ministry|Ministry and Departments]]
| successor          =
| 1namedata1         = *[[Department of Home and Hill Affairs|Home & Hill Affairs]]
| office2            = [[Minister of Railways (India)|Minister of Railway]]
*[[Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (West Bengal)|Personnel & Administrative Reforms]]
| term_start2        = 13 October 1999
*Finance & Excise
| term_end2          = 16 March 2001 (Resigned)
*Planning
|term_start3          = 22 May 2009
*Statistics Program Implementation
|term_end3            = 19 May 2011 (After Giving Resignation)
*[[Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (West Bengal)|Health and Family Welfare]]
| predecessor3        = [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]
*[[Ministry of Land & Land Reforms (West Bengal)|Land and Land Reforms]]
| successor3          = [[Dinesh Trivedi]] <small>([[pro tem]])</small>
*Refugee and Rehabilitation
| office4            = [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Kolkata Dakshin (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kolkata Dakshin]]
*[[Ministry of Information & Cultural Affairs (West Bengal)|Information & Cultural Affairs]]
| term_start4        = 1991
*[[Department of North Bengal Development|North Bengal Development]]
| term_end4          = 2011
| term_start1        = {{start date|2011|05|20|df=yes}}
| predecessor4        = [[Biplab Dasgupta]]<ref>[[Kolkata Dakshin (Lok Sabha constituency)]]</ref>
| term_end1          =  
| successor4         = [[Subrata Bakshi]]  
| predecessor1        = [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharya]]
|office5              = [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Jadavpur]]
|term_start5        = 1984
|term_end5          = 1989
|predecessor5      = Somnath Chatterjee
| successor5        = Malini Bhattacharya
|office6                  = [[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of Legislative Assembly]] <br> for [[Bhabanipur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bhabanipur]]
|term_start6            = 25 September 2011
|term_end6            =
|office7              = [[Councillor]] of [[Bhabanipur]] Area{{cn}}
|term_start7          = 28 April 2015
|term_end7            =
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1955|1|5|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| death_date          =
| death_place        =
| nationality        = [[India]]n
| spouse              = ''Unmarried''
| party              = [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] (Left In 1/1/1998)
[[All India Trinamool Congress|Trinamool Congress]] (1991-Present)
| children            =
| residence          = Harish Chatterjee Street, [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| alma_mater          = [[Jogamaya Devi College]] {{small|(B.A.)}}<br>[[University of Calcutta]] {{small|(M.A.)}}<br>[[Shri Shikshayatan College]] {{small|(B.Ed.)|}}<br>[[Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College]] {{small|(LL.B.)}}
| occupation          = [[Political Leader]]
| profession          = [[Politician]]<br/>[[Advocate]]<br/>[[Social Worker]]<br/>[[Painter]]<br/>[[Singer]]<br/>[[Writer]]


