Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 143912 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AORC AS AF AM AJ ASEC AU AMGT APER ACOA ASEAN AG AFFAIRS AR AFIN ABUD AO AEMR ADANA AMED AADP AINF ARF ADB ACS AE AID AL AC AGR ABLD AMCHAMS AECL AINT AND ASIG AUC APECO AFGHANISTAN AY ARABL ACAO ANET AFSN AZ AFLU ALOW ASSK AFSI ACABQ AMB APEC AIDS AA ATRN AMTC AVIATION AESC ASSEMBLY ADPM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AGOA ASUP AFPREL ARNOLD ADCO AN ACOTA AODE AROC AMCHAM AT ACKM ASCH AORCUNGA AVIANFLU AVIAN AIT ASECPHUM ATRA AGENDA AIN AFINM APCS AGENGA ABDALLAH ALOWAR AFL AMBASSADOR ARSO AGMT ASPA AOREC AGAO ARR AOMS ASC ALIREZA AORD AORG ASECVE ABER ARABBL ADM AMER ALVAREZ AORCO ARM APERTH AINR AGRI ALZUGUREN ANGEL ACDA AEMED ARC AMGMT AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU ABMC AIAG ALJAZEERA ASR ASECARP ALAMI APRM ASECM AMPR AEGR AUSTRALIAGROUP ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AIDAC AOPC ANTITERRORISM ASEG AMIA ASEX AEMRBC AFOR ABT AMERICA AGENCIES AGS ADRC ASJA AEAID ANARCHISTS AME AEC ALNEA AMGE AMEDCASCKFLO AK ANTONIO ASO AFINIZ ASEDC AOWC ACCOUNT ACTION AMG AFPK AOCR AMEDI AGIT ASOC ACOAAMGT AMLB AZE AORCYM AORL AGRICULTURE ACEC AGUILAR ASCC AFSA ASES ADIP ASED ASCE ASFC ASECTH AFGHAN ANTXON APRC AFAF AFARI ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AX ALAB ASECAF ASA ASECAFIN ASIC AFZAL AMGTATK ALBE AMT AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN AGUIRRE AAA ABLG ARCH AGRIC AIHRC ADEL AMEX ALI AQ ATFN AORCD ARAS AINFCY AFDB ACBAQ AFDIN AOPR AREP ALEXANDER ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI ATRD AEIR AOIC ABLDG AFR ASEK AER ALOUNI AMCT AVERY ASECCASC ARG APR AMAT AEMRS AFU ATPDEA ALL ASECE ANDREW
EAIR ECON ETRD EAGR EAID EFIN ETTC ENRG EMIN ECPS EG EPET EINV ELAB EU ECONOMICS EC EZ EUN EN ECIN EWWT EXTERNAL ENIV ES ESA ELN EFIS EIND EPA ELTN EXIM ET EINT EI ER EAIDAF ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECTRD EUR ECOWAS ECUN EBRD ECONOMIC ENGR ECONOMY EFND ELECTIONS EPECO EUMEM ETMIN EXBS EAIRECONRP ERTD EAP ERGR EUREM EFI EIB ENGY ELNTECON EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ECOSOC EEB EINF ETRN ENGRD ESTH ENRC EXPORT EK ENRGMO ECO EGAD EXIMOPIC ETRDPGOV EURM ETRA ENERG ECLAC EINO ENVIRONMENT EFIC ECIP ETRDAORC ENRD EMED EIAR ECPN ELAP ETCC EAC ENEG ESCAP EWWC ELTD ELA EIVN ELF ETR EFTA EMAIL EL EMS EID ELNT ECPSN ERIN ETT EETC ELAN ECHEVARRIA EPWR EVIN ENVR ENRGJM ELBR EUC EARG EAPC EICN EEC EREL EAIS ELBA EPETUN EWWY ETRDGK EV EDU EFN EVN EAIDETRD ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ ETEX ESCI EAIDHO EENV ETRC ESOC EINDQTRD EINVA EFLU EGEN ECE EAGRBN EON EFINECONCS EIAD ECPC ENV ETDR EAGER ETRDKIPR EWT EDEV ECCP ECCT EARI EINVECON ED ETRDEC EMINETRD EADM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ETAD ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS ESSO ETRG ELAM ECA EENG EITC ENG ERA EPSC ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EIPR ELABPGOVBN EURFOR ETRAD EUE EISNLN ECONETRDBESPAR ELAINE EGOVSY EAUD EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EINVETRD EPIN ECONENRG