The past few months have indicated that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is one of the canniest politicians in India at present. She turns 57 on January 5. In a country where geriatrics still wield relatively greater influence and power, she has displayed instincts that are astute beyond her years. She has demonstrated that she possesses ruthless abilities to arm-twist her bigger partners in ways which few could have imagined, leave alone anticipated.