Mamata's popularity reaches Facebook

KOLKATA, INDIA: For long a magnet for the masses who connected with her down- to-earth persona, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's popularity has now reached the virtual world, with social networking site Facebook being flooded by responses posted on fan pages dedicated to the firebrand leader from West Bengal.

Facebook has five Mamata Banerjee fan pages, with their membership standing at more than 3,000, most of whom are youngsters.

These pages are equivalent to fan clubs where people from various sections of the society post their views and voice their support for Mamata in the run-up to the state elections.

"Didi jot hok ba na hok, ful futbei (alliance or not, Trinamool's symbol flower will bloom in the state)," posted Debdip Roy, a members of one such fan page.

"You are the pioneer of nationalism in West Bengal against the tyranny and the misrule of the souls of Lenins and Stalins," another member Sudarshan Ganguly wrote.

"Didi, I don't understand politics, but I feel like we need change. We need you," posted Indrani Mukherjee.

Another member Souvick Ghosh wrote: "Didi, lead West Bengal to the days of pride and glory... We salute you for your uncompromising battle with the evil power... We are all with you."

"Didi, you are there that is why I am confident that Bengal will be saved," posted Soumya Mukherjee.

The fan pages also have albums capturing Mamata Banerjee in her various moods.

Members have spirited discussions on the upcoming April-May elections, and share their views on issues like Trinamool's proposed alliance with Congress and the Jan 7 killings in Netai, near the Maoist stronghold of Lalgarh, where nine people were killed allegedly by assailants backed by the ruling Marxists.

In one such discussion on 'Seat Sharing with Congress', Shantanu Roy posted: "It looks like this time, Trinamool will have to make sacrifices like Sita."

"Cadres of CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) are using Facebook as their party's media... they are always discussing against Mamata Banerjee... the people who love Mamata should combat this and write against the misrule of the government," posted Gautam Burman, a fan page member.