Chandrima Bhattacharya: One among Mamata’s reliable lieutenants

Bhattacharya grew close to Mamata Banerjee during the Singur and Nandigram movement and joined the Trinamool Congress in 2009, and soon became president of the TMC’s women’s wing.

Chandrima Bhattacharya is among the top leaders in the Trinamool Congress.

Minister of State for Housing (Independent Charge), Health and Family Welfare, Land and Land Reforms & Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation, Panchayats and Rural Development in the West Bengal Cabinet, Chandrima Bhattacharya is among the top leaders in the Trinamool Congress.

President of Trinamool Mahila Congress, over the years she is said to have grown close to the Chief Minister and is among her reliable lieutenants. She is also a spokesperson for the party and a member of its core committee.

A former leader of the Congress, where she served as the party’s general secretary in the south Kolkata district and was also a member of the PCC and AICC, she quit the Congress in 2008.

Bhattacharya grew close to Mamata Banerjee during the Singur and Nandigram movement and joined the Trinamool Congress in 2009, and soon became president of the TMC’s women’s wing.

The 65-year-old leader holds BCom and L L B degrees, and began practising as an advocate at the Calcutta High Court in 1978 and continued till 2011. In 2012, she became Minister of State in the Mamata Banerjee Cabinet and quit her legal practice.

In 2011, she won the Dum Dum (North) Assembly constituency but lost the seat to CPM leader Tanmay Bhattacharya in 2016. A year later, she won the bypoll from Dakshin Kanthi Assembly seat.

In the upcoming polls, Bhattacharya is contesting from Dum Dum (North), and sources say she is likely to get a more important berth in the new Mamata Banerjee Cabinet if the party comes to power again.

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More