How they painted India

Delhis Jama Masjid is full of life in English artist William Carpenters print Delhi. A Street At Back Of Jumma Masjid. The artist seems invested in the lives of the people and their mundane activitiesfrom those running an ox cart to a pair of women with earthen pots on their heads. One of the most successful Orientalist American painters, Edwin Lord Weeks works are also full of intimate scenesa nautch girl in the courtyard of Delhis Nizamuddin Auliya dargah, an example of Indian life in the bygone era, catches the eye. When English artist and poet Edward Lear went to see the Taj Mahal in 1874, he feverishly wrote about its beauty in his journal that went beyond the ivory white monument to include details about gorgeously dressed and be-ringed women, parrots that were like live emeralds, poinsettias dotted cypress trees that line a breathtaking garden. A common thread that binds these works is how the foreign gaze offered a more private view of the then-Indian life. An ongoing exhibition comprising 103 works with 85 on display, Destination India: Foreign Artists In India 1857-1947, by DAG explores this lively representation of India, through the eyes of 39 foreign artists from 12 countries. This is the first exhibition to demonstrate that a major branch of Orientalist painting was devoted to India (and not confined to just North Africa and West Asia). Landmark exhibitions that have focused on the genre of such paintings in the past, including The Lure of the East: British Orientalist Painting (2008) at Londons Tate Gallery, do not mention India. The Indian chapter of Orientalist paintings has hardly been explored so this exhibit breaks new ground, says Ashish Anand, CEO & MD, DAG. Native Gharry, or Cart in Ahmedabad by Edwin Lord Weeks A new crop of artists In the Age of Discovery (from the 15th to the 17th century), when Europeans were exploring continents of Asia, Africa and America, their fascination with India grew, fuelled by their search for precious metals, trade, spices and new knowledge. By the late 19th century, India was already known in Europe through the works of pioneering Orientalist artists like William Hodges, Thomas and William Daniell, F. Baltazard Solvyns, Henry Salt and James Baillie Fraser. They captured India from the point of view of grand architecture, heritage sites, and vast landscapes but did not focus on its people. Curator Giles Tillotson, SVP, DAG notes: But by the late 19th century, the growth of tourism had made Indias major monuments well known, so artists now had to focus on other aspects to win an audience. They still depicted famous sites like the Taj Mahal and the ghats of Varanasi, but they had to find new ways of depicting them the daily lives of Indian people was one of them. The new crop of artists came from all across the world Germany, Denmark, France, Japan, Netherlands, and more. The exhibition is focused on the works of 39 of them, including Woldemar Friedrich and Horace van Ruith from Germany, Edwin Lord Weeks from America, Hiroshi Yoshida from Japan, William Carpenter and Charles W. Bartlett from England, Hugo Vilfred Pedersen from Denmark, Marius Bauer from the Netherlands, and more. Artists of this generation were much more interested in the living India: in the daily routine of an Indian bazaar or a haveli. They were attracted to the people, and not just to the grandees, but to ordinary people in the streets. If there was still an element of the picturesque, it was a more intimate and animated version of that aesthetic, says Anand in the directors note of the exhibition adding that in their works, we find an India that we do not just see, but that we can hear and smell. Authentic India A walk-through at the exhibition takes us through the works of the artistes who were particularly fascinated with life in the cities of Delhi, Varanasi, Lucknow, Udaipur, Jaipur, Gwalior and Agra. These artists wanted to show audiences back home the real India a place that was exotic and different. So, colonial cities like Bombay and Calcutta were not that interesting for them, because they were too much like what they knew in Europe. Marius Bauer complained that Bombay looked too much like London. Udaipur looked like another world and that is what he sought, Tillotson explains. In his works, society takes center stage. For instance, in Bauers Courtyard Of A Palace, India he shows Delhis Humayun Tombs faade dotted with local folks and a knight in shining armour, thus melding his travel memories with an element of fantasy. Similarly, Yoshida Hiroshi, a Japanese woodblock printmaker, paints famous sites of India like Buland Darwaza, Taj Mahal, and the ghats of Varanasi dotted with pilgrims, fakirs, mahouts, merchants in Kokka woodblock prints that became popular around the world. English painter Alfred Edward Emslie depicts the surreal An Indian Street Scene with a woman carrying a child on her shoulders as its anchor on a busy road while another English artist Charles William Bartlett paints devotees in prayers in The Golden Temple, Amritsar. Portraits were another way of show the faces from India and Danish artist Hugo Vilfred Pedersen, even was nicknamed Raja Painter for his commissioned portraits of Indian royalty. He drew the Maharaja of Mysore, Maharaja of Burdwan and more, besides also drawing commonfolk. What explains their perspective? It is not so much that they noticed things that Indians didnt, its more about they considered worth depicting. To a local, aspects of everyday life are obvious, while to a foreigner they are strange and engaging, says Tillotson. Destination India: Foreign Artists In India 1857-1947 is on till August 24 at DAG, 22-A, Janpath Road

Maoist convicted in 2010 massacre gets PhD admission in West Bengals Burdwan University

The head of the history department, where Arnab Dam will pursue his research, said the convict is a very bright academic scholar and should be given a fair chance

Eviction drive after Didi tough talk

KOLKATA: With Mamata Banerjee issuing a stern warning to some ministers, party leaders and a section of the bureaucracy during an administrative meeting over gross irregularities in awarding tenders and encroachment in footpaths, the police on Thursday continued their eviction drives in Kolkata as well as districts as the CM stated that she is not against hawkers but against encroachments on government land. On Thursday police visited various districts and with the help of earthmovers evicted dozens of illegal encroachments in footpaths. Later, Mamata said she was not against hawkers. My policy is not to use bulldozers; I want restrictions to be imposed from the beginning, she said at the state secretariat on Thursday in a meeting with state ministers, bureaucrats, police and hawkers union representatives. Mamata instructed the Calcutta police, mayor Firhad Hakim and others to carry out surveys in Hatibagan and the Grand hotel arcade. Dont take bulldozers. Find out how it can be sorted, she said. The chief minister also announced a five-member committee including three ministers Arup Biswas, Moloy Ghatak and Firhad Hakim would survey the areas in the state to find solutions to the encroachment and illegal-parking problems. The eviction drive will begin after the committee has surveyed the situation. The drive comes weeks after Lok Sabha poll results were announced. The primary reason behind Mamatas taking the bulldozer route is believed to be her partys weakening hold in urban pockets. Of the 144 wards in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, 141 are a part of the Lok Sabha seats of Calcutta North and Calcutta South and three in Jadavpur. The Trinamool was trailing in 47 wards in the Lok Sabha elections. There are only seven members from the Opposition comprising BJP, Congress and the Left in the civic body. The BJP was leading in civic bodies in Bolpur, Gobardanga, Krishnagar, Balurghat, Raigunj, Burdwan, Englishbazar, Jhargram, Barasat, Ashokenagar, Madhyamgram, Bongaon, Katwa, Kalna, Alipurduar and Balurghat, among others. From Tuesday onwards the Kolkata Police, with the help of earthmovers, started evicting encroachers from different parts of the city as well as Salt Lake Sector V. During the administrative meeting on Monday, which was shown live, Mamata pulled up councilors for awarding tenders in lieu of money without informing the state government, resulting in poor infrastructure. She cancelled all such tenders and stated the state government would conduct the process afresh. The CM was upset with the work of the councilors. She pulled up minister Sujit Bose saying she was aware that he appointed people to the civic body without informing the state government. She said, This is the worst performance of municipalities. I dont know why it happened. A section of councilors is taking bribes and making outsiders settle here. They want to change the identity of Bengal, but I will not allow this. There are dirty roads and nobody looks into it. Should I sweep the roads now? Mamata takes stock of TMC performance The main reason behind Mamata Banerjees taking on her ministers, a section of bureaucracy is believed to be TMCs weakening hold in urban pockets. Of the 144 wards in Kolkata Municipal Corporation, TMC was trailing in 47 wards in the Lok Sabha elections.

