March 25, 2014
On the campaign trail with… Dola Sen
Dola Sen, the State President of Trinamool labour wing INTTUC, has been fielded as a candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Asansol. Primarily an industrial area, Ms. Sen has been using her experience as the INTTUC President to reach out to the people. With the guidance of Ms. Mamata Banerjee, and the blessings of the common people, Ms. Sen is confident of winning from Asansol with a handsome margin. Trinamool web team spent a day with Dola Sen during her campaign.
March 21, 2014. 6:30 AM
The Trinamool Congress candidate for the Asansol Constituency, Ms. Dola Sen and two of her aides leave for Ansansol from Kolkata. Ms. Sen had extensively campaigned extensively in her constituency for the last couple of weeks and was in the State capital for official purpose.
Three meetings already scheduled for the day are at Baraboni Assembly Constituency – Jamgram, Salanpur and Chittaranjan. Another hectic day ahead, but Ms. Sen is not bogged down because she has been holding at least three workers` meeting every day in her constituency since the announcement of the list of candidates of the party.
Dola di, as we may call her now, quickly nibbles over her brunch. The menu – dal, rice, boiled smashed potatoes and curd – was all she would be having for the rest of her day.
11:40 AM, Workers` Meeting at Jamgram Panchayat, Baraboni
The turnout is more than anticipated. The auditorium, which is built to house 1000 people has another thousand waiting outside to get in. Dola di and other leaders are welcomed to the beats of madol being played. Fifty per cent of the attendees are women, which goes on to show the support of women for the party.
Contrary to expectations the turnout at the meeting was in hundreds; a lot more than what one would expect at a railway colony for a workers` meeting. Dola di was overwhelmed. She highlighted Mamata Banerjee`s achievements as the Railway Minister before the audience. In her speech, Dola di said this time the vote would either be cast in favour of Mamata Banerjee or against her. Pro-people votes would be in favour of Didi while anti-people votes would go to other parties.
11:00 PM – Durgapur City
It is time for another strategy meeting, the final one at the end of a very hectic schedule. Another interview to a leading Bengali newspaper and Dola di calls it a day. A quick look at the emails and messages she has received throughout the day, and off she is to rest, and of course prepare for a fresh round of campaigning the next day.