{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| signature           =
| office2            = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of the [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]
| website            = http://aitcofficial.org/biography/
| constituency3      = [[Bhabanipur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|Bhabanipur]]
| footnotes           =
| term_start3        = {{start date|2011|11|16|df=yes}}
| term_end3           = {{start date|2021|05|02|df=yes}}
| predecessor3        = [[Subrata Bakshi]]
| majority3          = 54,213 {{small|(2011)}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 October 2021|title=Bhowanipore bypoll: Mamata Banerjee breaks her own record|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/bhowanipore-bypoll-mamata-banerjee-breaks-her-own-record/cid/1833313|work=The Telegraph|access-date=4 October 2021}}</ref>
| successor3          = [[Sovandeb Chattopadhyay]]
| ooffice3            =
| constituency2      = [[Bhabanipur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|Bhabanipur]]
| term_start2        = {{start date|2021|10|03|df=yes}}
| predecessor2        = [[Sovandeb Chattopadhyay]]
| majority2          = 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>
| office4            = [[All India Trinamool Congress|Chairperson of the All India Trinamool Congress]]
| term_start4        = {{Start date|1998|01|01|df=yes}}
| term_end4          =
| predecessor4        = ''Office established''
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Union  Ministry offices
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed purple;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed = yes
| office5            = [[Minister of Railways (India)|Minister of Railways]]
| predecessor5      = [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]]
| primeminister5      = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| term_start5        = {{Start date|2009|05|22|df=yes}}
| term_end5          = {{End date|2011|05|19|df=yes}}
| successor5          = [[Dinesh Trivedi]]
| office6            =
| primeminister6      = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| predecessor6        = [[Ram Naik]]
| successor6        = [[Nitish Kumar]]
| term_start6      = {{start date|1999|10|13|df=yes}}
| term_end6          = {{end date|2001|03|15|df=yes}}
| office7             = [[Ministry of Coal|Minister of Coal]]
| primeminister7      = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| term_start7      = 9 January 2004
| term_end7          = 22 May 2004
| predecessor7      = [[Karia Munda]]
| successor7          = [[Shibu Soren]]
| office9            = [[Ministry of Mines (India)|Minister of Mines]]
| term_start9  = 9 January 2004
| term_end9  = 22 May 2004
| primeminister9 = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| predecessor9 = [[Ramesh Bais]] ([[:Category:Union ministers of state of India with independent charge|''MOS (I/C)'']])
| successor9 = [[Shibu Soren]]
| office10            = {{small|[[Union Council of Ministers#Ranking|Minister of State]] [[Ministry of Education (India)|for Human Resource Development]]}}
| term10 = 1991–1993<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}}</ref>
| primeminister10 = [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| minister10 = [[Arjun Singh (politician, born 1930)|Arjun Singh]]
| subterm10=1991—1993
| suboffice10=Departments in-charge for:{{Bulleted list
|{{small|[[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports#History|Youth Affairs and Sports]]}}
|{{small|[[Ministry of Women and Child Development#History|Woman and Child Development]]}}}}
| 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}}</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}}</ref>
| successor10 ={{Unbulleted list| [[Mukul Wasnik]]<br />{{small|(Youth Affairs and Sports)}}|[[Basavarajeshwari]]<br />{{small|(Women and Child Development)}}}}
| office11            = [[Minister without portfolio#India|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}}</ref>
| term_start11        = 8 September 2003
| term_end11           = 8 January 2004<ref name="wbcmo" />
| primeminister11      = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| predecessor11        =[[N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar]]
| successor11          = [[Natwar Singh]]
}}
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
'''Mamata Banerjee''' ({{lang-bn|মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়}}) (born 5 January 1955) is the current Chief Minister of the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]]. She is the first woman Chief Minister of the state. She is also the founder and chairperson of the [[All India Trinamool Congress|Trinamool Congress]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://india.gov.in/govt/cabinet.php |title=Council of Ministers - Who's Who - Government: National Portal of India |publisher=[[Government of India]] |accessdate=11 August 2010}}</ref><ref name=bbc.co.uk>{{cite news| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13465915?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter| title = Mamata Banerjee sworn in as West Bengal chief minister| work = BBC News| date = 20 May 2011| archiveurl = https://www.webcitation.org/6B8pdsm9l?url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13465915?utm_source=twitterfeed| archivedate = 2012-10-03| url-status = live| access-date = 2018-06-20}}</ref> Mamata Banerjee is also the Minister for Home, Health and Family Welfare, Land and Land Reforms, Information and Cultural Affairs, Hill Affairs, Minority Affairs and Madrassah Education, Agriculture, Power and Personnel and Administrative Reforms departments.<ref>{{cite web |author=Special Correspondent |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2035875.ece |title=News / National : Key Ministers in Mamata's Cabinet |work=The Hindu |accessdate=2011-05-21 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6B8peUk5c?url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2035875.ece |archivedate=2012-10-03 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110521/images/21ministry.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-05-25 |archive-date=2012-10-03 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6B8pfsj8j?url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110521/images/21ministry.jpg |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Our Special Correspondent |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110521/jsp/frontpage/story_14010716.jsp |title=The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) &#124; Frontpage &#124; Mamata keeps key slots |publisher=Telegraphindia.com |date=1999-03-01 |accessdate=2011-05-21 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6B8pg0S1y?url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110521/jsp/frontpage/story_14010716.jsp |archivedate=2012-10-03 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Updated 1136 hrs 3rd Feb,2010(+5:30 GMT)--> |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mamata-allocates-portfolios-to-ministers/153060-37.html |title=Mamata allots portfolios, keeps key ministries - Politics News - IBNLive |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |date=2010-02-03 |accessdate=2011-05-21 |archive-date=2014-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027224640/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mamata-allocates-portfolios-to-ministers/153060-37.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> She is a good [[orator]]. Her followers call her "Didi" (meaning the elder sister).
| office12            = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| constituency12      = [[Kolkata Dakshin (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kolkata Dakshin]], [[West Bengal]]
| term_start12        = {{start date|1991||}}
| term_end12          = {{end date|2011||}}
| predecessor12      = [[Biplab Dasgupta]]
| successor12        = [[Subrata Bakshi]]
| constituency13      = [[Jadavpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jadavpur]], [[West Bengal]]
| term_start13        = {{start date|1984||}}
| term_end13          = {{end date|1989||}}
| predecessor13      = [[Somnath Chatterjee]]
| successor13        = [[Malini Bhattacharya]]
| party              = [[All India Trinamool Congress]]<br />(1998 {{endash}} present)
| birth_name          =
| 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><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}}</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}}</ref>
| birth_place        = [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| nationality        = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| otherparty          = [[Indian National Congress]] (until 1998)
| spouse              =  
| parents            = Promileswar Banerjee (father)<br /> Gayetri Devi (mother)
| relations          = [[Abhishek Banerjee (politician)|Abhishek Banerjee]] (nephew)
| residence          = 30-B, Harish Chatterjee Street, Kolkata-700 026 West Bengal
| alma_mater          = [[University of Calcutta]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) ([[Masters of Arts|MA]]) [[LLB]]
| website            = {{URL|https://aitcofficial.org/|AITC official}}
| image_size          =  
| signature_size      =  
| width              =  
| footnotes          = {{Collapsible list
|titlestyle = background-color:#56FF;text-align:center;
|title = Position Held
|bullets = on
| 1970–80: General-Secretary, Mahila Congress (I), West Bengal
| 1978–81: Secretary, District Congress Committee (Indira) [D.C.C. (I)],
Calcutta South
| 1984: General-Secretary, All India Youth Congress (I)
| 1985–87:Member, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
| 1987–88:Member, National Council, All India Youth Congress (I)Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home AffairsMember, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Human Resource Development1988Member, Executive Committee, Congress Parliamentary Party [C.P.P. (I)]
| 1989: Member, Executive Committee, Pradesh Congress Committee [P.C.C. (I)], West Bengal
| 1990: President, Youth Congress, West Bengal
| 1993–96: Member, Committee on Home Affairs
| 1995–96:Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home AffairsMember, Committee on Public Accounts
| 1996–97:Member, Committee on Home AffairsMember, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs
| 1998–99: Chairman, Committee on Railways, Member of General Purposes CommitteeMember, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Home Affairs
| 1999: Leader, All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party, Lok SabhaMember, General Purposes Committee
| 2001–2003: Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Industries
| 8 September 2003 – 8 January 2004: Union Cabinet Minister (without any portfolio)
| 2004: Member, Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law & Justice
| 5 August 2006: Member, Committee on Home Affairs
| 5 August 2007: Member, Committee on Home Affairs
| 31 May 2009 – 19 July 2011: Leader, All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha
}}
| nickname            = Didi (elder sister)
| source              = [http://loksabhaph.nic.in/Members/memberbioprofile.aspx?mpsno=39&lastls=15] [http://wbcmo.gov.in/profile.aspx]
| date                = 9 October 2011
}}
'''Mamata Banerjee''' ([[Bengali language|Bengali]]: Mamata Bandyopadhyay, {{IPA-bn|mɔmot̪a bɔnd̪ːopad̪d̪ʱae̯}};  born 5 January 1955) is an Indian politician who is serving as the ninth and current [[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|chief minister]] of the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[West Bengal]] since 20 May 2011, the first woman to hold the office. Having served many times as a Union Cabinet Minister, Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the first time in 2011. She founded the [[All India Trinamool Congress]] (AITC or TMC) in 1998 after separating from the [[Indian National Congress]], and became its first chairperson. She is often referred to as 'Didi' (meaning ''elder sister'' in [[Bengali language|Bengali]]).<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]], the first woman to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|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}}</ref> She is also the first 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> She rose to prominence after opposing the erstwhile land acquisition policies for [[industrialisation]] of the [[Communist]]-led government in West Bengal for [[Special Economic Zones]] at the cost of agriculturalists and farmers at [[Singur]].<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, the world's longest-serving democratically elected [[communist]]-led government, in the process.<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}}</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 was 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 West Bengal Assembly elections]],<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}}</ref>{{efn|name=details|For more details see [[2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election#Nandigram 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}}</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. Mamata challenged the result of Nandigram Constituency in [[Calcutta High Court]] and the matter is sub judice.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rajaram|first=Prema|date=12 August 2021|title=Calcutta HC adjourns Mamata Banerjee's petition against Nandigram election result till November 15|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/calcutta-hc-adjourns-mamata-banerjee-petition-nandigram-election-result-november-15-1840126-2021-08-12|access-date=9 December 2021|website=India Today}}</ref> She led her party to a massive 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}}</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}}</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}}</ref>
 
== Early life and education ==
Banerjee was born in [[Calcutta]] (now Kolkata), [[West Bengal]], to a [[Bengali Brahmins|Bengali Hindu Brahmin]] family.<ref>{{cite web|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|work=New Left Review}}</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=live|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> He was a freedom fighter.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Mamata Banarjee life History/ Mamata banarjee Biography|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVXIsjhiGi4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/pVXIsjhiGi4 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=All Bangla News|via=[[YouTube]]|date=17 May 2020|language=bn|access-date=23 September 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2022|reason=Self-published source}}
 
