India Today Conclave East captures eastern and northeastern states in all their glory

The stage was set for India Today Conclave East at Kolkata, and quite fittingly West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee chose the forum to make a defining statement she promised to let Sanjay Leela Bhansali screen Padmavati in West Bengal. Banerjee made this brave suggestion at a time when chief ministers of other states have offered little more than a tacit silence to those issuing threats. The chief minister's stand was clearly in sync with how India Today Group Chairman and Editor in Chief Aroon Purie described her in his welcome speech, as "Sister Courage, Mother Protector, Iron Lady, she has always stood on the side of angels".

Audacious and defiant in equal measure, the West Bengal chief minister also attacked the BJP led NDA government at the Centre, blaming it for unleashing a "super Emergency" and an atmosphere of fear in the country. It was clear that Didi, as Mamata Banerjee is affectionately called, was aware of her national stature given the fact that her party, the All India Trinamool Congress, has 33 Lok Sabha seats, a tally that makes