On Twitter, most critics of government officials are equal opportunity offenders, as West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee presumably found out on Thursday after she joined the social platform to directly connect to the hoi polloi she champions in her speeches.
The founder and chairperson of the All India Trinamool Congress leader’s Twitter debut went slightly off course after users subjected her to the roast that has almost become the rite of passage for celebrities testing out Twitter for the first time.
Banerjee tweeted from the handle @MamataOfficial ‘A new year, a new beginning for me on Twitter’ with a stock photo of fireworks over waters to wish users a happy new year. As of 9:30 AM on Friday Banerjee’s unverified account had 5710 followers. Actor Pawan Kalyan, who joined Twitter on the same day, has over 56k.
Banerjee’s debut on the foundation day of the All India Trinamool Congress provided her critics the perfect opportunity to post tweets mocking past instances when she labelled her dissenters as 'Maoists'. The bulk of the tweets were not malicious, but it gave a sense of things Banerjee should expect if she becomes a regular on the site.
A New Year. A new beginning for me on Twitter pic.twitter.com/hoDSlSe3ye
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 1, 2015
In honour of Mamata Banerjee joining Twitter, Twitter to remove 'following' from her profile. She is the leader and cannot follow anyone!
— SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) January 1, 2015
I don't think Mamata Banerjee understands yet how Twitter works. She just announced a 51% reservation for minorities for her followers list
— IndiaSpeaks (@IndiaSpeaksPR) January 1, 2015
Can it get any shriller? Mamata Banerjee joins Twitter http://t.co/cWszz7O763 via @timesofindia
— Chidanand Rajghatta (@chidu77) January 1, 2015
The rate at which Mamata's Twitter joining is being jokes about, it seems she may just delete her account and blame BJP for it!
— Aparna Mudi (@AparnaMudi) January 1, 2015
The fact that Mamata Banerjee has not blocked 12,450 people yet proves that someone else is operating her Twitter account
— IndiaSpeaks (@IndiaSpeaksPR) January 1, 2015
Mamata Banerjee is on Twitter!!!! No, someone from her party is, with her permission.
— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) January 1, 2015
Mamata joins Twitter. Ppl with red DP/background, be scared. Be very very scared.
— Sambit Nayak (@sambitlnt) January 1, 2015
Mamata is on Twitter but India's 'Youth Star' still isn't. I can hear the Congress SM managers banging their heads on their desks from here
— Kushan Mitra (@kushanmitra) January 1, 2015