EDRC ESENV EB ENER ELTNSNAR EURN ECONPGOVBN ETTF ENVT EPIT ESOCI EFINOECD ERD EDUC EUM ETEL EUEAID ENRGY ETD EAGRE EAR EAIDMG EE EET ETER ERICKSON EIAID EX EAG EBEXP ESTN EAIDAORC EING EGOV EEOC EAGRRP EVENTS ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ETRDEMIN EPETEIND EAIDRW ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC EDUARDO EGAR EPCS EPRT EAIDPHUMPRELUG EPTED ETRB EPETPGOV ECONQH EAIDS EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN ESF EINR ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN EIDN ETRK ESTRADA EXEC EAIO EGHG ECN EDA ECOS EPREL EINVKSCA ENNP ELABV ETA EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EUCOM EAIDASEC ENR END EP ERNG ESPS EITI EINTECPS EAVI ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EADI ELDIN ELND ECRM EINVEFIN EAOD EFINTS EINDIR ENRGKNNP ETRDEIQ ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD EAIT ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ EWWI ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EHUM EFNI EOXC EISNAR ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM EMW ETIO ETRDGR EMN EXO EATO EWTR ELIN EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EINVETC ETTD EIQ ECONCS EPPD ESS EUEAGR ENRGIZ EISL EUNJ EIDE ENRGSD ELAD ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO ENTG ETRDECD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS
KPKO KIPR KWBG KPAL KDEM KTFN KNNP KGIC KTIA KCRM KDRG KWMN KJUS KIDE KSUM KTIP KFRD KMCA KMDR KCIP KTDB KPAO KPWR KOMC KU KIRF KCOR KHLS KISL KSCA KGHG KS KSTH KSEP KE KPAI KWAC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPRP KVPR KAWC KUNR KZ KPLS KN KSTC KMFO KID KNAR KCFE KRIM KFLO KCSA KG KFSC KSCI KFLU KMIG KRVC KV KVRP KMPI KNEI KAPO KOLY KGIT KSAF KIRC KNSD KBIO KHIV KHDP KBTR KHUM KSAC KACT KRAD KPRV KTEX KPIR KDMR KMPF KPFO KICA KWMM KICC KR KCOM KAID KINR KBCT KOCI KCRS KTER KSPR KDP KFIN KCMR KMOC KUWAIT KIPRZ KSEO KLIG KWIR KISM KLEG KTBD KCUM KMSG KMWN KREL KPREL KAWK KIMT KCSY KESS KWPA KNPT KTBT KCROM KPOW KFTN KPKP KICR KGHA KOMS KJUST KREC KOC KFPC KGLB KMRS KTFIN KCRCM KWNM KHGH KRFD KY KGCC KFEM KVIR KRCM KEMR KIIP KPOA KREF KJRE KRKO KOGL KSCS KGOV KCRIM KEM KCUL KRIF KCEM KITA KCRN KCIS KSEAO KWMEN KEANE KNNC KNAP KEDEM KNEP KHPD KPSC KIRP KUNC KALM KCCP KDEN KSEC KAYLA KIMMITT KO KNUC KSIA KLFU KLAB KTDD KIRCOEXC KECF KIPRETRDKCRM KNDP KIRCHOFF KJAN KFRDSOCIRO KWMNSMIG KEAI KKPO KPOL KRD KWMNPREL KATRINA KBWG KW KPPD KTIAEUN KDHS KRV KBTS KWCI KICT KPALAOIS KPMI KWN KTDM KWM KLHS KLBO KDEMK KT KIDS KWWW KLIP KPRM KSKN KTTB KTRD KNPP KOR KGKG KNN KTIAIC KSRE KDRL KVCORR KDEMGT KOMO KSTCC KMAC KSOC KMCC KCHG KSEPCVIS KGIV KPO KSEI KSTCPL KSI KRMS KFLOA KIND KPPAO KCM KRFR KICCPUR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KFAM KWWMN KENV KGH KPOP KFCE KNAO KTIAPARM KWMNKDEM KDRM KNNNP KEVIN KEMPI KWIM KGCN KUM KMGT KKOR KSMT KISLSCUL KNRV KPRO KOMCSG KLPM KDTB KFGM KCRP KAUST KNNPPARM KUNH KWAWC KSPA KTSC KUS KSOCI KCMA KTFR KPAOPREL KNNPCH KWGB KSTT KNUP KPGOV KUK KMNP KPAS KHMN KPAD KSTS KCORR KI KLSO KWNN KNP KPTD KESO KMPP KEMS KPAONZ KPOV KTLA KPAOKMDRKE KNMP KWMNCI KWUN KRDP KWKN