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|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>
 
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 [[Indian National Congress|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}}</ref>
 
== Early political career, 1984–2011 ==
 
=== Political career with Congress ===
[[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]]
Banerjee began her political career in the [[Congress(I)|Congress]] 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.<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|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}}</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}}</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}}</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.com|language=en}}</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=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/trinamool-congress-chief-mamata-banerjee-a-profile/1/138015.html |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>
 
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 was behaving as a stooge of the CPI-M in [[West Bengal]]. She claimed that she was the lone voice of reason and wanted a "clean Congress".<ref>{{cite news |title=Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee biography |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mamata-banerjee-biography/1/137953.html |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>
 
In December 1992, Banerjee took a physically challenged girl, Felani Basak, who was allegedly raped by CPI(M) cadres to [[Writers Building|Writer's 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}}</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}}</ref>
 
The State Youth Congress led by Mamata Banerjee organised a protest march to Writers Building in Kolkata on 21 July 1993 against the Communist government of the state. They demanded that voters’ ID cards be made the only required document for voting, to put a stop to CPM's "scientific rigging". [[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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</ref><ref name="millenniumpost 2012-07-21" />
 
=== Founding Trinamool Congress ===
[[File:Mamata Banerjee,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.]]
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 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}}</ref> It quickly became the primary opposition party to the long-standing Communist government in the state. On 11 December 1998, she controversially held a [[Samajwadi Party]] MP, [[Daroga Prasad Saroj]], by the collar and dragged him out of the well of the Lok Sabha to prevent him from protesting against the [[Women's Reservation Bill]].<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=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424085700/http://www.hinduonnet.com/revents/01/19980112.htm |archive-date=24 April 2011
}}</ref>
 
==== Railway Minister (first tenure), 1999–2000 ====
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>
 
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" />
 
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>
 
==== 2001 West Bengal election ====
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>
 
==== Minister of Coal and Mines, January 2004 – May 2004 ====
[[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]]
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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</ref> She held the [[Ministry of Coal|Coal]] and [[Ministry of Mines (India)|Mines]] portfolios till 22 May 2004.
 
==== 2004–2006 election setbacks ====
In [[2004 Indian general election|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}}</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}}</ref> In 2006, the Trinamool Congress was defeated in West Bengal's Assembly Elections, losing more than half of its sitting members.
On 4 August 2006, Banerjee hurled her resignation papers at the [[Deputy Speaker 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=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mamata-banerjee-biography/1/137953.html |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=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822234553/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050805/asp/frontpage/story_5077148.asp|archive-date=22 August 2007}}</ref>
 
=== Singur, Nandigram and other movements ===
On 20 October 2005, she protested against the forceful land acquisition and the atrocities perpetrated against local farmers in the name of the [[industrial development]] policy of the [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee]] government in [[West Bengal]]. Benny Santoso, [[CEO]] of the [[Indonesia]]-based Salim Group, had pledged a large investment in West Bengal, and the [[West Bengal government]] had given him farmland in [[Howrah]], sparking protests. In soaking rain, Banerjee and other Trinamool Congress members stood in front of the Taj Hotel where Santoso had arrived, shut out by the police. Later, she and her supporters followed Santoso's convoy. A planned "black flag" protest was avoided when the government had Santoso arrive three hours ahead of schedule.<ref>{{cite news
|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=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930041000/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061010/asp/bengal/story_6851157.asp|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref>
 
==== Singur protest ====
{{Main|Tata Nano Singur controversy}}
In November 2006, Banerjee was forcibly stopped on her way to [[Singur]] for a rally against a proposed [[Tata Motors]] car project. Banerjee reached the West Bengal assembly and protested at the venue. She addressed a press conference at the assembly and announced a 12-hour shutdown by her party on Friday.<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> The TMC supremo Mamata, who was arrested by police earlier in that day 'for violating prohibitory orders' near Singur, 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}}</ref> After this incident the Trinamool Congress MLAs protested by damaging furniture and microphones and vandalizing 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=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-12-02/india/27828165_1_bengal-house-assembly-building-benches|url-status=dead|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 Ms 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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</ref> (One of her first acts after becoming Chief Minister was to return the 400 acres of land to Singur farmers.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Qg-XAlmMc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Z-Qg-XAlmMc |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=The Rise Of Mamata: From A Youth Congress Worker To Defeating BJP & Becoming Bengal CM Third Time|via=YouTube |date=2 May 2021|language=en}}{{cbignore}}</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}}</ref>)
 
==== Nandigram protest ====
{{Main|Nandigram violence}}
The Nandigram violence was an incident of [[Nandigram]] in West Bengal, occurred in the year 2007, where a battalion of armed police stormed the rural area 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=http://news.oneindia.in/2007/11/30/nandigram-peoples-struggle-heroic-clark-1196438590.html|title=Nandigram people's struggle "heroic": Clark|work=One India|url-status=dead|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}}</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}}</ref>
 
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 }}</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]].
 
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=live |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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |date=29 March 2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QSAAzJCxpg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/6QSAAzJCxpg |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=What Bengal Thinks Today &#124; নন্দীগ্রামে মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর নিশানায় 'শিশির-শুভেন্দু' &#124; TV9 Bangla|via=YouTube |language=bn}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxu5lsBy44|title=চতুর্থ স্তম্ভ : ইতিহাস বদলে দিয়েছিল নন্দীগ্রাম (31/03/2021)|publisher=[[Kolkata TV|KOLKATA TV]]|via=YouTube |language=bn}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=31 March 2021|title=চতুর্থ স্তম্ভ : ইতিহাস বদলে দিয়েছিল নন্দীগ্রাম (31/03/2021)|url=https://www.facebook.com/kolkatatvweb/videos/255803989517332/|publisher=[[Kolkata TV]]|access-date=22 December 2021|via=[[Facebook]]}}</ref> (On 15 April Ms. Banerjee clarified this matter in a live interview to ABP Ananda<ref name="ABP Ananda">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3jGCjCxJqQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/w3jGCjCxJqQ |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=LIVE: প্রচারে নিষেধাজ্ঞা, শীতলকুচিতে গুলি, বহিরাগত, পিসি-ভাইপো, সব প্রশ্নে অকপট - মুখোমুখি Mamata|via=YouTube |date=15 April 2021|language=bn}}{{cbignore}}</ref>).
 
[[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.]]


