If there's one political leader that may be giving a hard time to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, it is West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. From making sure the BJP is unable to hold a rath yatra in her state to now sitting on a dharna to protecting a police commissioner in her state under the garb of protest against Centre's misuse of the CBI, Mamata has sent out a message that she is ready to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi head on ahead of the national polls. CBI vs Mamata: BJP Asks Why West Bengal CM is Protecting Kolkata Police Chief Rajeev Kumar, Takes Dig at Rahul Gandhi.
Whether Banerjee's present actions, like sitting on a dharna against the CBI's actions against Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar, are right or wrong is for the courts to decide. While the city Police have moved the Kolkata High Court against the CBI, the Centre has moved Supreme Court against Didi's actions. The apex court will take up the matter against Mamata tomorrow. Follow Live Updates of Mamata Banerjee's Dharna Here.
WATCH: Mamata vs CBI: Who Said What?
However, Mamata has made clear is that she is not going to budge. The West Bengal CM has sent out a message that if the Centre was to challenge her, she was ready to take that challenge in the face. What makes her emerge as the strongest leader in the Mahagathbandhan is the fact that she has gathered support from every single party in the Opposition, in all her actions.
The only other leader who showed that kind of courage was Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who sat on a dharna at the L-G's office for days. However, one thing the Delhi CM lacked was Mamata's 'I'm the boss' body language. She stands on the stage, next to a pole, one hand on her waist with a poker face. She walks to and fro on the stage. She has been going about doing regular administrative work as a CM from the stage even as the dharna continues.
Mamata Banerjee continues her dharna and says it will go on till February 8. She calls it "non-political" but welcomes political support. Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, Mamata Banerjee has definitely sent out one message - Love her or hate her, but you cannot ignore her.
(The opinions expressed in the above article are of the author and do not reflect the stand or position of LatestLY.)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 04, 2019 05:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).