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Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee is an Indian politician and the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal. She is the first woman to hold the office and on 19^th May 2016, she became the only women CM to win for two consecutive terms. The thumping victory of the 2016 elections came on the heels of several corruption charges during the end of her tenure as the eighth Chief Minister. In 1997, she dissociated herself from the Indian National Congress party and founded All India Trinamool Congress also known as TMC or AITMC. Popularly called as “Didi”, she created history after the victory in 2011 Legislative Assembly elections of Bengal in which her party was victorious against the 34 year long Left Front government led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) , the longest serving democratically elected communist government in the world. Banerjee also holds the record of being the first woman Railway minister of the country and she has held this position twice. Mamata Banerjee also has held other prominent positions which include Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Minister of Coal, Women and Child Development and Department of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Born on 5^th January 1995 in Kolkata, in a lower middle class Bengali family, Mamta Banerjee’s father was Promileshwar Banerjee and her mother was Smt. Gayatri Devi. Banerjee lost her father at a very early age. She graduated in history from Jogomaya Devi College, Kolkata . Later she earned a master’s degree in Islamic history from Calcutta University. She also has a degree in Education and a degree in law from Kolkata’s Shri Shikshayatan College and Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College respectively. She was honoured with DLitt from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology. Banerjee became involved with politics while still in school. She joined the Congress (I) party in West Bengal and served in a variety of positions within the party and in other local party organizations. While studying at the Jogamaya Devi College she established “Chhatra Parishad Unions” the student’s wing of the Congress (I) party and defeated the Democratic Students Union of the Socialist Unity Centre of India. In 1976, she became the general secretary of the state Mahila Congress and held this post till 1980. She was also the secretary of the District Congress Committee of Calcutta South. In 1984, she was first elected to the Lok Sabha as a representative from her home district in south Kolkata. Banerjee became one of India’s youngest parliamentarians ever beating veteran Communist politician Somnath Chaterjee. She also became the General Secretary of the Indian Youth Congress. She lost that seat in 1989 parliamentary elections but regained it in 1991 and was in the office in each election through 2009. Mamata Banerjee was the Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development, Youth Affairs and Sports in the Rao government of 1991. She was discharged of her portfolios after she protested in a rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata and announced that she would resign for the government’s indifference towards her proposal to improve sports in the country. In April 1996, she alleged that Congress was behaving as a stooge of CPI (M) in West Bengal and claimed that she was the lone voice of reason and wanted a “clean Congress”. In 1997, she left Congress party and founded the All India Trinamool Congress. The party became the primary opposition to the long standing Communist government in the state but the new party had limited success in the 1998 and 1999 national parliamentary elections but lost nearly all of those seats in the 2004 polls. On 11^th December 1997, Mamta Banerjee became controversial when she held a Samajwadi Party M.P. Daroga Prasad Saroj by the collar and dragged him out of the Lok Sabha to prevent him from protesting against the Women’s Reservation Bill. In 1999, she joined the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and was allocated to the railways ministry. As the Railway Minister, she introduced new trains, made extension of a few express train services, increased frequency of some trains aimed at developing tourism and also proposed the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. In 2001 at the Tehelka’s exposure of Operation West End, Mamta Banerjee and her party Trinamool Congress party walked out of the NDA cabinet and allied with the Congress Party for the 2001 West Bengal elections. She walked out of the NDA government in protest of the corruption charges levelled by Tehelka.com against senior ministers of the government. She returned to the NDA government in 2004 and held the Coal and Mines portfolio till the General Elections of 2004. In the 2004 elections, she was the only Trinamool Congress member to win a seat in West Bengal. On 20^th October 2005, she actively protested against the forceful land acquisition for industrialization in West Bengal by the then Left Government led by Buddhadev Bhattacharya. In December 2006 Banerjee waged a 25 day hunger strike and this issue became the catalyst for the party’s return from near political obscurity and it also lead to an increase in the number of Trinamool supporters in West Bengal. The Trinamool Congress Party had a strong showing in the 2009 general elections and joined the Congress party’s ruling coalition as the second largest faction. She became the Railway Minister for the second time in 2009. During her second term as the Railway Minister, she introduced several non-stop Duronto Express trains that connected major cities, other passenger trains and ladies-special trains during her tenure from 31^st May 2009 to 19^th July 2011. The alliance of Trinamool Congress party, Indian National Congress and SUCI in the 2011 legislative elections of West Bengal won 227 seats and this resulted in a washout of the Left Front. On 20^th May 2011 she became the first woman Chief Minister of West Bengal. The second legislative elections were held in 2016 and Trinamool Congress Party won the election with a landslide two third majority. Mamata Banerjee was elected as Chief Minister of West Bengal for the second term. Out of the 293 seats, TMC won 211 seats, the highest win in West Bengal by any party on its own.

