Amid slogans of 'Mamata Banerjee zindabad', 'Joy Bangla' and 'TMC zindabad', Banerjee led a colourful procession to the Alipore Survey Building, where she filed her nomination papers for the constituency that revived her electoral career in 2021.

With folded hands and her trademark smile, Banerjee walked nearly 600 metres with women supporters blowing conch shells and raising ululations and party workers waving Trinamool Congress flags.

If BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's nomination filing last week, accompanied by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, was designed as a show of saffron strength and a call for "paribartan", Banerjee's roadshow on Wednesday was carefully choreographed as its ideological opposite.

"I was born and brought up here in Bhabanipur only. I stay here 365 days a year. My life, my work, my movements -- everything revolves around Bhabanipur. Everything in my life began from here. I thank and salute the people of Bhabanipur," Banerjee said after filing her nomination papers.

Seeking to widen the contest beyond Bhabanipur, Banerjee appealed to electors across Bengal to vote for the TMC. "I appeal to the people not only in Bhabanipur but in all the 294 seats to ensure the victory of our candidates. We will win with a bigger mandate," she said.