Now, she has been nominated by the Mamata Banerjee’s party to contest from the same ward.

Though she switched sides just a month before the civic elections, Khatoon is confident of winning the ward third time in a row. “The senior CPM party leaders said that you cannot contest the elections for the third time. But in other wards, the Left has fielded the same candidate for the fourth or the fifth time. If it was a rule then why was it only applicable to me,” said Khatoon adding that CPM leaders intentionally tried to prevent her from contesting elections this time.

“Since her popularity has grown considerably, some section of leaders wanted to shunt her out,” said Khatoon’s husband Zamal Ahmed.

Much before she filed her nomination papers on May 2 as a Trinamool candidate, Khatoon had began preparation for the electoral battle. She along with her husband is on a campaign trail, meeting people and organising meetings.

“For 10 years, I have worked for the people. They want their civic representatives to be available round the clock. The party comes later,” said Khatoon when asked whether her joining the Trinamool would affect her chances of winning against CPM’s Aisha Ali Khan, who is contesting the elections for the first time.