Mamata Banerjee is a prominent Indian politician and the current Chief Minister of the state of West Bengal. Born on January 5, 1955, in Kolkata, Banerjee started her political career in the Indian National Congress party, where she held various positions, including being the General Secretary of the Mahila Congress. She later founded the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) party in 1998, which has become a significant political force in West Bengal and other parts of India.
Banerjee's political journey has been marked by her relentless fight against the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) government, which had been ruling West Bengal for over three decades. She played a crucial role in the Nandigram and Singur movements, which led to the fall of the CPIM government in 2011 and established her as a mass leader.
Banerjee was elected as the Chief Minister of West Bengal in 2011, becoming the first woman to hold the position. She has since won two more terms in office, and her current tenure is set to end in May 2026.
During her time in office, Banerjee has focused on improving the lives of the people of West Bengal, especially those from marginalized communities. She has implemented several social welfare schemes, including the Kanyashree Prakalpa, which provides financial assistance to young girls to continue their education, and the Swasthya Sathi scheme, which provides free health care to all residents of the state.
Banerjee is also known for her strong stance on issues of regional identity and autonomy. She has been a vocal advocate for the rights of Bengalis and has opposed the imposition of the Hindi language on non-Hindi-speaking states. She has also been a vocal critic of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its policies, including the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Banerjee's political style is marked by her charisma, courage, and strong personality. She is known for her fiery speeches and her ability to mobilize the masses. However, her critics have accused her of being authoritarian and intolerant of dissent.
In recent years, Banerjee has emerged as a national leader and has been actively involved in building a united opposition against the BJP-led government at the center. She played a key role in the formation of the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) of opposition parties in the run-up to the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections.
Banerjee's political journey has been marked by numerous challenges and setbacks, including allegations of corruption and violence in the state. However, she has managed to weather these storms and emerge as a powerful leader who has left an indelible mark on the political landscape of West Bengal and India as a whole.
Progress Of Mamata Banerjee Year by Year
1993: Banerjee became the first woman to hold the position of the General Secretary of the Indian Youth Congress. 1997: She became the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Youth Affairs, and Sports in the Union Cabinet. 1998: Banerjee founded the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) party. 2000: She was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament. 2001: Banerjee led the successful campaign to oust the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) government from power in Kolkata Municipal Corporation. 2006: Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party formed an alliance with the Congress party to contest the West Bengal assembly elections. 2007: Banerjee was appointed as the Railway Minister in the Union Cabinet, where she introduced several new initiatives such as the 'Duronto' and 'Garib Rath' trains. 2011: Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party won a landslide victory in the West Bengal assembly elections, and she became the first woman Chief Minister of the state. 2012: Banerjee launched the 'Kanyashree Prakalpa' scheme, which provides financial assistance to young girls to continue their education. 2013: Banerjee launched the 'Sabuj Sathi' scheme, which provides bicycles to school-going children. 2014: Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party won a massive victory in the Lok Sabha elections, winning 34 out of 42 seats in West Bengal. 2016: Banerjee led a massive protest against the Indian government's demonetization policy. 2017: Banerjee launched the 'Swasthya Sathi' scheme, which provides free health care to all residents of West Bengal. 2018: Banerjee led a nationwide protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. 2019: Banerjee launched the 'Krishak Bandhu' scheme, which provides financial assistance to farmers in the state. 2020: Banerjee handled the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of West Bengal, which was initially hit hard by the virus. 2021: Banerjee led her party to a third consecutive victory in the West Bengal assembly elections and was sworn in as the Chief Minister for the third time.