=== 2009–2011 electoral progress ===
Mamata Banerjee has defeated the 34-year-old the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]-led [[Left Front]] government in West Bengal. That government was the world's longest-serving democratically-elected communist government.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13374646 |title=BBC News - India: Mamata Banerjee routs communists in West Bengal |author=[[BBC News]] |work=BBC News |date=13 May 2011 |accessdate=14 May 2011 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5ye3MnHpT?url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13374646 |archivedate=13 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/18/india-state-election-kolkata-communist|title=Indian state election expected to end Kolkata's 34-year communist rule|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=18 April 2011|location=London|date=April 18, 2011|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6B8pgNkmq?url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/18/india-state-election-kolkata-communist|archivedate=2012-10-03|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13077902|title=The woman taking on India's communists|work=[[BBC World News]]|accessdate=15 April 2011|date=April 15, 2011|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6B8pgukde?url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13077902|archivedate=2012-10-03|url-status=live}}</ref>
Before the [[2009 Indian general election|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.


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.
In the past, she was the [[Minister of Railways (India)|Minister of Railways]] twice, [[Ministry of Coal|Minister of Coal]] once, and [[Minister of State]] for Human Resource Development, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports and Women and Child Development once in the [[Union Council of Ministers of India|cabinet]] of the [[Government of India]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=39|title=Detailed Profile = Km. Mamata Banerjee |publisher=[[Government of India]] |accessdate=11 August 2010}}</ref>


==== Railway Minister (second tenure), 2009–2011 ====
==References==
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>
{{Reflist|}}
 
[[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.]]
 
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/
|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>
 
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=live |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.
 
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=live|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>
 
== Chief Minister of West Bengal ==
 
=== First term, 2011–16 ===
{{Main|First Mamata Banerjee ministry}}
[[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.]]
[[File:The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, the Minister of State of Rural Development, Shri Sisir Adhikari and the Minister of State for Shipping, Shri Mukul Roy flagged off the Digha-Puri Weekly Express.jpg|thumb|left|Smt. Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, flagging off the trains from Digha, along with Minister of Railways, Shri [[Mukul Roy]] on 16 February 2012.]]
In [[2011 West Bengal state assembly election|2011]], the All India Trinamool Congress along with [[SUCI]] and the [[Indian National Congress|INC]] won the West Bengal legislative assembly election against the incumbent Left Alliance by securing 227 seats. TMC won 184 seats with the INC winning 42 seats and the SUCI secured one seat. This marked the end of the longest-ruling democratically elected Communist party in the world.{{citation needed|date=February 2012}}
 
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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}}</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=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-21/kolkata/29567996_1_unwilling-farmers-mamata-banerjee-singur |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=dead |work=[[The Times of India]]  }}</ref>
 
She has also been credited for setting up of the [[Gorkhaland Territorial Administration]].<ref name="Gorkhaland">{{cite news |title=Gorkhaland Autonomous Council |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-19/kolkata/29790280_1_gjm-roshan-giri-mamata |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=dead |work=[[The Times of India]]  }}</ref>
 
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=February 2012|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</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=dead  }}</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=live|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>
 
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}}</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]] has been brought under the control of the [[Kolkata Police]].
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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=live|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=live|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>
 
[[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 current Home Secretary of United Kingdom meeting Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister Government of West Bengal in London.]]
On 16 February 2012, [[Bill Gates]], of the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]], sent a letter to the West Bengal government praising Banerjee and her administration for achieving a full year without any reported cases of polio. The letter said this was not only a milestone for India but also for the whole world.<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>
 
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=live  }}</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}}</ref>
 
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}}</ref>
 
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.
 
=== Second term, 2016–2021 ===
{{Main|Second Mamata Banerjee ministry}}
[[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.]]
[[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.]]
 
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.
 
In 2017 [[Kanyashree Prakalpa|Kanyashree]], 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}}</ref>
 
=== Third term, 2021–present ===
{{Main|Third Mamata Banerjee ministry}}
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 (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Nandigram]] lost against [[Suvendu Adhikari]] of 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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media|date=5 May 2021|title=Mamata Banerjee Takes Oath As Bengal Chief Minister For Third Time|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86gxL_XmTk4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/86gxL_XmTk4 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=NDTV|via=YouTube|language=bn|access-date=18 September 2021}}{{cbignore}}</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 /><ref name=Roundwise /><ref name=partywise /> 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}}</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}}</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}}</ref>
 
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== Public profile and controversies ==
{{Undue weight section|date=April 2021}}
 
=== Saradha scam ===
{{Main|Saradha Group financial scandal}}
The [[Saradha Group financial scandal]] and the [[Rose Valley financial scandal]] came to light during her tenure and some of her cabinet ministers were accused of money laundering and have been incarcerated.<ref name="WB Minister Madan Mitra arrested">{{cite news|title=WB Minister Madan Mitra arrested in Saradha scam|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/wb-minister-madan-mitra-arrested-in-saradha-scam/17345.html|access-date=15 December 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215113110/http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/wb-minister-madan-mitra-arrested-in-saradha-scam/17345.html|archive-date=15 December 2014}}</ref> 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|work=The Times of India|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|access-date=12 May 2018|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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/proceeds-from-mamata-banerjees-paintings-under-scrutiny-as-cbi-asks-for-trinamool-accounts-745419|title=Sale of Mamata Banerjee's Paintings Under Scrutiny as CBI Asks For Trinamool Income|work=NDTV |access-date=12 May 2018|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|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The 1.8 crore question: Is Mamata Banerjee India's most underrated artist?|website=firstpost.com|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/the-1-8-crore-question-is-mamata-banerjee-indias-most-underrated-artist-1759725.html|url-status=dead|access-date=12 May 2018|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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/painter-didi-in-trouble-cbi-quizzes-tmc-on-sale-of-mamatas-paintings|title=From Rs 2 Cr to 9 Cr in 48 Hrs: Mamata Paints Bank Balance Green|work=The Quint|access-date=12 May 2018|language=en|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|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cbi-seizes-didis-20-paintings-from-chit-fund-firm-owners/articleshow/67155786.cms?from=mdr|title=CBI seizes Didi's 20 paintings from chit fund firm owners|first=Madhuparna|last=Das|date=19 December 2018|access-date=22 October 2019|newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref> She has been criticised by opposition parties for not taking adequate steps against her own ministers who tried to cover-up their deeds.<ref name="firstpost">{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/sudip-bandyopadhyay-arrested-all-you-need-to-know-about-rose-valley-chit-fund-scam-3187490.html|website=firstpost.com|title=Sudip Bandyopadhyay arrested: All you need to know about Rose Valley chit fund scam – Firstpost|access-date=5 January 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104143227/http://www.firstpost.com/politics/sudip-bandyopadhyay-arrested-all-you-need-to-know-about-rose-valley-chit-fund-scam-3187490.html|archive-date=4 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="intoday">{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rose-valley-chit-fund-scam-trinamool-congress-investment-firm-tmc-leaders-cbi/1/849019.html|website=India Today |title=Rose Valley chit fund scam: TMC leaders' nexus with the investment firm |access-date=5 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104074341/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rose-valley-chit-fund-scam-trinamool-congress-investment-firm-tmc-leaders-cbi/1/849019.html|archive-date=4 January 2017}}</ref> Sudipto Sen was arrested from Kashmir.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Industry/17xY5ipGyuLphDO2DbNwcK/Saradha-Group-chairman-Sudipta-Sen-arrested.html|title=Saradha Group chairman Sudipta Sen arrested in Kashmir|first=Romita|last=Datta|date=23 April 2013|website=mint}}</ref> The Shyamal Sen Commission, set up by the Chief Minister, was able to return {{INRConvert|185|c|lk=on|year=2014}} to the depositors.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/shyamal-sen-commission-wound-up-job-unfinished/story-07YLIk47hwg2S2WufOOQ6O.html|title=Shyamal Sen commission wound up; job unfinished|date=22 October 2014|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Leaders from Congress and CPI(M) like [[Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury]], [[Sujan Chakraborty]], [[Biman Bose]] were also accused in this scam.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kundu|first=Indrajit|title=Politicians who took money from me, cheated people are now joining BJP, alleges jailed Saradha promoter|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/saradha-group-sudipta-sen-letter-to-pm-modi-mamata-banerjee-1747035-2020-12-05|website=India Today|access-date=5 December 2020}}</ref> Despite [[Bankshall Court]]'s order to investigate into this matter, no action has been taken by CBI against any of these leaders (other than TMC leaders) to date.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 February 2021|title=Sudipta Sen Letter: 'একাধিক নেতা কোটি কোটি টাকা নেন...' সুদীপ্ত সেনের সেই চিঠি নিয়ে সিবিআইকে তদন্তের নির্দেশ আদালতের|url=https://bengali.abplive.com/news/bankshall-court-gives-order-to-cbi-for-investigation-of-sudipta-sen-letter-which-he-wrotes-from-jail-789913|access-date=1 February 2021|website=এবিপি আনন্দ লাইভ|language=bn}}</ref>
 