Jailed Maoist leader attends viva for PhD

Kolkata: Maoist leader Arnab Dam, alias Vikram, from West Bengal, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment, is preparing for his PhD in Hooghly jail. Arnab went to Burdwan University under police cordon on Wednesday to give the viva exam. According to sources, for the first time in history, a jailed Maoist leader applied for a PhD. On February 15, 2010, Arnab was accused of attacking the Silda EFR camp in West Midnapur (now in Jhargram district). Twenty-four EFR jawans were killed. The court found 23 people guilty in that case. Arnab, one of the accused in that case, was sentenced on February 29, 2023. He has been detained in the Hooghly jail since March 17. From there, Arnab requested that he be given an opportunity to do a PhD. The judge registered the plea but asked the jail authorities to consider the matter. But Arnabs plea was ignored. The Maoist leader announced that he would go on a hunger strike for that. In fact, a top Maoist leader successfully cleared the State Eligibility Test (SET) by taking the exam from jail in 2019. Human rights organisation APDR supported Arnabs claim and urged the Hooghly jail authorities to take immediate action. Finally, as the prison authorities gave permission, Arnabs interview was arranged. Sources said Arnab studies in the jails library; if he passes the oral interview, he will research on history. Arnab is the son of retired judge S.K. Dam from Kolkata. He studied mechanical engineering at Kharagpur IIT. It was later heard that he joined CPI (Maoist) in 1998. According to police, Arnab was a close friend of slain Maoist leader Kisanji. The authorities of Hooghly jail said that they made all the arrangements and brought him to Burdwan University. If everything goes well, Arnab will get a chance to do a PhD. It is not known that anyone has done a BA, MA, or PhD from jail before this.

Jailed Maoist leader in Bengal appears for PhD interview

Kolkata, June 26 (IANS) Maoist leader Arnab Dam a.k.a. Vikram, who is currently serving judicial custody at a prison in West Bengals Hooghly district, appeared for an interview in the Burdwan State University on Wednesday for doing his PhD in history from there. Dam, who appeared for the interview under the watch of the police, []

Terror Suspect Linked to Bangladesh Group Arrested by West Bengal Police

Kolkata: A terror suspect with alleged links to a Bangladesh-based outfit was arrested by the special task force (STF) of the West Bengal Police on Saturday afternoon from Kanksa in Burdwan West. Five of his aides were also detained for questioning. The accused, Mohammed Habibullah, is a member of banned terror group, Shahadat-e al Hiqma, which was formed by the operators of another major outfit, Ansar-al-Islam, after it faced crackdown in Bangladesh. Booked under the UAPA and IPC charges, the culprit was remanded in police custody for two weeks by a district court after his production on Sunday. Habibullah is a second-year college student with computer science in the district. He allegedly headed a module that used encrypted messaging platforms like BiP to coordinate the recruitment of young minds from India and Bangladesh, according to the STF. The STF caught him from a house at Mirpara during a raid at 3 pm on Saturday following a tip-off. Based on his revelations, five of his associates were also detained from Nababghat area later. Deputy Commissioner (East) of Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, Abhishek Gupta, said, The STF has arrested one person on suspicion of being a militant. The STF and the Kanksa police station are investigating. The NIA already registered three cases against the Ansar al-Islamone each in Mizoram, Bengaluru and Bengal.

Kanchenjunga Express Train accident: How unreserved ticket and standing at the door helped rice mill worker escape the crash

Ashis Das, a 35-year-old rice mill worker, narrowly escaped a train collision on the Kanchenjunga Express, leaving 5 dead and 46 injured. Das jumped off the train after it crossed Rangapani station, avoiding serious injuries. He recounted his journey to meet his family in Burdwan and the harrowing experience of the crash. Das shared his experience with TOI.

Widespread rainfall expected in 5 districts of North Bengal up to June 18: IMD

Widespread rainfall expected in 5 districts of North Bengal up to June 18: IMD Widespread rainfall is expected in 5 districts of North Bengal up to June 18, said Head Eastern Region, IMD Kolkata Dr Somnath Dutta. He added that Kolkata is expected to get rain on June 16, 17 and 18. Dr Dutta said, Today widespread rainfall has been predicted in 5 districts of North Bengal including Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar. In North Dinajpur, there is a forecast of scattered rainfall while in Maldah and South Dinajpur, there is a prediction of isolated rainfall. In South West Bengal except Howrah, Kolkata and coastal districts, there is prediction of isolated rainfall elsewhere. He further said that for June 13 also forecast is also similar for North Bengal and widespread rainfall is predicted in the 5 districts, scattered in North Dinajpur and isolated in the other two districts. In South Bengal isolated rainfall is predicted except Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata and 24 Parganas. On June 14 in South Bengal, all districts will have scattered or isolated rainfall except Howrah, Hoogly, Kolkata and in North Bengal widespread rainfall is expected 5 districts, fairly widespread rainfall in North Dinajpur and scattered rainfall in remaining districts. On June 15 widespread rainfall is expected in 5 districts in North West Bengal. Fairly widespread rainfall in other districts. In South Bengal rainfall is predicted in all districts and among them Birbhum, West Burdwan, Bankura, West Medinipur and Jhargram districts will receive fairly widespread rainfall and other districts will receive scattered rainfall, he added. He further said that on the 16th, 17th and 18th widespread rain is forecasted in North Bengal in 5 districts and moderate rain in all south districts. He further said, Today there is a warning of heavy rainfall in North Bengal. There is a red alert in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar. In Darjeeling and Cooch Behar there is forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall. In other districts rainfall with thunderstorms is expected with wind speeds 30 kmph to 40 kmph. In South Bengal severe heatwave warnings in 3 districts, West Burdwan, West Medinipur and Purulia districts. Mild heatwave warning in Jhargram and Bankura districts. Extremely humid and sweaty weather in Birbhum, Hoogly, East Bardhaman, Murshidabad. He further said that Kolkata is expected to get rain on 16, 17 and 18. (ANI)

