Suman Mahto campaigns at Telco on Monday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, June 27: If she has earned the sobriquet didi — arguably under Bengal’s firebrand Didi’s political tutelage — it is only natural that she follows in the Trinamul Congress chief’s footsteps.

Driven by encouraging chants of “Suman didi zindabad” instead of Suman Mahto zindabad, the JMM turncoat and Trinamul hopeful for the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha by-election today scripted a record of sorts pulling off a 15km padyatra from Kadma to Mango, via Telco, Birsanagar and Baridih.

The Telegraph matches steps with the leader as she dreams of building a “unnati ka path” for the steel city

Time: 9am

Place: Kadma

Draped in a gold-bordered taant — only a tad too elite than her mentor Mamata Banerjee’s humble Dhonekhali cotton — the 46-year-old leader darts for a party meeting at a city hotel.

Almost an hour and a healthy biscuit-juice breakfast later, the 46-year-old Trinamul leader is ready to garner support for her party. She is interrupted by a couple of unexpected visitors. Without a frown, she ushers them in to her Kadma residence and engages in a brief chat.

“I am contesting the parliamentary elections for the third time, but I know my manners. That is the first impression you create on your supporters,” the 46-year-old says as slogans outside gain pitch for Suman didi (no longer Suman Madam as she was known during the last parliamentary elections).

Out of the house at 10am, the mother of a six-year-old profusely apologises for her delay. “Election or not, I wake up at 4.30am. I have responsibilities towards my daughter Arpita,” she tells party workers while hopping into her SUV escorted by five bodyguards.

Within half an hour Suman reaches Telco and is greeted by a large number of women supporters. 10.40am. The walkathon begins. Instead of one-on-one interactions, she banks on the Trinamul symbol. Every passer-by is given a party flag, which comes with a smile and a flash of V-for-victory from the leader.

“It is very important that people know the party symbol. My party is new in this region and I will make it a point that Didi (Mamata Banerjee) gains ground here as she has in Bengal,” she said.

“Mamatadidi jaise Bengal mein badlaav ka leher lekar aayi hai, waise hi main Jamshedpur ko unnati ke path par chalte dekhna chahti hoon (The way Mamatadidi has ushered in winds of change, I would like to see Jamshedpur on the road to development),” she added.

Amid the rhythm of drums, she appeals: “Aap sabhi joda phool par vote dekar Jamshedpur ko ek naye samay aur vikas ke path par aage badhaiyein. (Vote for Trinamul, usher in a new era and take Jamshedpur on the path of development).”

By 11.15am, the city’s new didi reaches D Road in Telco for a door-to-door campaign. Raising a toast to she-power, Suman said women were less corrupt than men and thus more eligible to authority. “I am following Didi and everybody knows her ideology. I am a woman and corruption is not my cup of tea. If the whole country is against corruption, I think there can be no other candidate better than me. I have proved myself in the past and voters know who is best for the city,” she said near Telco market.

More than an hour later, the padyatris enter Birsanagar market, where Suman greets shopkeepers. The namaste-and-grin ritual continues till Baridih market.

At 3pm, the Trinamul candidate takes a fruit break at her Kadma residence.

Refreshed, she resumes campaigning in an hour. A meeting at Azad Bustee in Mango saw some 200 supporters, followed by another at Dimna Road at 6pm. The leader garnered for support in Sakchi before she called it a day at 10pm to return home.

KNOW YOUR LEADER

Diet
Biscuits, orange juice for breakfast; fruits for lunch

Dream
Trinamul foothold in Jharkhand
Put Jamshedpur on road to development, a la Mamata in Bengal

Dedication
15km padyatra on single day;
Distribution of party flags to popularise joda phool symbol
Door-to-door campaign