=== Rose Valley scam ===
{{Main|Rose Valley financial scandal}}
The [[Rose Valley financial scandal]] was a major financial scam and alleged [[political scandal]] in India caused by the collapse of a [[Ponzi scheme]] run by Rose Valley Group where multiple MPs from Banerjee's party were accused of [[money laundering]].<ref name="first_post">{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/sudip-bandyopadhyay-arrested-all-you-need-to-know-about-rose-valley-chit-fund-scam-3187490.html|website=firstpost.com|title=Sudip Bandyopadhyay arrested: All you need to know about Rose Valley chit fund scam – Firstpost|access-date=5 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="int">{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rose-valley-chit-fund-scam-trinamool-congress-investment-firm-tmc-leaders-cbi/1/849019.html|website=India Today |title=Rose Valley chit fund scam: TMC leaders' nexus with the investment firm |access-date=5 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="hindu_line">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/all-you-wanted-to-know-about-rose-valley-scam/article9468861.ece|website=thehindubusinessline.com|title=All you wanted to know about Rose Valley scam|access-date=5 December 2018}}</ref>
 
=== Narada scam ===
{{Main|Narada sting operation}}
The [[Narada sting operation]] was carried out by [[Mathew Samuel]] in 2011 for the Indian newsmagazine ''Tehelka'' and published on Naradanews.com just before the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections. The sting targeted high-ranking officials and politicians of Banerjee's political party [[All India Trinamool Congress]] (AITC).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.anandabazar.com/state/k-d-singh-ordered-me-to-do-the-sting-operation-on-tmc-leaders-says-mathew-samuel-1.582948|title=তৃণমূল সাংসদ কে ডি সিংহের নির্দেশেই স্টিং অপারেশন, বিস্ফোরক ম্যাথু|date=20 March 2017|work=anandabazar.com|access-date=24 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426063623/http://www.anandabazar.com/state/k-d-singh-ordered-me-to-do-the-sting-operation-on-tmc-leaders-says-mathew-samuel-1.582948|archive-date=26 April 2017|url-status=live|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Didi-sees-blackmail-conspiracy-in-Narada/articleshow/52813646.cms|title=Didi sees 'blackmail conspiracy' in Narada|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 June 2016|access-date=24 April 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806091235/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Didi-sees-blackmail-conspiracy-in-Narada/articleshow/52813646.cms|archive-date=6 August 2016}}</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 |url=https://m.timesofindia.com/india/cops-nab-cbi-men-mamata-banerjee-at-war-with-centre/amp_articleshow/67824420.cms |title=Kolkata police 'nab' CBI men, Mamata Banerjee at war with Centre – Times of India |access-date=11 February 2019 |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 |url-status=live }}</ref> But CBI's attempted arrest of Kolkata Police Commissioner was also an attack on federalism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/politics/cbis-attempted-arrest-of-kolkata-police-commissioner-was-an-attack-on-federalism|title=CBI's Attempted Arrest of Kolkata Police Commissioner Was an Attack on Federalism|website=The Wire|date=4 February 2019}}</ref>
 