After poll drubbing, cracks in Bengal BJP come out in open

KOLKATA: After much less-than-expected results, a section of the West Bengal BJP leaders including Dilip Ghosh and Saumitra Khan has blamed the central leadership for giving too much importance to the new entrants from the Trinamool Congress. In a post on X, senior BJP leader Ghosh cited Atal Bihari Vajpayees statement: Keep one thing in mind, even one old karyakarta of the party should not be neglected. If necessary, let 10 new karyakartas be separated. Old workers are the guarantee of our victory. Trusting new karyakartas too quickly is not advisable. On Thursday, Saumitra Khan, who won the Bishnupur Lok Sabha seat, accused some BJP leaders of having secret pacts with the ruling Trinamool. How else could one explain the result? The secret understanding between TMC and BJP leaders was at the local, district, and state levels. Without this, such a result cannot be explained, he said. Ghosh, Union minister Nisith Pramanik, Locket Chatterjee, Subhas Sarkar, and Debasree Chaudhuri are among the top BJP leaders who lost. I did not get the desired result despite giving my best. Those who decided to field me from Burdwan-Durgapur would be able to explain. Many workers were not out in the field. The party has not been able to grow since the 2021 assembly polls. Those in charge need to ponder, Ghosh said. Gosh, who lost to TMCs Kirti Azad by a margin of over 1.37 lakh votes after shifting out of his Midnapore constituency, was the BJP chief when the party increased its Lok Sabha seat tally from two to 18 in 2019. He led the party when it bagged 77 of 294 seats in the 2021 assembly polls. A section of BJP leaders feels that BJPs central leadership relied too much on Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari who defected to the BJP from TMC in 2020. The grouse is that Adhikari does not want to listen to the demands of the state BJP leaders. State BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar, who won the Balurghat Lok Sabha seat by a margin of only 10,386 votes, said the party lost many seats unexpectedly. I never thought Ghosh would lose. My entire family was disheartened. He was our leader and he lost to Azad. He said he did not make all the decisions but would have to take responsibility as the state president. Even though someone else took the decision, I will take the blame. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the more chief minister Mamata Banerjee harasses Adhikari, the higher the BJP would give him the position. No growth since 2019 BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said that he did not get the desired results as many workers were not out in the field. The party has not been able to grow since the 2021 assembly polls. He pointed out that those in charge of the decisions need to ponder on it.

Wave of Discontent Sweeps Through BJP's West Bengal Unit, Targeting Leader Adhikari

New Delhi: After its major electoral debacle, a wave of heavy resentment is brewing within the BJPs West Bengal unit against the Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari. Party insiders report growing discontent over his leadership style and strategic decisions. A fuming former state unit president, Dilip Ghosh, who lost the polls, hit out saying conspiracies and back-biting are part of politics. I have not lost. The BJP has lost. West Bengal state unit chief Sukanta Majumder, who won by a slender margin from Balurghat Lok Sabha seat, reportedly indicated to party workers that he had little say over the selection of candidates. Besides the poor selection of candidates, what hit the party hard was the consolidation of women and Muslim voters in favour of Mamata Banerjee. The BJP, incidentally, failed to retain its 2019 tally of 18 Lok Sabha seats. It came down by six seats and the partys voteshare too declined by nearly two per cent -- from 40.6 per cent in 2019 to 38.73 per cent this time. A senior party leader from West Bengal claimed most of the decisions on candidate selections were taken by Mr Adhikari. A section of state unit leaders also blamed Mr Adhikari for the defeat of former BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh. It was argued that the decision to shift Mr Ghosh from Midnapore Lok Sabha constituency to Burdwan-Durgapur proved to be costly for the BJP. Mr Ghoshs nomination remained uncertain and his candidature from Burdwan-Durgapur was announced only 48 hours before the deadline. In the process, the party shifted Suranderjeet Singh Ahluwalia, who won from Burdwan-Durgapur seat to Asansol Lok Sabha seat to take on TMC heavyweight Shatrughan Sinha. Eventually, the BJP lost both the seats. It was alleged that despite objections by Mr Ghosh and other state unit leaders over the shifting of candidates, the BJP national leaders n cahoots with a section of senior BJP functionaries who had migrated from the TMC went ahead with the decision. State unit leaders also fumed over the national leaderships decision to promote the turncoats (who came to the BJP from the TMC) over loyal party workers. The state leaders were seething over giving tickets to Arjun Singh and Tapas Roy of the TMC. It was noted that over the last five years Mr Singh has been going back and forth between the TMC and BJP. When the TMC refused to give him a ticket during this election, he promptly joined the BJP and was given a ticket from Barrackpore Lok Sabha seat. He lost by over 64,000 votes to the TMCs Partha Bhowmick. Former TMC leader Tapas Roy, who was being probed by Central agencies over corruption charges, shifted to the BJP. He was inducted and fielded from Kolkata (Uttar). Mr Roy lost to his TMC rival by a huge margin. Some state unit leaders hold Mr Adhikari and the BJP national leadership responsible for this mess. The consolidation of women and Muslim voters in favour of Ms Banerjee has rattled the BJP in the state. Despite the BJP and the Centre's attempt to play up the alleged torture and abuse of women by TMC leaders in Sandeshkhali, a majority of women voters, who constitute 50 per cent of the West Bengal electorate, voted for Ms Banerjee. Also, the BJP's high-pitched Islamophobic campaign failed to pay any dividends in the state. The BJP had hoped to split the 30 per cent of Muslim votes between the TMC, CPI(M) and Congress. Almost 99 per cent of the 30 per cent Muslims voted en masse in favour of the TMC. The shift of the entire Muslim vote to the TMC also resulted in the defeat of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Behrampore constituency. The BJP leaders, however, claimed the party's failure to counter Ms Banerjees welfare scheme for women, Lakshmir Bhandar, had hit the party hard. As the West Bengal BJP stares into a bleak future, the party's minority cell president, Charles Nandi, felt the decimation of the CPI(M) and Congress in the Lok Sabha polls would help the BJP in future. In the next Assembly elections, there is going to be a direct fight between the BJP and TMC. We have emerged as the main Opposition. The Assembly elections in West Bengal are due to be held in mid-2026.

Didi gave me new political life, will fight for my constituency: Kirti Azad

Kirti Azad, a former BJP MP from Bihar's Darbhanga, defeated former West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh by a margin of 1.38 lakh in the Burdwan-Durgapur constituency in the general election. Azad attributed his victory to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who showed faith in him and gave him a new lease of life. He compared his win to cricket, where bowlers can set different fields.

Results 2024: Did Wrong Choice Of Candidates For Certain Seats Cost BJP Dear In West Bengal?

