The long-standing Chief Minister of West Bengal turns 71 on the 5th of January, 2026

Since 2014, when the current ruling party came into power, it has eyed a place in the eastern state of West Bengal. However, one female Chief Minister of a state has proved to be a tough cookie for the ruling party. The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has been in power since 2011. No party, regional or national, has been able to put a dent in her dominion.

Today, Mamata Banerjee stands in opposition to the ruling party and is called controversial for many things. However, over two decades ago, she was an ally of the then-ruling party in India and made a stand for fair elections, protesting the mandatory use of photos on voter ID cards.

Before Trinamool Congress

(Credit- India Today)

Five years before the All India Trinamool Congress party was formed in 1998 by Mamata Banerjee, the present CM of Bengal was then the President of the State Youth Congress of the Indian National Congress party. In 1993, she led a protest against the then ruling party in West Bengal, i.e., the Communist Party of India. This protest was done by Banerjee because in 1991, the Communist Party of India had won with a massive mandate, and therefore, all opposition parties had alleged an electoral fraud.

Mandatory photo identity card

(Credit- Kolkata tourism)

On 21 July 1993, Mamata Banerjee and fellow supporters organised a protest rally against the Communist Party of India at the Writers’ Building in Kolkata’s Esplanade area. However, one kilometre before reaching the building, the police opened fire on the protestors, which led to the loss of 13 lives. West Bengal’s then Chief Minister ordered no probe into the incident, which helped Mamata Banerjee gain sympathy, given she was already a rising figure in Bengal’s political circuit.

(Credit- News Arena)

Since coming into power, July 21 has been commemorated by Mamata Banerjee and her government as Martyrs' Day in West Bengal.

Other side of the coin

In India, every political incident has multiple versions. This incident, too, had several versions, such as that many believed that there was internal conflict between Mamata Banerjee and other senior leaders of the Indian National Congress party, because of which Banerjee organised the protest to show her youth power in Bengal. Another version of the incident states that the protestors wanted to block the vehicle of then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu.

(Credit- Deccan Herald)

Which version is true? The one that was turned into reality, be it by the media, the spread of word, or political understandings behind the curtains. But one thing is certain—this incident gave Mamata Banerjee a massive political boost, and she slowly became Bengal’s Didi, toppling the 34-year-old rule of CPI (M) and today, standing tall against the current ruling power despite mounting pressure, allegations, and controversies.