KPAOY KEIM KGICKS KIPT KREISLER KTAO KJU KLTN KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KQ KWPR KSCT KGHGHIV KEDU KRCIM KFIU KWIC KNNO KILS KTIALG KNNA KMCAJO KINP KRM KLFLO KPA KOMCCO KKIV KHSA KDM KRCS KWBGSY KISLAO KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KCRI KX KWWT KPAM KVRC KERG KK KSUMPHUM KACP KSLG KIF KIVP KHOURY KNPR KUNRAORC KCOG KCFC KWMJN KFTFN KTFM KPDD KMPIO KCERS KDUM KDEMAF KMEPI KHSL KEPREL KAWX KIRL KNNR KOMH KMPT KISLPINR KADM KPER KTPN KSCAECON KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KCSI KNRG KAKA KFRP KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KQM KQRDQ KWBC KMRD KVBL KOM KMPL KEDM KFLD KPRD KRGY KNNF KPROG KIFR KPOKO KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KHIB KOEM KDDG KCGC
PGOV PREL PK PTER PINR PO PHUM PARM PREF PINF PRL PM PINS PROP PALESTINIAN PE PBTS PNAT PHSA PL PA PSEPC POSTS POLITICS POLICY POL PU PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOG PARALYMPIC PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICAL PROV PRUM PBIO PAK POV POLG PAR POLM PHUMPREL PKO PUNE PROG PEL PROPERTY PKAO PRE PSOE PHAS PNUM PGOVE PY PIRF PRES POWELL PP PREM PCON PGOVPTER PGOVPREL PODC PTBS PTEL PGOVTI PHSAPREL PD PG PRC PVOV PLO PRELL PEPFAR PREK PEREZ PINT POLI PPOL PARTIES PT PRELUN PH PENA PIN PGPV PKST PROTESTS PHSAK PRM PROLIFERATION PGOVBL PAS PUM PMIG PGIC PTERPGOV PSHA PHM PHARM PRELHA PELOSI PGOVKCMABN PQM PETER PJUS PKK POUS PTE PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PERM PRELGOV PAO PNIR PARMP PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PHYTRP PHUML PFOV PDEM PUOS PN PRESIDENT PERURENA PRIVATIZATION PHUH PIF POG PERL PKPA PREI PTERKU PSEC PRELKSUMXABN PETROL PRIL POLUN PPD PRELUNSC PREZ PCUL PREO PGOVZI POLMIL PERSONS PREFL PASS PV PETERS PING PQL PETR PARMS PNUC PS PARLIAMENT PINSCE PROTECTION PLAB PGV PBS PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PKNP PSOCI PSI PTERM PLUM PF PVIP PARP PHUMQHA PRELNP PHIM PRELBR PUBLIC PHUMKPAL PHAM PUAS PBOV PRELTBIOBA PGOVU PHUMPINS PICES PGOVENRG PRELKPKO PHU PHUMKCRS POGV PATTY PSOC PRELSP PREC PSO PAIGH PKPO PARK PRELPLS PRELPK PHUS PPREL PTERPREL PROL PDA PRELPGOV PRELAF PAGE PGOVGM PGOVECON PHUMIZNL PMAR PGOVAF PMDL PKBL PARN PARMIR PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PDD PRELKPAO PKMN PRELEZ PHUMPRELPGOV PARTM PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPEL PGOVPRELPINRBN PGOVSOCI PWBG PGOVEAID PGOVPM PBST PKEAID PRAM PRELEVU PHUMA PGOR PPA PINSO PROVE PRELKPAOIZ PPAO PHUMPRELBN PGVO PHUMPTER PAGR PMIN PBTSEWWT PHUMR PDOV PINO PARAGRAPH PACE PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOVAU PGOF PBTSRU PRGOV PRHUM PCI PGO PRELEUN PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PMR PRTER PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PRELNL PINOCHET PAARM PKPAO PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA POPDC PRELC PHUME PER PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PAUL PHALANAGE PARTY PPEF PECON PEACE PROCESS PPGOV PLN PRELSW PHUMS PRF PEDRO PHUMKDEM PUNR PVPR PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PBT PAMQ