West Begal Lok Sabha Results 2024: The two Lok Sabha constituencies whose names are coming up in this context are Medinipur in West Midnapore district and Bardhaman-Durgapur in West Burdwan district.

Coal India Launches Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Ltd

Coal India Launches Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Ltd State-owned Coal India on Tuesday announced the incorporation of a subsidiary firm, Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Ltd (BCGCL) for undertaking a coal-to-chemicals business. Coal India (CIL) holds a majority 51 per cent stake in the new entity while the remaining 49 per cent is owned by BHEL, the coal behemoth informed the BSE. Coal India in February signed a joint venture agreement with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) for undertaking a coal-to-chemicals business. Clearance of NITI Aayog and the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has been received for the formation of the joint venture company between BHEL and CIL, the filing said. ''Bharat Coal Gasification & Chemicals Ltd has been incorporated...for coal to chemicals business to produce ammonia and nitric acid as intermediate products and ammonium nitrate as end product,'' the filing said. Meanwhile, CIL had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GAIL for setting up of coal-to-synthetic natural gas project at Sonepur Bazari area of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) in Burdwan district at an estimated project cost of Rs 13,052 crore. Coal India accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output.

Cyclone Remal Kills 6 in West Bengal

Kolkata : At least six people have died in West Bengal after Cyclone Remal made landfall in the Sundarbans delta between Sagar Island of South 24 Parganas and Khepupara in Bangladesh on Sunday night and brought heavy rains that destroyed properties and crops in the plains of the eastern state. Most of the deaths were due to electrocution. Two among them, Phorey Singh and his young son Tarun, were from Memari in Burdwan East. They came in contact with a live wire while removing an uprooted banana tree after the cyclone and died. At Panihati in North 24 Parganas, Gopal Burman (47) lost his life after he touched an electric wire that was illegally routed from a pole to a shop but got snapped and was lying on the road. At Maheshtala in South 24 Parganas, a woman, Tapasi Das (53), was electrocuted after she stepped onto a live wire lying in a waterlogged road. Meanwhile another woman, Renuka Mondal (80), died at Mousuni Island in South 24 Parganas after a tree fell on her house. At Entally in central Kolkata, a man, Mohammad Sajid (51), died after a concrete chunk got dislodged from the balcony of a house and fell on him. In Kolkata, a nightlong downpour left many roads from North to South either waterlogged or blocked by uprooted trees. This led to cancellation of the Lok Sabha election campaign rallies of many ruling and Opposition party leaders for the second day, ahead of the final phase of polls on June 1. The rain is likely to continue Tuesday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lead a roadshow in Kolkata North parliamentary constituency in support of BJP candidate Tapas Roy after addressing a rally in Barasat in North 24 Parganas. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee posted on X: West Bengal is a riverine state, on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. So we have to face various natural disasters every year. This time also, massive damage has occurred and is taking place in our state due to the impact of Cyclone Remale. She said: But human life comes above everything. Fortunately and certainly due to the steps of the state administration, the loss of life this time is relatively less. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. Financial assistance will be reached to their loved ones immediately. The CM said: The administration will now look into the distribution of compensation for the damage to crops and houses as per the law and we will consider these issues more seriously once the model code of conduct ends. Our administration was prepared this time at all levels for disaster management despite the business of election arrangement. She added: From the chief secretary to the entire secretariat of my state to the district administration to the block administration -- all unitedly stand by the people and will continue to do so in disaster management in future. Our municipalities panchayats also have the credit of moving two lakh people to 1,400 camps in safe places. For this, I express my sincere thanks to all in the state and local administration. I firmly believe that with the cooperation of all we shall overcome this storm too. I know you are worried over this disaster. We are worried also. But don't be afraid, don't worry. We will do everything necessary to deal with the situation.

Polling begins for eight West Bengal Assembly seats

Polling begins for eight West Bengal Assembly seats Polling for eight Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal began at 7 am on Monday, amid tight security arrangements, an EC official said. Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat (SC), Bardhaman Purba (SC), Bardhaman-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur (SC) and Birbhum seats in the state are going to polls in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Altogether 1.45 crore voters, of whom 71.45 lakh are women and 282 are belonging to the third gender, are eligible to exercise their franchise at 15,507 polling stations spread across several districts in south Bengal. Several heavyweight candidates, including state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Baharampur, and BJP's former state chief Dilip Ghosh from Burdwan-Durgapur, are in the fray. Ex-cricketer Yusuf Pathan is contesting as a TMC candidate in Baharampur, while actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha is the TMCs Asansol nominee. The BJP has fielded Rajmata Amrita Roy in Krishnanagar seat against sitting MP Mahua Moitra of the TMC. The Trinamool Congress has nominated former Indian cricketer Kirti Azad in Burdwan-Durgapur and renominated Satabdi Roy in Birbhum. The poll panel has identified 3,647 polling stations as critical. The maximum of 659 critical polling stations are in Bolpur, while the least number of 301 such booths are in Bardhaman Purba seat. There are 640 critical polling stations in Birbhum seat, while Baharampur has 558, Burdwan-Durgapur 422, Ranaghat 410, Krishnanagar 338, and Asansol 319. A maximum of 152 companies of central forces has been deployed in Bardhaman Purba, 131 in Birbhum, 88 in Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate area, 81 in Krishnanagar, 73 in Murshidabad and 54 in Ranaghat.

Nobody can stop CAA implementation: PM Modi gives five guarantees to Bengal

North 24 Parganas (West Bengal): Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Trinamool Congress and said that infiltrators are flourishing under the Mamata Banerjee rule and guaranteed to the people of West Bengal that nobody can stop the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the state. Addressing a rally in Barrackpur, PM Modi gave five guarantees to the people of West Bengal. I want to give five guarantees to the people of Bengal: - Nobody can give reservations based on religion. Reservations for SC, ST, and OBC will not be touched. Nobody can stop you from celebrating Ram Navami. The judgement of the Supreme Court on Ram Mandir will not be quashed. Nobody can stop the implementation of CAA, PM Modi said. The Prime Minister's remarks on the Ram Mandir verdict came days after former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had vowed to overturn the Supreme Court's Ram Mandir verdict if Congress forms the government at the Centre. PM Modi slammed the Opposition and said that they had made the CAA a villain adding that the CAA is to provide citizenship. Vote bank politics has presented a law like CAA, which protects humanity, But opposition made it a villain. CAA is a law to give citizenship to the victims, it does not take away anyone's citizenship. But parties like Congress-TMC painted it with the colour of their lies, he said. The Prime Minister alleged that the infiltrators are flourishing under the protection of TMC in the state. There was a time when many scientific discoveries were taking place in Bengal, today under the rule of TMC, the home industry of making bombs is running in many places. There was a time when Bengal used to revolt against the infiltrators, but today the infiltrators are flourishing here under the protection of TMC, he said. He further hit out at the West Bengal government over the law and order in the state on several religious occasions when violent incidents have been reported, and said that it has become difficult for a common man to follow his faith in Bengal. PM Modi continued his attack on the state government and highlighted the Sandeshkhali incident saying that goons of TMC are threatening the women of Sandeshkhali. Goons of TMC are threatening the women of Sandeshkhali only because the culprit's name is Shahjahan Sheikh. They are trying their best to save and protect him from legal action. Don't be afraid of TMC. You must give your full mandate to our candidate; each vote will reach me. Viksit Bengal is crucial for Viksit Bharat, he said. Mentioning the West Bengal teacher's recruitment case, PM Modi said that the money that TMC extorted from the people would be lawfully given back to the people. Modi will not let the corrupt leaders sit peacefully. They will be reprimanded! No corrupt leader will be spared. The money that TMC extorted from you will be lawfully given back to you, he said. Voting will take place for eight Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal in the fourth phase of voting to be held on May 13. The constituencies are Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Bardhaman Purba, Burdwan-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur and Birbhum. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC won 34 seats in the state, while the BJP had to settle for 2 seats. The CPI (M) won 2 seats, while the Congress bagged 4. However, the BJP came up with a much-improved showing in the 2019 polls, winning 18 seats against the TMC's 22. The Congress's tally dropped to just 2 seats, while the Left scored a blank.

