Mamata Banerjee: A brief history of Didi’s political career

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on March 5 announced that she will contest from Nandigram seat, in Purbo Medinipur district, from where TMC began its political journey. Affirming her candidature from the high profile Nandigram seat, Banerjee will vacate her traditional Bhowanipore seat in Kolkata, as she threw a challenge to her protege-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari, who crossed over to the BJP in December. (Express archives)

By contesting in Nandigram, she will be fighting face-to-face with Nandigram MLA Suvendu Adhikari, who joined BJP in December 2020. Suvendu Adhikari and his family has a great influence in the region. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

Born in a Bengali family in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee started her political career with the Congress (I) during the early 1970s. (Express Archive)

Even before forming her own party, she had created her identity in Indian politics since her widely-covered dance in protest against Jayaprakash Narayan in 1975. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

The first woman to become West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee founded the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 1998 after quitting from Indian National Congress (INC). (Express Archive)

Shortly after quitting Congress, Mamata Banerjee joined BJP and became the Railway Minister but left the party soon. (Express Archive)

Didi, as she is popularly called, rose to prominence after opposing the land acquisition policy of the left regime in 2005. Mostly consisting of the farmers' population, Nandigram was one of the epicentres of the party's protest. She was sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal in 2011. One of her significant act after became the CM was to return 400 acres of land to Singur farmers (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

This year's election is not just a battle to retain her power but also a judgement for the fierce battle she waged against BJP. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)