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09KOLKATA79, WOMEN IN INDIA: MAMATA BANERJEE - WEST BENGAL FIGHTER AND

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09KOLKATA79.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09KOLKATA79 2009-03-20 13:39 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Kolkata
VZCZCXRO5462
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHCI #0079/01 0791339
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201339Z MAR 09
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2314
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2833
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000079 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KWMN IN
SUBJECT: WOMEN IN INDIA: MAMATA BANERJEE - WEST BENGAL FIGHTER AND 
DRAMA QUEEN 
 
REF: A. A) KOLKATA 78 
     B. B) NEW DELHI 439 
     C. C) NEW DELHI 394 
 
KOLKATA 00000079  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  Firebrand communist-baiter Mamata Banerjee 
leads West Bengal's principal opposition party, the All India 
Trinamool Congress (AITC) that has aligned with Congress to 
challenge the Left Front's 32-year rule in the state.  An astute 
politician - six term parliamentarian - with an eye for 
theatrics, she formed her own party and throughout her career 
has alternated between the alliances led by the two national 
political parties, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, 
for the best political deal.  Infamous, and unapologetic, for 
her role in "spoiling" the proposed industrial automobile 
investment by the Indian corporate house Tata, her populist and 
unpredictable measures worry elements of the business community 
in Kolkata.  However, her unrelenting fight to dislodge the 
Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) in West Bengal has 
already resulted in what outside analysts view as a very 
favorable political alliance with Congress.  With a strong and 
loyal party following in West Bengal, particularly from her 
constituency in South Kolkata, and the political momentum gained 
from championing the views of farmers versus industry, she can 
be a political spoiler or enabler for any investment, including 
American, into the region.  In the event of successful AITC and 
Congress electoral results in the state and at the Center, she 
will be a likely United Progressive Alliance ministerial 
candidate, although her eyes are clearly on the Chief Minister's 
seat in West Bengal when it goes to the state polls in 2011. 
End Summary. 
 
2. (U) This cable is part of a Mission India reporting series on 
Women in India (Reftels B, C) and the upcoming Indian 
parliamentary elections. 
 
Lone Crusader 
 
3. (U) Mamata Banerjee leads the principal opposition AITC party 
in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal (Reftel A).  As a 
firebrand agitator, she emerged as the main challenge to the 
ruling Left Front headed by the CPI-M.  Without any political 
lineage or mentor, Banerjee stands in marked contrast to other 
women leaders in India - Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati, Rabri Devi and 
Jayalalitha - who either represent a political dynasty or became 
leaders with the backing of a "godfather".  Affectionately known 
as "Didi", (Bengali for elder sister) she has refused to use her 
gender or her socio-economic Brahmin caste (highest of the Hindu 
castes) for political gain.  She is the only female politician 
of her statue in West Bengal; however, she doesn't capitalize or 
campaign on this.  As the party founder, dominant personality, 
and only sitting parliamentarian she enjoys close to absolute 
power within her party. 
 
Humble Beginnings to National Role 
 
3. (U) Banerjee was born on January 5, 1955 into a lower 
middle-class family in Kolkata.  Her father had been a 
small-time Congress pre-Independence freedom fighter.  She 
joined student politics as a teenager and in 1984, at the age of 
29, was appointed as General Secretary of the All India Youth 
Congress and successfully contested and trounced the veteran 
Left parliamentarian Somnath Chatterjee from Jadavpur in the 
national elections in 1984.  She lost the Jadavpur seat in 1989, 
but returned to Parliament in 1991 representing South Kolkata 
and subsequently became Union Minister of State for Human 
Resource Development, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Women and 
Child Development. 
 
