Empowering democracy and championing the cause of women in Indian polity, the Trinamul Congress named its dedicated grassroots worker Mitali Bag as the party’s nominee for Lok Sabha elections from the Arambagh seat.

Bag, ghorer meye (daughter of the soil) and raised in a humble family, broke several glass ceilings to become the MP candidate. She also worked as an ICDS worker to make ends meet. Narrating her childhood ordeal, Bag said, “I come from a rural family and was raised under very difficult circumstances. I studied at a village school and completed my education after overcoming countless challenges.

My mother struggled a lot to raise me and my siblings. I have been immensely inspired by my mother’s sacrifices to raise us. In 2016, I lost my father and became my mother’s only support. My mother is my world and my best friend. I gave tuition to fund my education. On many days, I couldn’t even manage two square meals.” Describing her plans, once she becomes an MP, an emotional Bag said, “I want to ensure that no one from any village has to meet the hardship that I faced. Arambagh’s soil is pure.

Being a woman and inspired by Didi, I want to take the women forward. I want to raise my voice for the marginalised in Delhi’s power corridors. I have been very inspired by our chairperson Mamata Banerjee’s incredible journey since my youth.” Bag was given a ticket by the Trinamul 2011 to contest gram panchayat polls. In 2018, she went to the panchayat samiti. After securing people’s support, Bag became a member of the zilla parishad during the 2023 panchayat elections.

“I broke barriers and confronted challenges to become an MP candidate. Now, I want to ensure that no one from a poor family faces challenges like I did. Even after getting the MA degree, I wasn’t able to do the things that I wanted due to financial problems. I used to get Rs 150 by teaching at a modest school.

I used to ask the administrator to give it after the end of the month. Sometimes, to reward me, he gave me Rs 200,” adds Bag, going back in life. Mitali’s neighbour Soumen said, “Bag braved challenges since her childhood. She has always led a very honest life. We are very happy that Didi nominated her. Bag fought the CPM with courage.”

Another neighbour Diyali said, “Mitali di has always stood with us. She didn’t even marry to support the society. We want her to reach Delhi so that our voice, the women’s voice, gets heard in Delhi.”