Time Magazine’s decision to name Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee one of the world’s 100 most powerful people couldn’t have been more ironic.
It comes at a time when the “populist woman of action” is drawing criticism from many quarters after some of her fledgling government’s recent decisions sparked public outrage and a media furore.
No doubt Banerjee is still powerful. She’s been instrumental in stalling some of India’s biggest economic reforms and key policy decisions. But the state of West Bengal is now facing the heat of her maverick actions.
As the state chief minister goes from strength to strength in charting her own course, critics wonder what lies ahead for the 57-year-old firebrand leader?
Banerjee’s ouster of the world’s longest-running elected communist government was hailed as a watershed event last year. The Trinamool leader came to power on the promise of bringing ‘poribartan’ (change) to West Bengal. But her obstructionist attitude at the centre and the functioning of her own state government could derail her political career.
