Kolkata:
March 14, Sunday. When many in Kolkata were busy watching the Knight Riders play their second IPL match, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was out walking the first 5 kilometers of her long campaign for the 2011 Assembly elections in West Bengal.
During her walk between Baliigunj Phadi and Jaggu Bazaar, thousands of Mamata's supporters came out shouting slogans against West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya with posters critical of the CPM rule in the state.
"More than 2000 party supporters have been killed in West Bengal in last few months. Everyday 4 -5 persons are dying. CPM is responsible of these killing, " says Mamata Banerjee.
With the recent surge in Maoist violence in the state, Mamata's Trinamool Congress and the ruling CPM have often blamed each other of having a "nexus" with the Maoists.
And what Nandigram saw three years ago is still a potent weapon to hit the ruling government, where it hurts the most.
On this very day in 2007, around 14 people died, when police opened indiscriminate fire. Mamata calls this day the Nandigram Diwas. For the last two years the Trinamool leader has been in Nandigram, but this year it was Kolkata that saw Mamata's power.
Her body language was saying today that it is the start of her 2011 election campaign. Thousands of supporters took part with posters on their chest and slogans against Buddha.
The Knight Riders may have won another match today, but Mamata's knows she has a long way to go to ensure a victory in the 2011 Assembly elections.
During her walk between Baliigunj Phadi and Jaggu Bazaar, thousands of Mamata's supporters came out shouting slogans against West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya with posters critical of the CPM rule in the state.
"More than 2000 party supporters have been killed in West Bengal in last few months. Everyday 4 -5 persons are dying. CPM is responsible of these killing, " says Mamata Banerjee.
With the recent surge in Maoist violence in the state, Mamata's Trinamool Congress and the ruling CPM have often blamed each other of having a "nexus" with the Maoists.
And what Nandigram saw three years ago is still a potent weapon to hit the ruling government, where it hurts the most.
On this very day in 2007, around 14 people died, when police opened indiscriminate fire. Mamata calls this day the Nandigram Diwas. For the last two years the Trinamool leader has been in Nandigram, but this year it was Kolkata that saw Mamata's power.
Her body language was saying today that it is the start of her 2011 election campaign. Thousands of supporters took part with posters on their chest and slogans against Buddha.
The Knight Riders may have won another match today, but Mamata's knows she has a long way to go to ensure a victory in the 2011 Assembly elections.
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