A self taught painter and a poet, Mamata Banerjee remained single throughout her life. Throughout her life she maintained an austere lifestyle, always dressing in simple traditional Bengali sarees called ‘tant” without any cosmetics or jewellery. She always has a cotton bag on her shoulder. In May 2013, Mamata Banerjee was voted as the most honest politician of India by the world’s largest anti-corruption coalition called India against Corruption. She is also credited for taking initiatives to solve the longstanding Gorkhaland problem. Mamata Banerjee has written many books in Bengali as well as English. The Time Magazine in 2012 mentioned her among the 100Most Influential People in the World and in September 2012, The Bloomberg Markets magazine marked her as one of the ‘50 Most Influential People in the World of Finance.’

Mamata Banerjee Raises Question on Timing of Pulwama Terror Attack, Asks Why This Happened Right Before Lok Sabha Elections
India.com News Desk | February 18, 2019 4:21 PM IST
New Delhi: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday courted a fresh controversy by alleg...
Mamata Banerjee Raises Question on Timing of Pulwama Terror Attack, Asks Why This Happened Right Before Lok S
indiacom
2019-02-18T05:21:11+00:00
2019-02-18T05:28:01+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Pulwama Terror Attack: Mamata Banerjee Calls it Intelligence Failure, Asks What Ajit Doval Was Doing
India.com News Desk | February 16, 2019 8:17 AM IST
Kolkata: Calling the Pulwama encounter the result of "intelligence failure", West Bengal Chief Minis...
Pulwama Terror Attack: Mamata Banerjee Calls it Intelligence Failure, Asks What Ajit Doval Was Doing
indiacom
2019-02-15T21:17:06+00:00
2019-02-15T21:21:44+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
'Cowardly And Gruesome': Politicians Condemn Pulwama Terror Attack on CRPF Convoy
India.com News Desk | February 14, 2019 5:53 PM IST
New Delhi: In the worst-ever terror attack on the Army, at least 40 CRPF jawans were killed and seve...
'Cowardly And Gruesome': Politicians Condemn Pulwama Terror Attack on CRPF Convoy
indiacom
2019-02-14T06:53:40+00:00
2019-02-14T09:46:43+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Oppn Leaders Gather For 3rd Time in a Month at AAP's Rally, Train Guns on PM Modi
India.com News Desk | February 13, 2019 11:57 PM IST
New Delhi: Leaders of anti-BJP parties came under one roof for the third month in less than a month ...
Oppn Leaders Gather For 3rd Time in a Month at AAP's Rally, Train Guns on PM Modi
indiacom
2019-02-13T12:57:25+00:00
2019-02-13T12:57:25+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Mamata Banerjee Agrees to Fight Along With Congress, Left at National Level to Take on BJP, PM Modi
India.com News Desk | February 13, 2019 7:58 PM IST
New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday declared that she would fight alo...
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Mamata Banerjee Agrees to Fight Along With Congress, Left at National Level to Take
indiacom
2019-02-13T08:58:24+00:00
2019-02-13T09:34:52+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
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At Opposition's Mega Rally, Arvind Kejriwal Repeats 'PM of Pakistan' Barb Against Modi, Praises Mamata on CBI-Kolkata Police Standoff
India.com News Desk | February 13, 2019 7:15 PM IST
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday reiterated his PM of Pakistan charge ag...
At Opposition's Mega Rally, Arvind Kejriwal Repeats 'PM of Pakistan' Barb Against Modi, Praises Mamata on CBI
indiacom
2019-02-13T08:15:21+00:00
2019-02-13T08:15:21+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Prays in Front of Mahatma Gandhi's Statue to Save Democracy, Remove BJP From Centre
India.com News Desk | February 13, 2019 4:30 PM IST
New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee who is in t...
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Prays in Front of Mahatma Gandhi's Statue to Save Democracy, Remove BJP From C
indiacom
2019-02-13T05:30:54+00:00
2019-02-13T05:30:54+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Chit Fund Scams: CBI Releases Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar After Three Hours of Questioning
India.com News Desk | February 13, 2019 1:29 PM IST
New Delhi: Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar has been released by CBI in Shillong after three...
Chit Fund Scams: CBI Releases Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar After Three Hours of Questioning
indiacom
2019-02-13T02:29:22+00:00
2019-02-13T02:35:28+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
AAP Hosts 'Save Democracy Rally' at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, to be Attended by Leaders of Anti-BJP Parties
India.com News Desk | February 12, 2019 11:42 PM IST
New Delhi: In yet another show of unity against the BJP in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, op...
AAP Hosts 'Save Democracy Rally' at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, to be Attended by Leaders of Anti-BJP Parties
indiacom
2019-02-12T12:42:16+00:00
2019-02-12T13:01:54+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Saradha Chit Fund Case: Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to be Grilled by CBI Sleuths For Fourth Consecutive Day
India.com News Desk | February 12, 2019 8:03 AM IST
Shillong: Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar will be questioned for the fourth consecutive day...
