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Romita Datta

Romita Datta

Associate Editor, India Today

romitadatta@gmail.com

The writer is Associate Editor, India Today.

By Romita Datta

Why Mukul Roy’s long absence makes him conspicuous

Senior BJP leader Mukul Roy is absent from the scene in Bengal. The murmur in the air is that he’s maintaining social distance with the party.

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Trinamool set to hold iconic rally, virtually

With a mightier BJP challenging to overthrow TMC, Mamata indeed needs a significant political rally to pump up her muscles and give the required push for taking on the opponents head-on.

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Why Dilip Ghosh's new upmarket apartment is important for BJP

The biggest advantage of Bengal BJP President's sprawling 12-BHK apartment is that it is closer to the airport. With the election not very far off, the BJP leaders will come trooping in regularly.

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What is West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar's fitness secret?

What keeps him ticking is his old courtroom habits of donning a lawyer’s gown in his imagination and engaging in banter by giving quick, smart repartees.

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Unmasking the political mask

For the time being, politicians are choosing to wear their party colours and symbols on their masks as a way to help people recognise their leaders.

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When netas in West Bengal turn to cyclone relief

Be it BJP's Dilip Ghosh’s photo-op posturing in removing trees in a relatively unaffected area, or CPI (M)'s Kanti Ganguly standing like a rock beside the storm-ravaged people, netas are not losing the opportunity.

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The officer who became a scapegoat

Vivek Kumar’s head rolled, as he held his head too high. This drew the attention of certain people who felt challenged.

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Didi Ke Bolo vs Dada Ke Bolo: Who is winning the battle for Bengal?

Trinamool’s Mamata Banerjee and BJP’s Dilip Ghosh are reaching out to people. But who exactly are the people listening to?

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The more things change, the more they stay the same: How Bengal poll violence proves this again and again

As powers came and went, the myth became a conviction that the ruling party in Bengal controls polls.

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Didi’s ‘national designs’ clear in TMC manifesto

Upcoming Lok Sabha Polls is an opportunity for Mamata to project herself as a credible face among the regional aspirants who are nursing ambitions beyond their regional contours.

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Mimi Chakrabarty and Nusrat Jahan: Didi's new trick or a flawed political strategy?

While political analysts may write off these two inexperienced Tollywood imports, they may actually do wonders.

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Baying for Bengal: How the BJP is closing in on Mamata Banerjee

Mamata is finding it hard to rely on others, especially when the BJP is aiming slingshots at her and her much-touted claims of honesty.

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What's cooking in the kitchen of 'Federal Front'?

From Farooq Abdullah to KCR — why every one is visiting Mamata Banerjee all of a sudden?

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Why Mamata Banerjee is not happy with Modi-Shah's 2018 Assembly election loss

With the victory of Congress and its possible undercurrents rocking the nation, Mamata's dream of a Federal Front has been dumped.

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Why Mamata Banerjee's dearly trusted Sovon Chatterjee has stepped down from the West Bengal cabinet

The influential leader resigned from two important portfolios – housing and fire services department – apparently because of the party’s interference in his personal life.

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How Mamata Banerjee has emerged as the face of the anti-BJP brigade

Leaders of opposition parties have called on her to play a key role in an emerging third front.

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How the Opposition is rallying against the BJP

TMC leader Mamata Banerjee has invited Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and will request Sonia Gandhi’s presence at the first-ever political rally of the Opposition.

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Why all Durga pandals in West Bengal are playing the same music

Was it also a puja gift from the CM, apart from Rs 10,000 that every puja committee received?

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In Bengal politics, caste comes knocking

As SC/STs assert themselves, both TMC, BJP realise the communities’ importance.

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From bowl to ballot: At Kolkata’s food festivals, the latest flavour is politics

In order to reach out to Hindi-speaking voters, the TMC is using everything from phucka to litti chokha.

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Bengal Bandh: No matter what the TMC govt says, September 26 was not an ordinary day

The roads were less crowded, commuters were given sweets for stepping out. What is ‘normal’ about this?

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From bridge collapse to market fire: Why Mamata Banerjee can't go beyond cosmetic changes

No political party can clear unauthorised occupants because that population fills the political rallies and ballot boxes.

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Mamata Banerjee’s poetic protest: The West Bengal CM has chosen rhyme over shouting

This week, she penned one on Centre’s intrusion in to private life — Unki (Peep) Online.

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Why Mamata Banerjee thinks she was more close to Atal Bihari Vajpayee than many in the BJP

The West Bengal CM, in her own way, is grieving the passing away of a guardian figure who gave her a long rope and even put up with her tantrums.

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Last 'lal salaam' to Somnath Babu, who remained a Communist all his life

I met the veteran MP for the first time in 2004, but he had been part of dinner table conversations all my life.

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How pitch for a Bengali Prime Minister may propel Mamata Banerjee to the top chair

It is likely that she will wait till results are out to stake claim to the prime minister's chair.

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How campus fire makes TMC uneasy, again

The Calcutta Medical College strike could have ended in a whimper, if Mamata Banerjee had acted promptly.

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How Rahul Gandhi's wink stopped a great political moment from being realised

The Congress president couldn't hide the elation over having actually left Modi dumbfounded.

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When Modi dared Mamata on her own turf

The PM asked the Bengal chief minister to read the writing on the wall - the BJP is headed for big electoral gains in 2019.

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How BJP is raising poll heat in TMC strongholds ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections

The Panchayat verdict has been an eye-opener for Mamata Banerjee.

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