Twitterati welcome Mamata’s debut with barbs

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee made her debut on social networking site Twitter on Wednesday. However, she did not get the welcome she hoped to receive.

West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee made her debut on social networking site Twitter on Wednesday. However, she did not get the welcome she hoped to receive.

Within the first three hours of opening the account @mamataofficial received more than 2,500 followers. But, in light of the multi-crore Saradha scam and other controversies, she received angry tweets from many users.

“Not sure u can handle the heat here, as u will be exposed big time” one read, while another one said “Your ministers say Bengal will burn if you are touched. What will happen to Twitter if you are trolled?”

Banerjee’s Twitter debut coincided with the foundation day of the Trinamool Congress. “Today is the Foundation Day of AITC. We are 16+ now. My heartiest greetings and best wishes to Maa, Mati, Manush of Bengal,” her first tweet read.

The Trinamool Congress has an official Twitter account and many of its leaders, including party spokesperson Derek O’Brien and Banerjee’s nephew MP Abhishek Banerjee are very active on the social media site.

“Even though the party has a Twitter handle people want to hear directly from the leader,” said O’Brien.

Banerjee’s move is seen as an attempt to take on the BJP, which is expected to make major gains in West Bengal. The BJP had successfully tapped social media for votes during the general elections last year.