=== Allegations of Muslim appeasement ===
Mamata Banerjee and her government has been accused of "[[Minoritarianism|Muslim appeasement]]" several times by different groups of people including the opposition political parties.<ref>{{cite news|date=20 June 2019|title=Eminent Muslims give Mamata Banerjee's politics of 'appeasement' a reality check|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/eminent-muslims-give-mamata-banerjees-politics-of-appeasement-a-reality-check/1613209/|access-date=25 December 2020|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Nasreen|first=Taslima|date=29 June 2019|title=A sign of hope — Bengali Muslims are finally protesting Mamata's appeasement politics|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/sign-of-hope-bengali-muslims-are-finally-protesting-mamatas-appeasement-politics/256041/|access-date=25 December 2020|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=What TMC's Heckling of a Muslim Cleric Tells Us About Bengal Politics and 'Minority Appeasement'|url=https://thewire.in/politics/muslims-bengal-trinamool-mamata-banerjee|access-date=25 December 2020|website=The Wire}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Trinamool Must Check Its Own Intolerance to Counter the Rise of BJP in Bengal|url=https://thewire.in/politics/west-bengal-tmc-bjp-mamata-banerjee-hindutva|access-date=25 December 2020|website=The Wire}}</ref> But refuting such claims her supporters says "Didi works for everyone, doesn’t discriminate between Hindus and Muslims."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amid-joy-bangla-chants-mamata-supporters-say-didi-sobaar-kaaj-kore-hindu-musalman-dekhe-na-7203679/|title=Amid 'Joy Bangla' chants, Mamata supporters say: 'Didi sobaar kaaj kore; Hindu, Musalman dekhe na'|website=Indian Express |date=25 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6VrISjA94U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/R6VrISjA94U |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Mukhomukhi Debangshu Bhattacharya &#124; Exclusive Interview &#124;|via=YouTube |date=27 July 2020|language=bn}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKq27d7N2OM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/KKq27d7N2OM |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title='BJP Will Never Come to Power in Bengal, We Are Followers of Tagore, Vivekanand and Nazrul Islam'|via=YouTube |date=19 March 2021|language=hi}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElzGEThDVLE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ElzGEThDVLE |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=তোষণ আর খয়রাতি কাকে বলে ? এবিপি আনন্দ চ্যানেলে দেবাংশু ভট্টাচার্য । Debangshu Bhattacharya at ABP|via=YouTube |date=1 October 2020|language=bn}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC_kZLknpXQ|title=চতুর্থ স্তম্ভ : হিন্দু-মুসলমানের রাজনীতি এবং মমতা (08/04/2021)|via=YouTube |date=8 April 2021|language=bn}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=8 April 2021|title=চতুর্থ স্তম্ভ : হিন্দু-মুসলমানের রাজনীতি এবং মমতা (08/04/2021)|url=https://www.facebook.com/kolkatatvweb/videos/279466820433349/|publisher=[[Kolkata TV]]|access-date=22 December 2021|via=[[Facebook]]}}</ref> If the allegations of Muslim appeasement were true then the average socio-economic condition of Bengal's Muslims should have been better than the average socio-economic condition of all Muslims in India. But in reality this is not the case.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/9lmX0Wu6BXLp3PTHh747gI/West-Bengal-imams-reject-state-govt-allowance.html?facet=amp|title=West Bengal imams reject state govt allowance|website=livemint.com|date=1 June 2013|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-iRvEtvoAE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/A-iRvEtvoAE |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=How Much Has BJP's Communal Campaign Affected Bengal's Election?Arfa Khanum I West Bengal Election|website=The Wire|via=YouTube |date=17 March 2021|language=hi}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWow2ww_AxM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/VWow2ww_AxM |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title='BJP Talks of 'Appeasement' to Divide Hindus and Muslims, the Charge is False', Say Bengal's Muslims|website=The Wire|via=YouTube |date=22 March 2021|language=hi}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
 
==== ''Imam Bhatta'' controversy ====
Mamata Banerjee has been criticised for starting controversial stipends to imams (Iman Bhatta).<ref name="Gupta" /><ref name="NDTV.com" /><ref name="Hindustan Times" /> The stipends were ruled unconstitutional by [[Calcutta High Court]] and ordered the [[West Bengal government]] to stop payment of the monthly stipend to thousands of imams and muezzins in the state.<ref name="firstpost.com" /><ref name="Chatterjee" /><ref name="NDTV 2013-09-02" />
 
==== Durga Idol immersion controversy ====
In October 2016, the West Bengal government banned the [[Durga Puja]] festival immersion after 4:00&nbsp;pm. Durga Puja was to take place on 12 October and [[Muharram]] on 13 October. This was seen by a section of the West Bengal population as another example of the "''[[Pseudo-secularism|Muslim Appeasement]]''" policy of Banerjee's government. The [[Calcutta High Court]] overturned the decision and called it ''"a bid to appease minorities"''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/calcutta-hc-lifts-puja-curbs-slams-bengal-bid-to-appease-minorities-3073102/|title=Calcutta HC lifts Puja curbs, slams Bengal 'bid to appease minorities'|date=9 October 2016|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2 April 2017|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403112237/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/calcutta-hc-lifts-puja-curbs-slams-bengal-bid-to-appease-minorities-3073102/|archive-date=3 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/calcutta-hc-pulls-up-state-for-puja-restrictions-meant-to-appease-minorities/story-6lzl2GWpfJjhXo3ZpUWUCO.html|title=Calcutta HC pulls up state for puja restrictions meant to 'appease' minorities|date=9 October 2016|work=hindustantimes.com/|access-date=2 April 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kolkata/2016/oct/09/calcutta-hc-rejects-bar-on-durga-puja-immersion-slams-state-for-minority-appeasement-1526530.html|title=Calcutta HC rejects bar on Durga Puja immersion; slams state for 'minority appeasement'|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=2 April 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403111121/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kolkata/2016/oct/09/calcutta-hc-rejects-bar-on-durga-puja-immersion-slams-state-for-minority-appeasement-1526530.html|archive-date=3 April 2017}}</ref>
 
=== Suppressed campus democracy and youth agitations ===
Mamata Banerjee denied permission for [[Citizenship Amendment Act protests|Anti-CAA]] rallies and suppressed campus democracy in West Bengal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kolkata/2020/feb/12/permission-denied-for-jnusu-president-aishe-ghoshs-rally-in-durgapur-2102548.html|title=Permission denied for JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh's rally in Durgapur|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Shreya |last=Biswas |date=18 October 2016 |title=For criticising Mamata Banerjee on Facebook, Kolkata girl gets shamed on a 5-foot hoarding |website=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/girl-criticise-mamata-banerjee-hoarding-durga-puja-rajashree-chattopadhyay-347224-2016-10-18 |access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edexlive.com/news/2019/oct/18/mamata-allows-elections-in-four-bengal-varsities-after-2-years-students-demand-polls-in-every-campu-8704.html|title=Mamata allows elections in four Bengal varsities after 2 years: Students demand polls in every campus|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Romita |last=Datta |date=8 July 2017 |title=West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee wants youth wings of political parties banned |website=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20170717-west-bengal-mamata-banerjee-colleges-politics-ban-student-wings-1022810-2017-07-08 |access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref> The West Bengal police denied permission to Aishe Ghosh to hold a rally at Durgapur in Bengal's West Burdwan district saying chief minister Mamata Banerjee was holding a roadshow at the same spot. "A huge crowd had assembled for the chief minister’s rally. Another rally at the same spot would have led to chaos," an officer from Durgapur police station said.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jnusu-president-aishe-ghosh-s-rally-request-denied-due-to-mamata-banerjee-s-roadshow/story-VXAiXYZyD4Eb8w0fOsRABM.html|title=JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh's rally request denied due to Mamata Banerjee's roadshow|date=12 February 2020|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref>
 
=== COVID-19 management ===
{{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in West Bengal}}
Banerjee and her government was widely criticised of the handling of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and was accused of concealing facts by the opposition, critics<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 name="IndiaTodayCovid">{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/bjp-mamata-banerjee-coronavirus-bengal-tablighi-jamaat-1664619-2020-04-08 |title=Is hiding Jamaat cases about vote bank: BJP asks Mamata on Bengal coronavirus numbers |date=8 April 2020 |access-date=9 April 2020 |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. |website=India Today}}</ref> and many doctors.<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|website=The Times of India|location=Kolkata|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/india/gross-under-testing-misreporting-of-covid-data-non-resident-bengali-doctors-write-to-mamata-banerjee/amp_articleshow/75316682.cms|access-date=23 April 2020|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 />-{{cite news|first=Manogya|last=Loiwal|date=15 April 2020|title=West Bengal doctors forum hits out at govt, says not enough tests being conducted|website=indiatoday.in|location=Kolkata|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}}</ref>{{Verification-inline|date=November 2021}}
 
