Greenhorn campaigns under constant guard

KOLKATA: There is something of a Balika Bodhu in Mousumi Chatterjee after all these years. The Congress candidate from Kolkata North East appears amazingly naive as she goes on her door-to-door campaign.
Armed to the hilt with glamour and a gift of the gab, the star of the yesteryear does need constant guidance.
Campaign manager Maitreyi Saha doesn''t let her out of sight as Pradesh Congress chief Somen Mitra keeps a close watch on her campaign.
He is either accompanying her or providing moral support over phone. For the past fortnight, Mousumi has been groomed thoroughly.
Yet she is quite unaware of the basic issues of her constituency. Every time you ask her something and the actor says: "I have never claimed to be a seasoned politician."
Keeping aside the basic issues of unemployment, education and security of life, Chatterjee wants an university to be built where brilliant students can study free of cost. However, she refuses to elaborate.
She, however, is a big crowd-puller. She talks nineteen to the dozen, teases her interviewer and insists she votes for her, sports L''oreal make-up and various gold and junk jewellery. If these qualities were to win her a poll, she would win it hands down.
She wants to "go to all the factories and companies that have closed down and try and open them up again" if she wins.
She also wants to wipe off the look of depression from the young faces of this state. Sweet sentiments. But do they fit in with the dog-eatdog world of politics?
Maitreyi Saha gives her a 9 out of 10 in relating to the masses while a 5 for political consciousness.
"She is very spontaneous and her interactions with the masses is impressive. She might not be politically very sound but then how many people are in the beginning?" she asks.
Somen Mitra supports her: "When Ajit Panja joined the Congress he was a barrister without any political background. Chatterjee too will learn the tricks of the trade."
"She has created a sensation within women voters. Politics after all is about stirring the right emotions," PCC member Badal Bhattacharya said.