West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee turned 71 today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, January 5, extended his birthday greetings to Banerjee, wishing her good health and a long life.
In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “Birthday wishes to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Didi. I pray for her good health and long life.”
Early years and educational background of CM Mamata Banerjee
Born in Kolkata on January 5, 1955, Mamata Banerjee is the daughter of the late Promileswar Banerjee and Gayatri Banerjee. She has an impressive academic profile; she holds a bachelor's degree in arts (BA) along with B.Ed., LL.B., and a Master's degree in Arts (M.A.).
Also Read | TMC turns 28, what are some key challenges that lie for the ruling party this 2026 election season?
Her early political associations date back to the time of her college education at Jog Maya Debi College, as she was a member of the West Bengal Chhatra Parishad. Later, she was part of the Working Committee from 1977 to 1983.
In the late 1970s through to the 1980s, she occupied various organisational positions in the Congress (Indira), including the General Secretary for West Bengal Congress (Indira), Secretary, West Bengal Provincial Trade Union Congress, as well as Secretary, Women’s Wing Indian National Trade Union Congress.
Parliamentary and ministerial roles
Banerjee was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1984 from the Jadavpur constituency. She has been elected to Parliament a total of seven times for the South Kolkata seats from 1991 to 2009.
She has been a member of various Parliamentary Committees and has taken up crucial posts in the Union Government, like that of Minister of State for Youth & Sports, Women & Child Development in 1991, Railway Minister in 1999 & in 2009 respectively, and Cabinet Minister for Coal & Mines in 2004.
Also Read | Mamata flags voter name deletions, hearing harassment in letter to Gyanesh Kumar
In 2011, the All India Trinamool Congress won a historic election victory, thus ending a 34-year-long rule in the state of West Bengal. On May 20, 2011, Mamata Banerjee administered the oath of office as the first female Chief Minister of the state. She is in her third tenure as the Chief Minister.
