It is the intervening period that promises to be full of action punctuated with behind-the-scene parleys, new alliances, and failing alliances. The past year has been particularly significant for Mamata Banerjee. Those watching her closely will probably also acknowledge a perceptible change in her bearing. She is far less impulsive now, and more restrained in her temperament. The haggard, tattered look of yore has also gone. Now she can often be spotted holding a cell phone in her clenched fists at public rallies. At times, there is even a sling bag adorning her shoulder. As for the old fire, it has now given way to a new cunning.

So on July 8, 2007, while returning from Delhi, she drove straight to Indira Bhavan in Salt Lake, to wish the CPM patriarch, Jyoti Basu, who was celebrating his 93rd birthday. With a bouquet in her hand, she touched Basu’s feet, delighting the old man. He told her that he was “so happy” that she had come even though he left almost immediately for a meeting. The message was clear: the new Mamata was willing to go to any length to dislodge Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

All said and done, it has been a year of experimentation for her. She has openly and successfully courted fringe political outfits like various Naxalite groups who have come to hold sway in isolated pockets. In fact many of her admirers now are old, die-hard communists and intellectuals disillusioned over Buddha’s robust pro-industry agenda. During her 25-day fast unto death over Singur, Naxal activists gave her round-the-clock company and encouragement.

... contd.