Mamata Banerjee at a Shakespeare Sarani housing complex on Monday evening
KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday launched a door-to-door campaign, the first time in 15 years in upscale complexes in her constituency, visiting seven condos along Shakespeare Sarani and Lord Sinha Road to seek votes and hear residents’ concerns.“The last time she visited was in 2011, during the Assembly by-election after her party came to power. Since then, councillors and party leaders came, but she didn’t. It was good to see her come to complex and spend time with us again,” said Rohit Goel of Ganga Jamuna apartment on Shakespeare Sarani.Ganga Jamuna was the first stop after her evening meeting near Shakespeare Sarani Police Station.She met around 200 residents from Ganga Jamuna, Nilambar Apartment and Victoria Orbit at the complex’s community hall between 6.50 pm and 7.30 pm.“She first asked about our well-being, then spoke about how she respects all religions and communities. She said her own family reflects that diversity and that she celebrates all festivals with equal enthusiasm. She also asked if residents from different communities face any issues and urged us to reach her, the local councillor or the mayor if needed,” said Manoj Gupta of Nilambar Apartment on Shakespeare Sarani.After spending about 40 minutes there, the Trinamool chief visited four more complexes — Dimple Court, Embassy, Shyam Kunj and Ankur Apartment — spending 15 to 30 minutes at each before calling it a day.In earlier campaigns, Trinamool relied on a set team — mostly women and known faces — to visit complexes and hold small meetings.At times, Banerjee would address residents over speakerphone via campaigners. Residents say they do not recall her personally visiting complexes to seek votes as she did on Monday.In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, TMC secured a slender lead of just over 8,000 votes in the Bhowanipore Assembly segment under Kolkata South constituency, trailing in several wards with high-rise complexes.“This was the first time the chief minister came to our complex. We were pleasantly surprised with her arrival and welcomed her with a shawl. She sat with us and had tea and also listened to our woes. We told her how footpaths have got encroached here and how illegal parking has made it difficult for residents to drive or walk here. She took note of the issue and promised to solve it before she asked us to vote for her in this election and asked all of us to maintain communal harmony,” said Dilip Surana of Embassy Building on Lord Sinha Road.
