Mamata Banerjee Birthday 2024: Trinamool Congress chief’s political journey

In remembrance of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief Mamata Banerjee's 68th birthday on January 5, here are a few key aspects of her life: known as Didi and Bengal Tigress, she got her start in politics at 15 years old. Banerjee has become a force to reckon with over the years, not only securing her position as Chief Minister of West Bengal for the third consecutive term, but also serving twice as the country's railway minister; first under the NDA government and then the UPA government.

Banerjee, the first woman to become West Bengal's Chief Minister, was born in 1955 in Kolkata. As a teen, while studying at Jogamaya Devi College, she launched the Congress (I) Party's student wing, challenging the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) affiliated All India Democratic Students Organisation. Her political activism extended into adulthood, involving her in a series of politicians' roles in West Bengal and beyond.

Her time under the limelight came in 1975 when she expressed her opposition against politician Jayprakash Narayan by dancing on his car. Banerjee had an illustrious political career with the Congress party before moving on to other local political organizations.

She parted ways with the Congress in West Bengal due to political disagreements and joined the BJP-led NDA alliance in 1997, becoming the country's first female railway minister. In 2001, despite leaving the NDA cabinet to support the Congress Party in West Bengal's election, she returned to the NDA fold in 2004.

During the 2004 general elections, despite the BJP alliance's defeat, Banerjee was the only TMC leader in West Bengal to win a parliamentary seat. Even in the absence of political power, she maintained a high profile, getting involved in various protests.

Banerjee emboldened her political image by staging a hunger strike and leading demonstrations against the industrial development policy in West Bengal, including the notorious Singur rally in 2006, protesting against Tata Motors' car project.

The TMC faced brutal police aggression during the Nandigram violence in 2007 while protesting against the government’s plan to confiscate 10,000 acres of land for Special Economic Zone by a private firm.

In 2009, before the general elections, Banerjee reunited with the Congress-led UPA. Following their victory, she took up the railway minister post for the second time. After returning to her home state in 2011, she achieved a historical feat by becoming West Bengal's first woman Chief Minister. Her alliance with Congress secured a sweeping victory in the state, making it her third term in office.

In 2016 and 2021, despite robust campaigns by the BJP, Banerjee's TMC retained control of the state. Today, she is part of the INDIA alliance, a coalition of 28 political parties formed in July 2023 to counter the BJP-led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Known for her firm political voice, Mamata Banerjee's relentless dedication to her cause and undying commitment to her supporters render her a significant figure in Indian politics as well as on the global platform.