PM Modi Accuses TMC of Turning Hindus into Second-Class Citizens in West Bengal

Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in Barrackpur, accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of relegating Hindus to second-class citizens in West Bengal during its regime.PM Modi expressed confidence in the BJP's increasing mandate in Bengal, stating, The enthusiastic faces of the people tell me that the BJP is going to receive an even higher mandate than it did in 2019. Bengal is saying, 'Phir Ek Baar, Modi Sarkar!' He criticized the TMC, alleging that it had turned bomb-making into a cottage industry in Bengal. PM Modi highlighted the challenges faced by the common man in practicing their faith in Bengal, citing instances where TMC threatened people for chanting the name of Lord Ram and hindered the celebration of Ram Navami. He also accused the Congress and Left of standing against the construction of the Ram Mandir.Regarding the INDI Alliance, PM Modi accused them of appeasement politics and engaging in 'Vote Jihad' against the BJP. He referenced a statement by a TMC leader who allegedly threatened to throw Hindus into the Bhagirathi River, questioning who supported such actions. PM Modi emphasized that under the TMC regime, Hindus had become second-class citizens in Bengal.Earlier, TMC MLA Humayun Kabir made controversial remarks during an election rally in Murshidabad, stating that Hindus would be drowned in the Bhagirathi River within two hours, or else he would leave politics. PM Modi blamed the Congress for neglecting the development of eastern Indian states during its decades-long governance. He highlighted the potential for economic growth in states like West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha, asserting that the Congress did little to harness their capabilities. He pledged to make East India the growth engine of Viksit Bharat, stating, Today, we are creating a network of roadways, railways, and waterways in the eastern states of India... Dedicated freight corridors have amplified industrialization in this area. The upcoming years will be dedicated to furthering the development of West Bengal and the surrounding states.PM Modi also conducted a roadshow in Barrackpore, West Bengal, before his rally. In the upcoming fourth phase of voting on May 13, eight Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal will go to the polls. These constituencies are Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Bardhaman Purba, Burdwan-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur, and Birbhum.In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC won 34 seats in the state, while the BJP secured 2 seats. The CPI (M) won 2 seats, and the Congress bagged 4.However, in the 2019 polls, the BJP significantly improved its performance, winning 18 seats against the TMC's 22. The Congress's tally dropped to just 2 seats, while the Left failed to secure any. CM Mohan Yadav Slams Congress for Encouraging NOTA Votes, Calls it an Insult to Democracy Protests Erupt in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) Over Economic Hardships Bomb Blast Rocks Residence of BJP Panchayat Pradhan in West Bengal

Polling ends for fourth phase of LS elections in West Bengal

Polling ends for fourth phase of LS elections in West Bengal Campaigning for eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal going to polls in the fourth phase on May 13 came to an end on Saturday, an official said. Polling will take place in Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat (SC), Bardhaman Purba (SC), Bardhaman-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur (SC) and Birbhum in the fourth round of the Lok Sabha polls. A total of 1,45,30,017 voters, including 71,45,379 women and 282 third-gender electors, are eligible to exercise their franchise in 15,507 polling stations, he said. Out of the 75 candidates contesting in the fourth phase, Baharampur has the highest number of 15 nominees, followed by Birbhum (12), Krishnanagar (11), eight each in Bolpur (SC) and BardhamanDurgapur constituencies, he said. There are seven candidates each in the constituencies of Bardhaman Purba (SC), Ranaghat (SC) and Asansol, the official said. Heavyweight politicians, including Congress West Bengal president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Baharampur), BJP's former state chief Dilip Ghosh (Burdwan-Durgapur), former cricketer Yusuf Pathan (Baharampur) and actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha (Asansol), are in the fray in this phase. The BJP has fielded Rajmata Amrita Roy from the Krishnanagar seat against TMCs Mahua Moitra. The TMC has nominated former India cricketer Kirti Azad from Burdwan-Durgapur and renominated Satabdi Roy in Birbhum. The Election Commission has identified 3,647 polling stations as critical, the official said. A total of 152 companies of central forces would be deployed in Bardhaman Purba district, followed by Birbhum (131), Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate (88), Krishnanagar Police District (81), Murshidabad Police District (73) and Ranaghat Police District (54), he said. Star campaigners like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, and her nephew and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, took part in rallies and roadshows in support of their party candidates.

12 Dead in West Bengal Thunderstorm; CM Mamata Banerjee Expresses Condolences

Kolkata: 12 people have lost their lives in the Nor'wester followed by a heavy thunderstorm that hit West Bengal on Monday evening. Five of them, including an 11-year-old girl, were from Burdwan East. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee shared the death toll on X-handle with a heavy heart on Tuesday. She stated, Profoundly sad to know that 9 persons died due to thunderstorms and lightning last night (5 in Purba Burdwan, 2 each in Paschim Medinipur and Purulia), while 2 more persons died due to wall collapses in Nadia and 1 more due to tree collapse in South 24 Parganas. The CM added, Our district administrations everywhere have been working on disaster management mode round the clock and are taking actions to provide relief and ex gratia as per guidelines. My sincere condolences to the bereaved families of the 12 fellow citizens of Bengal. In Purulia, four youth Priya Ranjan Kumar (23), Rahul Kumar (25), Suresh Kumar (24) and Yudhishthir Kumar (28)-- were struck by lightning when they took shelter under a tree beside a pond at Arsa. Priyaranjan and Rahul died there. The other two seriously injured were admitted to a district hospital.

