After her dramatic defeat in West Bengal elections, what will Mamata Banerjee do next? Her party is out of power, and she herself has lost her MLA seat. Sure, the ever-combative Mamata refused to resign, but what difference does that make now? Will she continue as some kind of “moral Chief Minister”? A moral CM! Perhaps because she simply cannot think of anything else to do. After all, when someone suddenly finds themselves with too much free time, becoming a “moral CM” may seem like a reasonable hobby.
So the real question is: How will Mamata Banerjee spend her days now? It is probably a question troubling her own mind as well. Fortunately, there is no shortage of alternative career ideas for her.
Beyond allegedly reducing a state to chaos and perfecting what critics sarcastically call “holiganism”, Mamata possesses a surprising number of talents. She sings, dances, writes books, plays football, paints, and even dabbles in legal activism from time to time. Now that she has plenty of free time — and no more files to clear — she can finally take these hobbies to the next level.
Her painting passion, for instance, could become an international artistic venture. Imagine an exclusive art gallery themed around “hawai chappals” and her trademark white-and-blue sarees. Perhaps through her paintings, she can finally reveal what the true canvas of “Khela Hobe” really looked like. Kolkata, after all, has always appreciated experimental art. If she were to display her artwork across the city’s streets, crowds would certainly gather — though perhaps not entirely for artistic reasons.
Music could be another avenue. Mamata’s supporters often describe her as a cultural icon, and she is said to have composed several tunes herself. With politics temporarily behind her, she could launch an official music album. Since she also enjoys dancing, she might even start her own “Didi Zumba Classes,” complete with energetic slogans and catchy chants.
Writing is another field where she claims considerable experience. Reports suggest that she has authored dozens of books in Bengali. Critics often alleged that many of those books found their way into government libraries during her tenure as Chief Minister. But now, free from administrative duties, she could potentially write hundreds more. The only mystery would be, who exactly will read them?
And then there is poetry. Mamata has long projected herself as a poet-politician. Some of her poems — quirky, playful, and unconventional — have even become part of school curricula in West Bengal. Admirers see creativity in them; critics see absurdity. Either way, they certainly attract attention.
Fitness and football could also become full-time pursuits. Mamata is known for her morning walks and fondness for football. Perhaps she could now train professionally, channeling the same aggressive energy once reserved for political battles into the football field instead.
Another likely career option lies in the courtroom. If she can no longer dominate the Assembly from within, she may continue fighting political battles through litigation outside it. Over recent months she has repeatedly approached courts over political disputes, leading some observers to joke that she could become a “professional PIL petitioner.” Of course, that territory has traditionally been associated with Subramanian Swamy, but perhaps Mamata now hopes to challenge even him in that department.
In fact, given her statements about taking Bengal’s electoral issues to international forums, she may even aspire to become an “international professional petitioner.”
Overall, Mamata Banerjee has no shortage of post-politics opportunities — painting, singing, dancing, writing, football, legal activism, and more. She can pursue any talent she likes. The only thing many voters seem to have rejected, according to this satirical commentary, is her brand of combative politics.
As the closing lines put it:
“Power may be gone, but the talents remain.
Painting, dance, and football — the real ‘khela’ is still yet to begin.”