The opposition accused Mamata of playing "appeasement politics" amid the COVID-19 crisis. On 1 April, Banerjee claimed that the [[West Bengal Government]] have already traced 54 people who attended the [[Tablighi Jamaat]] religious gathering during the COVID-19 Outbreak, and 44 of them are foreigners. Although according to a report by central security agencies, 232 people had attended Delhi's Tablighi Jamaat event from West Bengal. Of this, 123 are Indian nationals and 109 are foreigners.<ref name="CovidPrint">{{cite news |url=https://theprint.in/politics/mamata-calls-questions-on-tablighi-event-communal-avoids-giving-any-answers/397453/ |publisher=ThePrint |title=Mamata calls questions on Tablighi event 'communal', avoids giving any answers |quote=West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday declined to give an update on the status of the people from the state who had attended Delhi’s Tablighi Jamaat congregation, telling the media to not ask "communal questions". |date=7 April 2020 |first=Madhuparna |last=Das |access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="IndiaTodayCovid" />
 
The West Bengal Government has been also criticized for not sending enough samples to the [[Indian Council of Medical Research|National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED)]] for testing.<ref>{{cite news |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 |title=Mamata govt not sending enough samples for Covid-19 testing, says central lab director |date=13 April 2020 |website=[[India Today]] |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. |first=Indrajit |last=Kundu |location=[[Kolkata]] |access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thewire.in/government/west-bengal-covid-19-testing |title=COVID-19: Data Shows West Bengal's Testing Is the Lowest Among Larger States |website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |quote=West Bengal has conducted 1,889 tests as on April 9, according to the data furnished by the state health department. A total of 144,910 samples from 130,792 individuals have been tested as on April 9, 2020, 9 pm across India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said. |location=[[Kolkata]] |date=11 April 2020 |first=Himadri |last=Ghosh |access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/bengal-sitting-coronavirus-time-bomb#.Xp0XUU2udUB.whatsapp |title=Bengal sitting on a coronavirus time bomb |date=18 April 2020 |website=[[The Sunday Guardian]] |author=Shantanu Guha Ray |quote=Doctors complain that state authorities’ approval is needed for each Covid-19 test, and is regularly refused. As a result, patients suspected to be suffering from Covid-19 are not being isolated soon enough. |access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref> The government later banned use of cellphones in hospitals.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 April 2020 |first1=Ajanta |last1=Chakraborty |first2=Dwaipayan |last2=Ghosh |first3=Tamaghna |last3=Banerjee |title=West Bengal: No mobile in coronavirus facilities, says health department |newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://m.timesofindia.com/city/kolkata/no-mobile-in-corona-facilities-health-dept/amp_articleshow/75305469.cms?__twitter_impression=true |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. |location=Kolkata |access-date=23 April 2020 }}</ref>
 
However, Mamata Banerjee blamed BJP's IT cell for "using fake news to malign West Bengal’s health department".<ref>{{cite news |date=6 April 2020 |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 |title='Fake news' to malign health dept: Mamata Banerjee on allegation of foul play over COVID-19 death figures|website=The Statesman}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |date=2 May 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDubAO1ytww  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/FDubAO1ytww |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=বাম বিজেপীর মিথ্যাচারের পর্দা ফাঁস |via=YouTube |language=bn}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |date=22 April 2020|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxXFvfqlea8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/pxXFvfqlea8 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Comrade, আপনাকেই বলছি... &#124;|via=YouTube |language=bn}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Many people were arrested for spreading fake news amid lockdown.<ref>{{cite web|date=6 April 2020|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/india-crime-news-06-april-2020|title=QCrime: 8-Year-Old Raped, Killed; 32 Arrested in WB Over Fake News|website=The Quint}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=5 April 2020|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-bengal-32-arrested-in-7-days-for-spreading-fake-news-amid-lockdown/story-kyKfmauGsoUUlqhAuhlixH.html|title=In Bengal, 32 arrested in 7 days for spreading fake news amid lockdown|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> FIR was lodged against a Bengal BJP MP also for raising "false alarm" over COVID-19 deaths in Bengal.<ref>{{cite news|date=17 April 2020|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/covid-false-alarm-fir-against-bengal-bjp-mp/articleshow/75190516.cms|title=Covid 'false alarm': FIR against West Bengal BJP MP|website=Times of India}}</ref>
 
== Personal life and recognitions ==
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> (When Ms. Banerjee was asked about this in an interview, she said "We send all the good things of Bengal not only to him, but also to others belonging to different political parties."<ref name="ABP Ananda" /> Australian Envoy Barry O'Farrell thanked her for sending sweets on the occasion of [[Vijayadashami]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 October 2021|title=Australian Envoy Thanks Mamata Banerjee For Sending "Sandesh" On Dussehra|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/australian-envoy-barry-ofarrell-thanks-mamata-banerjee-for-sending-sandesh-on-dussehra-2581075|work=NDTV|access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref>). In September 2019 when [[Jashodaben Modi|Ms. Jashodaben]], the wife of PM Modi, was leaving Kolkata, Mamata met her at the Kolkata airport and gifted her a saree.<ref>{{cite news|date=18 September 2019|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-runs-into-pm-narendra-modis-wife-jashodaben-before-boarding-flight-to-meet-him-2102641|title=Mamata Banerjee Runs Into PM Modi's Wife Before Boarding Flight To Meet Him|website=NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=18 September 2019|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/mamata-banerjee-meets-pm-modis-wife-at-kolkata-airport/article29447350.ece|title=Mamata Banerjee meets PM Modi's wife at Kolkata airport|website=The Hindu}}</ref>
 
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}}</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 news|title=Time 100: Mamata Banerjee, Populist|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2111984,00.html|work=[[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 |author=PTI |website=[[The Economic Times]] |date=20 December 2018 |access-date=26 April 2019}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</ref>
 
"She has always been a fighter" said [[Yashwant Sinha]] while disclosing that Mamata had offered to be a hostage as part of a negotiation strategy during the [[Indian Airlines Flight 814|Kandahar hijacking crisis]]. "She was ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the country" Sinha added.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 March 2021|title=Mamata offered herself in exchange for Kandahar hostages: Yashwant Sinha|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/west-bengal/mamata-offered-to-go-to-kandahar-in-exchange-of-hostages-yashwant-sinha/articleshow/81482936.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=28 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=14 March 2021|title=Yashwant Sinha joins TMC, recalls Didi's 'hostage offer'|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/west-bengal/yashwant-sinha-joins-tmc-recalls-didis-hostage-offer/articleshow/81490052.cms|work=The Times of India}}</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 AV media|date=11 February 2021|title=Mamata Banerjee Exclusive {{!}} Battle For Bengal: The Last Lady Standing {{!}} India Today Conclave East|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMdVXLZdsnw|publisher=India Today Conclave|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=23 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media|date=11 February 2021|title=Mamata Banerjee Exclusive On Battle For Bengal At India Today Conclave East 2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fQyT67MXh8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/9fQyT67MXh8 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=India Today|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=23 October 2021}}{{cbignore}}</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}}</ref>
 
