Will Mamata Banerjee Become PM or Surpass Jyoti Basu's Record as Bengal CM?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Kunal Ghosh's Predictions: Strong assertions regarding Mamata Banerjee's future.
- Jyoti Basu's Legacy: Historical context of Bengal's political landscape.
- Abhishek Banerjee’s Role: Expected to follow in Mamata's footsteps.
- Election Dynamics: The upcoming electoral battle with the BJP.
- Cultural Significance: Predictions made during Kali Puja and Diwali.
Kolkata, Oct 20 (NationPress) On the dual auspicious occasions of Kali Puja and Diwali, Kunal Ghosh, the state general secretary of the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, forecasted that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could either ascend to the role of Prime Minister by 2029 or exceed the historical achievements of the late Jyoti Basu as Chief Minister.
While addressing the Opposition, Ghosh refrained from naming any specific individuals in his social media remarks.
Additionally, he asserted that Trinamool's Lok Sabha leader Abhishek Banerjee would take over as the next Chief Minister of West Bengal following his aunt, Mamata Banerjee.
“As a concerned citizen, I wish to inform the opposition, known for their theatrical antics, that Mamata Banerjee will indeed surpass Jyoti Basu’s tenure as Chief Minister. She is set to hold that position until 2036. Before that, Abhishek Banerjee will assume leadership under her guidance,” Ghosh declared in a post on X.
He further remarked, “If Mamata becomes the Prime Minister in 2029, it will be a remarkable turn of events. The Opposition should focus on media narratives while Trinamool thrives in Nabanna (the state secretariat), unlike the opposition, which remains confined to social media.”
It’s worth noting that Jyoti Basu was West Bengal's 6th and longest-serving Chief Minister, holding office from 1977 until 2000. He was a founding member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and served 11 terms in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
His political journey, spanning over seventy years, marked him as the longest-serving chief minister in an elected democracy at the time of his resignation. He declined the offer to become Prime Minister after the 1996 general election when the CPI-M opted against allowing him to lead a multi-party coalition, thereby passing the prime ministership to H.D. Deve Gowda.
In the upcoming 2026 Bengal Assembly elections, Mamata Banerjee is eyeing her fourth term as Chief Minister, while the BJP opposition aims to displace her and the Trinamool Congress from power.