Mamata Banerjee: How 'Street Fighter' Didi Reshaped West Bengal Politics

• Mamata Banerjee, known as 'Didi', built her power through street mobilization, not institutional backing, becoming a durable power center in Indian politics.
• She left Congress in 1998 to form the All India Trinamool Congress, converting local grievances like Singur and Nandigram protests into a sustained political movement.
• Banerjee ended 34 years of Left Front rule in 2011, leveraging her image of austerity and direct emotional connection with voters.
• Her governance model combines welfare schemes targeting women, minorities, and the rural poor with political messaging, creating a 'welfare-backed political coalition'.
• Despite controversies over corruption and law and order, Banerjee remains a key opposition figure nationally, facing a crucial test in the 2026 West Bengal elections.