Her Own Party~ 
 
4. (U) In 1996 she was re-elected to Parliament for a third 
term, but found that not all of her Congress colleagues shared 
in her zeal to oppose the ruling Left Front in West Bengal.  She 
publicly lashed out at Congress leaders and labeled them the "B 
team" of the CPI-M and "watermelons" who were "red" at the core, 
but with a "green" exterior.  Her own party, along with the Left 
and the media, characterized her dramatic agitations as that of 
a hysterical "bull-in-a-china-shop".  In 1998, Banerjee left 
Congress and formed her own party, the AITC. 
 
~with her own Partners 
 
5. (U) With AITC Banerjee joined the BJP-led National Democratic 
Alliance and was rewarded with the post of Indian Minister for 
Railways in 1999.  However, in 2001 she resigned in protest of 
her government's alleged "corruption" (more likely for her own 
political ambitions) and re-aligned with Congress to contest the 
 
KOLKATA 00000079  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
2001 West Bengal state elections.  The AITC faired poorly and in 
2004 she re-aligned with NDA and became minister for Coal and 
Mines.  The same year she successfully contested national 
elections and was elected to parliament for her sixth term - the 
sole winner from AITC.  Thereafter Banerjee gradually distanced 
herself from the NDA, and focused more than ever on dislodging 
the Left from the West Bengal government. 
 
Leading the Movement Against Land Acquisition 
 
6. (SBU) In 2007, Banerjee dramatically emerged from the 
political doldrums to lead a mass movement in rural Bengal 
championing the cause of farmers, low income groups and 
religious minorities.  With her humble ways and fiery rhetoric, 
she came to be identified as a champion of the downtrodden.  She 
positioned herself as the leader of a farmers' movement to 
resist the CPI-M government's moves to acquire agricultural land 
for industry in the much publicized Nandigram and Singur 
villages.  In short, she projected herself as more left than 
"Left" and forced a humbling retreat by the CPI-M government in 
Nandigram and Singur while simultaneously striking a devastating 
blow to economic activity in the state.  (Privately, Banerjee 
and senior AITC interlocutors have clarified that they are not 
against industry per se, but that they need to be consulted and 
taken into confidence as one of the political stakeholders. 
They have not presented a clear alternative industrialization 
strategy.)  In the 2008 panchayat (local government) elections 
the AITC scored a major success, making inroads at all levels 
including wresting control of district level governmental bodies 
from the Left Front.  Most recently, Banerjee negotiated a very 
favorable electoral alliance with Congress, a "marriage of 
political convenience" to contest the upcoming parliamentary 
elections and challenge the Left. 
 
Comment - Mamata Mia! 
 
7. (SBU) Fearless, temperamental and aggressive, Mamata Banerjee 
has often been likened to a tigress.  Due to her unpredictable 
and high-strung nature, she has succeeded in occupying the 
political limelight in West Bengal as no other politician has. 
She has taken on the Left, when no other leader was willing, and 
has capitalized on Nandigram and Singur anger to mount what 
analysts view as the most credible challenge to Left Front rule 
in West Bengal since they came to power in 1977.  She will 
continue to ride the anti-land acquisition and populist wave, 
although her popularity with the farmers as the "woman that made 
Ratan Tata say `ta ta' to West Bengal" does not sit well with 
industrialists in the city.  However, on the other hand, some 
are secretly encouraged by the healthy dose of political 
competition in the state as it may break the deadlock and 
perceived sloth of the Left Front.  The common man identifies 
with her unsophisticated and humble ways, not least because she 
continues to live as an unmarried woman with her mother in the 
one room tenement where she grew up.   She can mobilize a crowd 
in minutes and has a keen eye towards theatrics, whether with an 
impromptu song at the local shopping center festival, or 
symbolically carrying the bloodied land of "Nandigram martyrs" 
throughout the state with her own campaign.   However, her 
dominance and the cult of personality have left the party 
institutionally weak, but one with a clear leader.  Her 
challenge is to overcome the criticism that she is "irrational" 
and "unpredictable", criticism earned even during her previous 
stints as Minister in Delhi, and prove that she can, and is 
ready to, govern the state of West Bengal.  About her desire and 
determination to become Chief Minister - no one has any 
questions about that. 
TAYLOR