Mamata Banerjee goes back to ‘dharna mancha’, firebrand leader back to her elements

Known for her firebrand politics, Mamata Banerjee has gone back to her ‘dharna mancha’ since last night to protest against the alleged ‘audacity’ of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in landing up at the residence of Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar in the Sarada chit fund scam for questioning.

Many years after the dharna at Metro channel which is widely considered to be her political stepping stone towards occupying the Writers’ Buildings, the chief minister has launched another protest movement – this time against the use of the CBI by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre, for political gains.

Back in 2008, Mamata Banerjee had led a similar dharna against the then Left government in West Bengal led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for handing over 1,000 acres of multi-crop land to Tata Motors for the construction of the Nano car manufacturing plant at Singur. Seated at Esplanade on the Metro channel, the street-fighter avatar of the Trinamool leader had caused serious damage to the ruling Left regime and ushered her into power. Her ‘dharna mancha’ saw the convergence of intellectuals and artists who joined the movement against the ousting of farmers from their own land.

Leading another dharna from the same venue years after the Singur dharna, the chief minister has once again displayed her ability to connect with the masses with her unique brand of ground level, firebrand politics.