Devastation in West Bengal: 12 Dead Due to Storm and Lightning

Kolkata: W est Bengal witnessed significant devastation as a result of storms and lightning, leading to the tragic death of 12 people. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the forecast suggests that the storms may continue over the next few days, further raising concerns. The IMD has issued a warning of lightning in many districts of the state. Five people lost their lives in East Burdwan due to heavy rain and storms on Monday. Additionally, two people each lost their lives due to storms and lightning in West Midnapore and Purulia. Two deaths were reported in Nadia due to a wall collapse, while one person died in South 24 Parganas due to a tree uprooting. Expressing deep grief over the loss of lives, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter, stating, It is very sad to know that 12 people died due to storm and lightning on Monday night. She assured that the district administration is working round the clock in disaster management mode and is ready to provide relief and ex-gratia amounts to the affected families. IMD officials mentioned that a cyclonic circulation is developing along the border with Bangladesh, and a low-pressure area is forming from Jharkhand to Rajasthan. This change is drawing moisture from the Bay of Bengal, leading to thunderstorms and storms. The IMD predicts heavy rains in districts such as Jhargram, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, South 24 Parganas, Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum, and North 24 Parganas till May 11, along with the possibility of storms, lightning, and strong winds. North Bengal districts are also likely to experience storms. Putin Embarks on Fifth Term Amidst Global Scrutiny: A Look into Russia's Political Landscape Kendrick Lamar and Drake's Feud Turns Explosive: What You Need to Know Fatal Accident on Nagpur-Mumbai Samriddhi Expressway Claims Two Lives

PM Modi Faces Zero Allegations Of Corruption: Amit Shah

Kolkata : Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday pointing out corruption in West Bengal and Jharkhand asserted that allegation of even 25paise never surfaced against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 23 years of political career. Addressing a rally at Bardhaman-Durgapur parliamentary constituency, in support of BJP candidate Dilip Ghosh after leading a road show at Krishnanagar in Nadia, Shah said, `50 crore in cash was found at the houses of a Bengal minister and in Jharkhand, `350 crore in cash was recovered from the house of a Congress MP and last night `30 crore was seized from a ministers house, and added, shouldnt those who looted the money be put behind bars? Narendra Modi has 23 years of serving as chief minister and Prime Minister, but there has been no allegation of corruption of even 25paise against him. Shah also accused TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of driving away industries from the state and promised to revive industries. Bardhaman-Durgapur used to be an industrial town. But the goons of Mamata Didi destroyed the entrepreneurial environment here, he said. Shah said, Im giving you a Modi Guarantee. Elect Dilip da, BJP will take the initiative to reopen all the ventures lying shut at Bardhaman-Durgapur. There is a steel plant but rumours are spread that it will be shut down. But I declare that Modiji will pump in investments into the steel plant and a urea plant here and undertake its expansions. Reacting to Shahs allegations against her, TMC supremo at a TMC rally in Burdwan West said, You are talking about reopening all industries but your government also promised to give two crore jobs every year thus 20 crore jobs in 10 years. Did you give even a single job? Instead you are taking away teachers jobs. Questioning Shahs plans for the state, the Chief Minister asked the gathering, All the industries will be reopened but how? Ask them. Last time when Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri went to the polls, the Prime Minister told the public about reopening five tea gardens to get votes for BJP. Till date none of them reopened. Your words never come true; your lies are bigger than the gas balloons. On the corruption charges, she alleged, They are spending so much in advertisement because they looted so much earlier. Slamming the Election Commission of India, Banerjee said,Does anyone know where it is now? At least I cant find. Someone told me that the Model Code of Conduct has become the Modi Code of Conduct. Whatever he will say will happen.

Have asked BJP to form separate legal cell to provide help to genuine teachers in SSC scam: PM Modi

KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the West Bengal BJP unit to create a separate legal cell to provide help to genuine teachers and candidates who have lost jobs due to the School Service Commission (SSC) scam. While addressing an election rally at Burdwan-Durgapur, PM Modi said that although he wants those involved in corruption by the TMC to be punished, he does not want the innocent to suffer. The corruption that the TMC has done in Bengal regarding the school recruitment is shameful. Due to this scam, several genuine candidates have suffered. I have asked the Bengal BJP unit on behalf of the party to create a separate legal cell and social media platform to provide help to the genuine candidates and teachers, he said. Modis remark drew sharp criticism from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who said that after taking jobs from people, he is now trying to portray himself as a saviour. As elections are going on, just to garner support from the people, Modi is saying that he will help the genuine SSC candidates. Where was he when the Calcutta High Court gave the order? We have said we will help all the candidates and will see in due course of time whether or not the appointments madewere legal or illegal, added Banerjee. BJP will support such honest candidates and will provide them legal help and will fight for them. This is Modis guarantee, stressed the PM. Calcutta HC cancels 2016 SSC teachers' recruitment panel; almost 24,000 jobs affected Modis remarks came a week after the Supreme Court declared that whether it is possible to separate between legal and illegal appointments. Soon after this remark, SSC chairman held a press conference and said, They will see whether they can separate between legal and illegal appointments of SSC. Calcutta High Court declared the recruitment process of the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools as null and void, ordering the cancellation of all appointments made through it. Around 26,000 people have lost jobs following the court order. On 22 April, theCalcutta High Courtdeclared the entire panel of the 2016 SSC recruitment null and void due to identified irregularities in appointments across various educational sectors in the state. Justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi, comprising the division bench, unequivocally invalidated all appointments made through the 2016 state-level test conducted by the West Bengal SSC. The court mandated the administration to initiate fresh appointments within a 15-day timeframe. This resulted in the immediate job loss of teachers and non-teaching staff. The courts decree extends further, necessitating individuals appointed under the invalidated process to refund their salaries within a stipulated six-week period. HC order on Bengal school jobs 'illegal', will challenge: Mamata What is the 2016 SSC scam in Bengal The purportedWest Bengal School Service Commissionstems from the inception of the teacher hiring procedure in state owned schools through the State Level Selection Test (SLST) in 2014 with the recruitment officially starting in 2016. In 2016, the West Bengal government released a notification for the employment of 13,000 Group-D staff in state operated schools. Multiple petitions were lodged in the high court asserting discrepancies in the scandal. Allegations surfaced that numerous candidates with lower scores were ranked higher on the merit roster, prompting doubts about the integrity of the selection process. Furthermore, accusations emerged suggesting that individuals not listed on the merit roster received appointment letters. The recruitment exam was conducted to fill vacancies for the posts of assistant teachers for Classes 9-10, assistant teachers for Classes 11-12, Group C (clerks) and Group D posts. On 24 April, the West Bengal government under Mamata Banerjees leadership took the step to approach the Supreme Court, contesting the decision of the Calcutta High Court. This ruling revoked nearly 24,000 appointments of both teaching and non-teaching personnel, which were conducted through the 2016 SSC recruitment process. Reacting to the HCs verdict, Banerjee said, The court verdict cancelling all recruitments is illegal. We stand by those who lost jobs. We will ensure you get justice, and challenge the order in a higher court. However, quick relief to those affected is unlikely soon.