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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</ref>
 
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}}</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}}</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}}</ref>
 
She received an honorary doctorate from the [[Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology]], [[Bhubaneswar]].<ref>{{cite news|date=18 September 2012|title=Odisha varsity to confer doctorate on Mamata|website=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Odisha-varsity-to-confer-doctorate-on-Mamata/articleshow/16443132.cms|access-date=22 October 2019}}</ref> She was also honoured with a Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt.) degree by [[Calcutta University]].<ref>{{cite news|date=11 January 2018|title=Mamata Banerjee receives D Litt degree, says intolerance is rising in the country|website=[[The Indian Express]]|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mamata-banerjee-to-receive-d-litt-degree-calcutta-hc-to-hear-pil-today-5020036/|url-status=live|access-date=30 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430065835/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mamata-banerjee-to-receive-d-litt-degree-calcutta-hc-to-hear-pil-today-5020036/|archive-date=30 April 2019}}</ref>
 
=== In popular culture ===
''[[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 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}}</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=dead|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>
 
== Works in literature and other fields ==
[[File:Mamata Banerjee at 43rd International Kolkata Book Fair.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mamata Banerjee]] at 43rd [[International Kolkata Book Fair]] with her books in hand]]
Beside being a politician, she is also a famous poet. Numerous books written by her have been published so far. On 2022, she was given ''Paschimbanga Akademy Award'' for 'Kabita Bitan' which consists 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>
 
She is also a self-taught painter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=ANI |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}}</ref> Her paintings are 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}}</ref>
 
She is also a lyricist and her compositions are mostly base on '[[Durga Puja]]' and 'Motherland'. 'Maa Go Tumi Sarbojanin' sang by [[Shreya Ghoshal]] is one of her most popular song.<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 {{!}} India.com |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}}</ref>
 
== See also ==
* [[Ma Mati Manush]]
 
== Notelist ==
{{notelist}}
 
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
 
== Further reading ==
;Books
*{{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}}
*{{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}}
*{{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}}
*{{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}}
 
;Journals
*{{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}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Wikiquote-inline}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Twitter|MamataOfficial}}
* [http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/members/Biography.aspx?mpsno=39 Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503030618/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/Members/Biography.aspx?mpsno=39 |date=2010-05-03 }}
* [https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/meet-the-chief-minister Official website (Chief Minister's office)]
* [http://www.allindiatrinamulcongress.org/ Official Party website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731150712/http://www.allindiatrinamulcongress.org/ |date=2010-07-31 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150811034532/http://aitcofficial.org/biography/ Official page on Trinamool Congress Party's website]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13297763 Profile:] by [[BBC News]] dated 13 May 2011
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13297763 Profile] at ''[[BBC News]]''


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[[Category:Mamata Banerjee| ]]
[[Category:1955 births]]
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[[Category:Indian political party founders]]
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Mamata Banerjee
মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়
Portrait of Mamata Banerjee
8th Chief Minister of West Bengal
Assumed office
20 May 2011
GovernorM. K. Narayanan
Preceded byBuddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Minister of Railway
In office
13 October 1999 – 16 March 2001 (Resigned)
In office
22 May 2009 – 19 May 2011 (After Giving Resignation)
Preceded byLalu Prasad Yadav
Succeeded byDinesh Trivedi (pro tem)
Member of Parliament for Kolkata Dakshin
In office
1991–2011
Preceded byBiplab Dasgupta[1]
Succeeded bySubrata Bakshi
Member of Parliament for Jadavpur
In office
1984–1989
Preceded bySomnath Chatterjee
Succeeded byMalini Bhattacharya
Member of Legislative Assembly
for Bhabanipur
Assumed office
25 September 2011
Councillor of Bhabanipur Area[citation needed]
Assumed office
28 April 2015
Personal details
Born (1955-01-05) 5 January 1955 (age 71)
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
NationalityIndian
Political partyCongress (Left In 1/1/1998) Trinamool Congress (1991-Present)
Spouse(s)Unmarried
ResidenceHarish Chatterjee Street, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Alma materJogamaya Devi College (B.A.)
University of Calcutta (M.A.)
Shri Shikshayatan College (B.Ed.)
Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College (LL.B.)
OccupationPolitical Leader
ProfessionPolitician
Advocate
Social Worker
Painter
Singer
Writer
Websitehttp://aitcofficial.org/biography/

Mamata Banerjee (Bengali: মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়) (born 5 January 1955) is the current Chief Minister of the Indian state of West Bengal. She is the first woman Chief Minister of the state. She is also the founder and chairperson of the Trinamool Congress.[2][3] Mamata Banerjee is also the Minister for Home, Health and Family Welfare, Land and Land Reforms, Information and Cultural Affairs, Hill Affairs, Minority Affairs and Madrassah Education, Agriculture, Power and Personnel and Administrative Reforms departments.[4][5][6][7] She is a good orator. Her followers call her "Didi" (meaning the elder sister).

Mamata Banerjee has defeated the 34-year-old the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front government in West Bengal. That government was the world's longest-serving democratically-elected communist government.[8][9][10]

In the past, she was the Minister of Railways twice, Minister of Coal once, and Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports and Women and Child Development once in the cabinet of the Government of India.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Kolkata Dakshin (Lok Sabha constituency)
  2. ↑ "Council of Ministers - Who's Who - Government: National Portal of India". Government of India. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  3. ↑ "Mamata Banerjee sworn in as West Bengal chief minister". BBC News. 20 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  4. ↑ Special Correspondent. "News / National : Key Ministers in Mamata's Cabinet". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2011-05-21. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2011-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ↑ Our Special Correspondent (1999-03-01). "The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Frontpage | Mamata keeps key slots". Telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2011-05-21. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  7. ↑ "Mamata allots portfolios, keeps key ministries - Politics News - IBNLive". Ibnlive.in.com. 2010-02-03. Archived from the original on 2014-10-27. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
  8. ↑ BBC News (13 May 2011). "BBC News - India: Mamata Banerjee routs communists in West Bengal". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  9. ↑ "Indian state election expected to end Kolkata's 34-year communist rule". The Guardian. London. April 18, 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  10. ↑ "The woman taking on India's communists". BBC World News. April 15, 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  11. ↑ "Detailed Profile = Km. Mamata Banerjee". Government of India. Retrieved 11 August 2010.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Lalu Prasad Yadav 		Minister of Railways
2009–2011 		Succeeded by
Dr. Manmohan Singh (pro tem)
Preceded by
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee 		Chief Minister of West Bengal
2011–present 		Incumbent
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