In Delhi, Mamata is cynosure, for sure

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Delhi, the multi-storey flats for junior MPs at Bishamber Dass Marg, is hardly a well-known address.

But a large number of people seem to have found their way there in order to pay respects to the new power player in Delhi.

In 2004, Banerjee had to watch her rivals, the Left, share the spoils of power, as she alone in her party was elected to the Lok Sabha. But with 19 MPs this time, it is her who is shifting gears.

The mercurial leader is being wooed not only by the typical power brokers that populate Delhi, but also bureaucrats, diplomats and businessmen, who have poured into her flat to curry favour.

As her staff fields calls for appointments, India’s ambassador to a central Asian country calls to meet her. “Sir, please call after 6.30, we will pass on your message,” says one of her secretarial staff, wondering aloud why the diplomat wants to meet Didi. In a city where who you know is the most important qualification, the new power player has a lot of instant friends.

Banerjee appears the same. She barricaded herself in her room after the UPA meeting, refusing to meet even her own party MPs anxious for news on developments.

“Didi will not move into any bungalow. Since 1992, she has stayed in this flat,” says another aide, proud of Banerjee’s spartan ways. It is another matter that Banerjee came to Delhi on a special chartered flight sponsored by the Congress to make it to the UPA meeting. There is speculation about ministry portfolios and the number of berths that the TMC will get. The railway ministry is the big tamale that the TMC is hoping to get, though DMK’s MK Azhagiri too is in the race for this very large department.