Mamata Banerjee falls while trying to board a chopper in Durgapur

KOLKATA : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost her balance and fell while attempting to board a chopper in Durgapur, West Burdwan district, on Saturday. CM Banerjee slipped and fell while trying to take a seat on her helicopter. Her security personnel at the scene assisted her to her seat. The Trinamool chief reportedly suffered a minor injury, but was still able to proceed with her journey to Asansol. Mamata Banerjee was en route to Kulti for an election rally when the incident occurred. The CM fell inside the helicopter after losing her balance while trying to sit. She is fine, a senior officer accompanying Banerjee said. Following the incident, she flew to Kulti and addressed the rally in support of TMCs Asansol candidate and veteran Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha. Just about a month ago, on March 14, Banerjee, 69, had sustained serious injuries to her forehead after falling at her home in Kalighat, Kolkata. Banerjee has suffered injuried quite often. Ealier in March, the chief minister was injured when she had a gash on her forehead. She had also suffered a leg injury in Spain in the year 2023. Flew to Kulti Mamata Banerjee flew to Kulti and addressed the rally in support of TMCs Asansol candidate and veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha

BJP's Dilip Ghosh faces electoral test for political survival in Bardhaman-Durgapur

BJP's Dilip Ghosh faces electoral test for political survival in Bardhaman-Durgapur In the Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency, a region known for altering political allegiance in every election, BJP candidate Dilip Ghosh faces a pivotal challenge to overturn this pattern and secure his political future. Since its establishment in 2009, Bardhaman-Durgapur has sent CPI(M), TMC and BJP representatives once each to the Lok Sabha in the three previous polls. In 2019, BJP's S S Ahluwalia clinched the seat from the TMC by a narrow margin of approximately 3,000 votes, marking it as a challenging battleground for the saffron party. With the odds stacked up, the BJP is placing its faith in Ghosh, widely regarded as one of its most successful state presidents, to retain its foothold in the region. Political analysts believe that Ghoshs relocation from his previous Medinipur constituency, coupled with his removal from the post of party's national vice-president, have turned the Bardhaman-Durgapur contest into a critical test of both prestige and political survival for Ghosh. ''Dilip Ghosh is now fighting a battle for his political survival. He is presently cornered in his own party. A victory would rejuvenate his political career, while a defeat could cast doubts over it,'' said Maidul Islam, a political scientist at the Centre for Studies in Social Science. During Ghosh's tenure as the state BJP president, the party won 18 Lok Sabha seats in 2019. Despite the challenging circumstances, the BJP leader remains optimistic about his prospects. ''I am a loyal party member, and I embrace any role assigned to me. This is a challenge I am prepared to overcome,'' Ghosh told PTI. Highlighting his track record of political firsts, he added, ''I became the state president within nine months of joining the party. I became an MLA in my first attempt, by defeating the 10-time MLA Gyan Singh Sohanpal. I also became an MP in my first attempt. Bardhaman-Durgapur presents another new challenge for me.'' Ghosh's opponents in this electoral race include TMC candidate and former India cricketer Kirti Azad, as well as the LeftCongress alliance candidate Sukriti Ghoshal. The TMC, eager to reclaim the seat, faces the hurdle of Azad being labelled an ''outsider'' by the BJP. However, Azad dismissed these concerns, stating, ''I am an Indian, and any Indian can contest from any part of the country. This election is about issues and policies, not individuals.'' In contrast, the BJP has launched a campaign emphasizing Azad's outsider status, echoing the ''insider-outsider'' narrative used by the TMC during the 2021 assembly polls. The ''insider-outsider'' debate in West Bengal gained traction ahead of the 2021 state elections, with the ruling TMC leveraging Bengali sub-nationalism to counter the BJP's Hindutva narrative. The constituency, created after the reorganisation of parliamentary constituencies in 2008, is a blend of industrial and farming regions, appealing to both rural and urban voters. It comprises seven assembly segments: Burdwan South, Burdwan North, Monteswar, Bhatar, Galsi, Durgapur East, and Durgapur West. In the 2021 assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) clinched victories in all segments except Durgapur West. The assembly seats in this constituency were once bastions of the Left parties. However, with changing political tides in Bengal since the defeat of the Left Front government in 2011, the TMC has been steadily gaining ground in the area. In 2009, the CPI(M)'s Saidul Haque won the Lok Sabha seat with over one lakh votes against Congress-supported TMC candidate, Nargis Begam. But in 2014, TMC's Mamtaz Sanghamitra wrested the seat from Haque. Five years later, the elections saw a close contest, with SS Ahluwalia of the BJP narrowly defeating the TMC by a margin of 0.1 per cent votes, with the two parties garnering 42.3 and 42.2 per cent of the votes respectively. The constituency has a Muslim population of nearly 20 per cent while the scheduled caste community comprises 27 per cent. With the Left-Congress alliance entering the fray, the upcoming election promises a three-cornered fight, a departure from the previous bipolar contests. ''This area has a rich history of trade unions and peasant movements led by the Left. The CPI(M) maintains its base here, evident from the 2016 assembly polls when the Left-Congress alliance won two assembly segments,'' said Islam. In 2019, the CPI(M) secured over 1.5 lakh votes, accounting for 11.5 per cent of the total votes polled, while the Congress garnered nearly 38,000 votes, representing 2.3 per cent of the votes. ''With the Left-Congress alliance, we are optimistic about winning the seat. The electorate is disenchanted with both the TMC and the BJP,'' Ghosal said. Islam highlighted that if the Left-Congress alliance secures over 15 per cent of the votes polled, the electoral battle could swing either way as far as the TMC and BJP are concerned. Sensing the imminent danger of Left-Congress, Ghosh has recently appealed to the Left voters to vote for the BJP in the fight against the ''corrupt TMC'', a plea which was rejected outright by the CPI(M). The Left-Congress alliance aims to resonate with the people on issues like unemployment and agrarian crisis, stemming from state and central policies, as their primary campaign themes in the constituency which goes to vote on May 13.

Didi: I Dont Interfere in Departmental Hiring; TMC Govt Moves SC Against HC Order

Kolkata: As the Trinamul Congress government on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court's judgment canceling the jobs of 25,753 West Bengal school education department employees over corruption in their recruitment, chief minister Mamata Banerjee tried to distance herself the monumental scam under her rule. During the day, the School Service Commission (SSC), which recruited the candidates including teaching and non-teaching staff in 2016, filed a special leave petition at the SC against the order of the HC division bench. SSC chairman Siddhartha Majumdar said, There have been allegations against 5000 candidates of illegally getting jobs. But why would nearly 26,000 candidates lose jobs for that? The CM later raised the issue at a Lok Sabha Election campaign rally in Burdwan East in support of Bolpur TMC candidate Asit Mal. She claimed, It is the lookout of a concerned department how it recruits employees. I do not interfere in it. But nearly 26000 employees were terminated from their jobs. They were asked to return their salaries with interest. I felt bad about it. Ms Banerjee alleged, I'm asking those BJP leaders, who are snatching jobs like this, whether they would be able to return the salaries of their entire government service if they were told similarly. Where will these 26000 people go? Will the schools in Bengal go for closure? Won't teachers' recruitment happen further? She added, I still have 10 lakh government jobs to offer. But the court is stalling them if any appeal is filed. It is a big pilgrimage for the BJP. If BJP files a PIL, it gets what it asks for. But if others pray for justice, door is closed for them. Meanwhile the National Commission for Women has condemned a controversial remark by TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee against Malda South BJP candidate Sreerupa Mitra Choudhury and sought a report from state DGP within four days.

