Didi’s speed naming session
EVERYONE is aware of Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee’s ability in coming up with new trains. However, very few know that the minister has unparalleled skills in naming the trains something which amazes railway officials and her party workers too. At a recent function at Howrah Station where Banerjee announced six new trains, she also came up with four new names for four different trains within minutes after the programme began. While she named the Howrah-Purulia Bi-Weekly Express as Lal Mati Express after the red soil found in the region, the Howrah-Haridwar Express was rechristened as Kumbh Express after the Kumbh Mela. She also named Kolkata-Bikaner Weekly Express as Pratap Express after Rana Pratap and Sealdah-Amritsar Weekly Express after Jalianwala Bagh. A Trinamool MP, who was present there, came out praising the leader for giving “four new names in three minutes”.

Basu, dead or alive?
THE rumour that kept both the Writers’ Buildings and Kalighat (Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee’s residence) abuzz on Friday evening was the health of veteran CPM leader Jyoti Basu. After the 96-year-old Communist patriarch was admitted to a city hospital, everyone — from Trinamool leaders to state government officials — made calls to private hospital, newspaper offices and their mediapersons to know the truth, as there were rumours floating that Basu has died. Despite the medical bulletins, issued by the hospital, making it clear that Basu’s condition was stable, yet many found it hard to believe. “Arre, someone told us that he is dead. And we almost believed the news because he is very old and sick. Ultimately, our leader Mamata Banerjee met him at the hospital and cleared the air,” said a senior Trinamool leader.