Bengali celebrities hail Mamata Banerjee's victory

Mumbai, May 16 (IANS) A one-woman army, a patient fighter, people's person - Bengali film personalities are lauding Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress-led alliance historic win in West Bengal in various ways. They feel her victory has been scripted like a potboiler.

She defeated the Left Front that ruled the state for 34 years.

This is what the celebs have to say:

Bappi Lahiri: I'm more qualified to speak about Mamata Didi's victory than anyone else. I was physically present in Bengal to campaign for three of her candidates Debashree Roy, Ashok Dev and Brij Mohan. I even went to Sundarban for Debashree. Everywhere that I went there was no red flag. It was the Trinamool Congress all the way. Then and there, I knew change was on the way in Bengal. I've supported Sonia Gandhiji for eight years. Now I am happy that another woman has come into power. Mamata Didi is the avatar of Goddess Durga.

Rohit Roy: I've been in Kolkata for the past three months shooting a Bengali film and have witnessed the burning desire for change first-hand. It was a foregone conclusion that Didi would come to power. I'm personally very happy she has won. She's a people's person and has brought a lot of changes in West Bengal. She has driven the state forward economically, something the Left has failed to do in decades! I expect a sea-change in Kolkata.

Mithun Chakraborty: She deserves the thumping victory. She has worked, worked and worked honestly. I completely empathize with her struggle to emerge a winner. Do you know, she had got only one seat in the last Lok Sabha elections? I think it was the complacency, arrogance and over-confidence of others that worked to Mamata Banerjee's advantage. She's a one-woman army. Her ability to stand up for what she believes in is truly exemplary.

Chandan Roy Sanyal: I think it is the end of the war of the sexes. Now 'Dada' moves over. Didi takes over. Bengali saris are back in vogue.

Prosenjit Chatterjee (Bengal's reigning superstar): It's a great success indeed and common people like us will expect some good work. Everyone who voted for her has a lot of faith in her.

Koena Mitra: Capricorn woman, Bengal's chief minister and a fighter who never lost patience. I am truly happy for her and her supporters. Hope Pashchim Bangal's new chief minister shows the magic that she has promised her believers for the future.

Sohail Sen (music director): I'm really happy that she won the elections. She helps the ones who really need help. She is one of the cleanest politicians we have in our country. I wish her all the best and I hope that we get more politicians like her in our country.

Tanishtha Chatterjee: I think the younger people saw this change coming in West Bengal. In a democratic country, West Bengal functioned as an autocracy. I hope the change is for the better and brings progress to the state. It is interesting that the change in the one-man rule in Bengal has come at a time when the Middle East is repudiating autocracy.

Pritish Nandy: Mamata's victory is historic. After almost 40 years a Communist government was overthrown and decimated by one adamant woman who refused to be cowed down by the ruling regime's political might and their threats. Now the challenge is to make Bengal catch up with the rest of India and regain its past glory. Can she do it?

Tanushree Dutta: I'm not much into politics. But it is surprising to see that the CPM has given way to the Mamata regime by such a huge majority after a 35-year domination. Mamta is the first woman CM of Bengal. Change is always welcome. It opens up the possibility of a bright future.

Kumar Sanu: Yes, everybody needed a change. Mamatadi is a genuine politician. Her honesty will speeden the process of Bengal's growth. And that's what we need. Thank you, Didi.

Amit Kumar (Kishore Kumar's son): It's a historic win. Toppling a powerful Left government after 34 years. Great! Now we have to see how she anchors her government.

Sudipto Chattopadhyay (director 'Pankh'): This victory has been scripted like a potboiler. The enemies of the state have been decimated.

Anurag Basu: Friday the 13th will remain engraved in Buddha babu (Jyoti Basu) and his party comrades' bitter memories for a long time. And they will try hard to make matters tough for Mamata Didi. It's a rough sea ahead for her. But the people of Bengal are filled with new hope and will make sure her sailing is smooth.

Nandana Sen: I grew up in the era of Jyoti Basu. So this is a huge political and cultural change. It's the people's verdict and I've the greatest faith in the wisdom of our people. I'm extremely optimistic.