Mamata Banerjee

• Born: January 5, 1955, Kolkata, West Bengal

• Family: Middle-class Bengali Hindu; 

father – Promileswar Banerjee (freedom fighter), mother – Gayatri Devi

Early life and Education: History degree from Jogamaya Devi College, Kolkata; Master’s in Muslim history from Osmania University, Hyderabad.

Political Career

• Banerjee began her political career in 1970 when she joined the Indian National Congress.
• She was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, in 1977.
• She served in the Union Cabinet as Minister of Railways and Minister of Coal from 1991 to 1996.
• In 1998, Banerjee left the Congress Party and founded the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). The TMC won a landslide victory in the 2011 West Bengal state assembly elections, ending 34 years of rule by the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
• As Chief Minister, Banerjee has focused on improving education, health care, and infrastructure in West Bengal.
• She has also introduced various social welfare programs, including the Kanyashree Prakalpa, which provides financial assistance to girl children, and the Sabuj Sathi Yojana, which provides bicycles to school girls.

Controversies

• Controversial figure: Banerjee’s leadership and media criticism attract criticism.
• Popular among Bengalis: Seen as a champion of the poor and oppressed by many.
• Religious appeasement: Banerjee has been accused of playing the religion card for political gain.
• Allegations of Corruption.

Awards and Recognition

• Padma Bhushan (2013): India’s third-highest civilian award, conferred for distinguished service in any field.
• Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020): Recognized by Forbes magazine for her influence and impact on a global scale.
• Skoch Chief Minister of the Year Award (2018): Awarded for her leadership and innovation in governance.
• Bangla Academy Award (2022): Special recognition for her contribution to Bengali literature, specifically her collection of poems titled “Kabita Bitan”.
• Bangla Academy Award trophy

These accolades highlight Mamata Banerjee’s achievements and contributions across various fields, from governance and social impact to literature and cultural influence.

Assets:

According to her election affidavit filed for the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, Mamata Banerjee’s total assets are worth ₹16,72,352, which is equivalent to approximately US$22,000. Her assets include:

• Cash and bank balances: ₹15,70,352
• Immovable property: ₹10,000

Her cash and bank balances are held in various bank accounts, including her personal account, her husband’s account, and her son’s account. Her immovable property consists of a flat in Kolkata and a house in Nandigram.