Saradha Chit Fund Case: Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar to be Grilled by CBI Sleuths For Fourth Con
indiacom
2019-02-11T21:03:50+00:00
2019-02-11T21:03:50+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Citizenship Amendment Bill to be Tabled in Rajya Sabha, Sec 144 Imposed in Manipur's Imphal East
India.com News Desk | February 12, 2019 6:42 AM IST
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha to set to witness fireworks as the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill i...
Citizenship Amendment Bill to be Tabled in Rajya Sabha, Sec 144 Imposed in Manipur's Imphal East
indiacom
2019-02-11T19:42:57+00:00
2019-02-11T19:58:34+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Mamata Banerjee is Scared of BJP, it is on Her Orders That Allegations Are Being Levelled, Says Mukul Roy on TMC Leader Shot Dead
India.com News Desk | February 10, 2019 4:06 PM IST
Kolkata: West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Mukul Roy on Sunday slammed the Trinamool Cong...
Mamata Banerjee is Scared of BJP, it is on Her Orders That Allegations Are Being Levelled, Says Mukul Roy on
indiacom
2019-02-10T05:06:28+00:00
2019-02-10T05:06:28+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Chandrababu Naidu, Mamata Banerjee to Hold Protests Against PM Narendra Modi Government in Delhi From Monday
India.com News Desk | February 9, 2019 12:18 PM IST
New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Ban...
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Chandrababu Naidu, Mamata Banerjee to Hold Protests Against PM Narendra Modi Govern
indiacom
2019-02-09T01:18:52+00:00
2019-02-09T01:25:15+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Chit Fund Scams: Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar Being Questioned by CBI
India.com News Desk | February 9, 2019 6:51 AM IST
New Delhi: Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar on Saturday arrived at the Central Bureau of Inv...
Chit Fund Scams: Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar Being Questioned by CBI
indiacom
2019-02-08T19:51:53+00:00
2019-02-09T00:27:14+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Ministry of Defence’s Dissent Note on Rafale Negotiations: Govt Alleges Report Being Selective, Creating False Impressions While Opposition Calls it Centre Playing Middleman
India.com News Desk | February 9, 2019 12:00 AM IST
New Delhi: The controversy surrounding the Rafale deal picked up again on Friday with a news report ...
Ministry of Defence’s Dissent Note on Rafale Negotiations: Govt Alleges Report Being Selective, Creating Fa
indiacom
2019-02-08T13:00:36+00:00
2019-02-08T13:00:36+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
West Bengal: Mamata Hits Back at PM Modi, Says 'he's a Chaiwala During Elections, Rafale Wala After Polls'
India.com News Desk | February 8, 2019 6:04 PM IST
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reacted sharply to Prime Minister Narendra M...
West Bengal: Mamata Hits Back at PM Modi, Says 'he's a Chaiwala During Elections, Rafale Wala After Polls'
indiacom
2019-02-08T07:04:43+00:00
2019-02-08T07:31:51+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: 'BJP Has Defeated These Opposition Parties on Their Home Turf in 2014,' Says Amit Shah in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh
India.com News Desk | February 8, 2019 4:55 PM IST
Jaunpur (UP): With Lok Sabha elections around the corner, the BJP on Friday made it clear it was kee...
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: 'BJP Has Defeated These Opposition Parties on Their Home Turf in 2014,' Says Amit S
indiacom
2019-02-08T05:55:41+00:00
2019-02-08T07:20:09+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Mamata Didi Wants to be PM, Leaving Poor at Mercy of Alliance, Says PM at Jalpaiguri Rally
India.com News Desk | February 8, 2019 5:49 PM IST
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi s second leg of the scheduled rallies on Friday in Chhattisg...
Mamata Didi Wants to be PM, Leaving Poor at Mercy of Alliance, Says PM at Jalpaiguri Rally
indiacom
2019-02-08T06:49:17+00:00
2019-02-08T07:08:51+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
West Bengal: Giriraj Singh Likens Mamata Banerjee to 'Putana', Says Equating Her With 'Jhansi ki Rani' Wrong
India.com News Desk | February 8, 2019 3:26 PM IST
New Delhi: Reacting to reports of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee being hailed as 'Jhansi...
West Bengal: Giriraj Singh Likens Mamata Banerjee to 'Putana', Says Equating Her With 'Jhansi ki Rani' Wrong
indiacom
2019-02-08T04:26:24+00:00
2019-02-08T04:34:50+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com
Centre May Strip West Bengal Top Police Officers of Medals For Participating in Mamata Banerjee's Dharna
India.com News Desk | February 7, 2019 5:14 PM IST
New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the West Bengal government to initiate disciplinar...
Centre May Strip West Bengal Top Police Officers of Medals For Participating in Mamata Banerjee's Dharna
indiacom
2019-02-07T06:14:23+00:00
2019-02-07T06:18:40+00:00
Mamata Banerjee
India.com