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Regular-article-logo Friday, 04 July 2025

Mother watches daughter's budget

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CHANDREYEE CHATTERJEE Published 04.07.09, 12:00 AM

Mamata Banerjee’s family members back home at Kalighat had huddled before the TV screen much before the railway minister took the podium in Parliament to present her third railway budget.

“We do not watch news channels in the morning but today was special. How could we miss didi’s budget?” said Mamata’s sister-in-law Kalpana Banerjee.

Ensconced in the middle of the bedroom of 30B Harish Chatterjee Street was Mamata’s mother Gayatri Devi. The ailing octogenarian might not have understood the budget arithmetic but that did not deter her from sitting through the proceedings, her eyes glued to the 15-inch TV screen.

Eta toh prothombar noy. O toh ageo rail-er budget korechhey (This is not the first time. She had presented the railway budget earlier, too),” the proud mother said.

Around her was son Swapan and daughters-in-law Kalpana and Lata. Sitting close by was Mamata’s aide Shovan Chatterjee, who had come to watch the budget with his leader’s family.

Mamata’s comments during the budget had the family in splits, especially when she proposed the introduction of non-stop trains for the Northeast and Bihar. “Abhi ek dozen milega, baad mein aur lagey ga toh dega (Now there will be dozen trains. If needed, there will be more),” the minister announced. “Didi will never make a budget only for Bengal. She will ensure that all states are benefited,” said Swapan.

Supporters outside the house kept shouting “Didi zindabad, Lalu murdabad”.

Gayatri Devi’s much-awaited call came after the post-budget press conference. “Mamata asked her mother how she liked watching the budget on TV. Gayatri Devi enjoyed every bit of the proceedings,” said a source close to the family.

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