Ram Navami: Peaceful Celebrations in West Bengal Amid Tight Security

Kolkata: Ram Navami celebration remained peaceful by and large in West Bengal this time unlike last year. Leaders of both the sides, ruling Trinamul Congress and opposition BJP, attended the rallies of the Hindu festival with participants shouting Jai Shree Ram slogan on Wednesday under tight security arrangements by the police in the city and districts. In the morning, TMC supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who earlier expressed her apprehensions of a riot, posted her festive greetings on X-handle and appealed for peace. Greetings to all on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami. I appeal to maintain peace, prosperity and development for all. In Howrah, TMC MP and Lok Sabha Election candidate Prasun Banerjee and state minister Arup Roy were seen leading a procession on the occasion. The district along with another, Hooghly, witnessed violence over Ram Navami rallies in 2023. At Ghatal in West Midnapore, TMC MP and candidate Dev led a rally also. On the other hand, Nandigram BJP MLA and leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari marched in a religious procession at New Town in Kolkata. At Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas, outgoing MP and BJP candidate Arjun Singh took out a similar procession with his followers. BJP MP and Burdwan-Durgapur candidate Dilip Ghosh also led a similar rally. In the evening, state BJP however posted a video apparently of stone pelting on X-handle alleging, Mamata Banerjee's incompetence in safeguarding Ramanavami Shobha Yatras in West Bengal is appalling. Hindus targeted in Rejinagar, Murshidabad, a minority in the area.

Yusuf Pathan and Kirti Azad: Two cricketers from TMC seemingly on sticky wicket

KOLKATA: Two cricketers, who are contesting in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Trinamool Congress are seemingly on a sticky wicket . While Yusuf Pathan, the TMC candidate from Behrampore, takes on seven time MP from Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Kirti Azad takes on BJP strongman Dilip Ghosh from Burdwan East. These two former cricketers are now in an alien wicket as they are outsiders. When it comes to advantages, both Pathan and Azad have nothing to lose because Pathan is new in politics, but Azad has got some dabbling in politics. He was previously associated with Congress for a brief stint. They are new in politics and so if they lose it does not matter to them. But on the down side, both Adhir Chowdhury and Dilip Ghosh are Goliaths. Adhir is a seven-time MP. Dilip Ghosh is also an MP and former state president and tough contender. They are also ready to bet their political career on this election as well. On Tuesday, Chowdhury said, If I lose Behrampore , I will quite politics altogether. The internal conflicts within the Party also playing bad for the cricketers. TMC is riddled with factional fights in Burdwan Eastso much so that a few days back, during a rally,two groups of TMC clashed with each other in front of the candidate and Azad had to stop the rally and seek refuge in the temple. Few days back BJP alleged that Yousuf Pathan used the picture of Sachin Tendulkar to woo the voters. Outsiders The BJP on Sunday picked up the Lok Sabha candidates list of the Trinamool Congress to counter the ruling partys charge that the BJP was anti-Bengal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was an outsider to the state. Speaking on the sidelines of the BJPs rally in Sandeshkhali, BJP state chief Sukanta Majumdar tore into Trinamuls choice of outsider candidates, including former Indian cricketers Yusuf Pathan and Kirti Azad. West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar pointed out that TMC candidates Kirti Azad and Yusuf Pathan arent from the state. Just half an hour before TMCs list was announced, Abhishek Banerjee was making statements like the BJP is anti-Bengal. Now, when the candidates are announced, its clear that TMC is bringing people from outside. I dont know if Kirti Azad and Yusuf Pathan are Bengali, Yusuf Pathan is from Gujarat, and so is PM Modi, but for them, PM Modi is an outsider, he said. According to BJP, INDIA alliance is nothing but a ship without a captain. Its CM Mamata Banerjees strategy and also she is in fear that she wants no other leader to get more importance and become a bigger leader than Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, hence they give tickets to actresses so that her nephew continues to be a politician, he added. Yusuf Pathan hits campaign trail in Baharampur; Adhir says, 'politics and cricket are not same' Pathan played 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is for India from 2007 to 2012 during which time he scored 810 runs with 2 hundreds and 3 fifties in 50-overs cricket while in the shortest format he amassed 236 runs. The 41-year-old broke into the limelight thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he was a key part of the Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals team which won the inaugural title in 2008. He achieved major success during his 8-year stint with Kolkata Knight Riders where he won the IPL title two more times in 2012 and 2014 under Gautam Gambhir's captaincy. In another notable move, former Indian cricketer and 1983 World Cup winner Kirti Azad has received a TMC party ticket to run for the Durgapur Lok Sabha seat. It's worth mentioning that Kirti Azad previously won the Lok Sabha elections from Darbhanga in 2014 under the BJP ticket. However, in 2018, he departed from BJP and joined the Congress, later shifting allegiance to the TMC in 2021. Northeast BJP CMs slam TMC leader Kirti Azad for tweet over PMs attire

Election 2024: CPM bets on young and fresh faces in West Bengal

NEW DELHI: The highlight of the first set of Lok Sabha candidates for West Bengal announced by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) is that the party has reposed confidence in its youth leadership to take political heavyweights in the state. The party has so far announced names for 17 seats and at least 12 of them are young and fresh faces. Youngest of the lot is Dipsita Dhar (30); joint secretary of Student Federation of India (SFI). She has been fielded from Sreerampur against the three-time MP of Trinamool Congress Kalyan Banerjee.The student leader is the granddaughter of noted CPM leader Padma Nidhi Dhar. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Kabir Shankar Bose, a Supreme Court lawyer, from the seat. Dipsita has been at the forefront of various student-led protests and has been vocal on issues related to gender, sexual harassment and Indian higher education. She was also actively involved in the Justice for Rohit Vemula movement and the anti-CAA protests. Srijan Bhattacharya (31)--former secretary of Students Federation of India (SFI) of the statehas been pitted against actor Saayoni Ghosh of TMC in the prestigious Jadavpur parliamentary constituency. Bhattacharyas parents were also leftist student activists and his grandfather Achintya Bhattacharyya was a communist leader of Assam. A scholar-turned-politician Anirban Ganguly isthe BJPs candidate from the seat. Saira Shah Halim (46), CPMs nominee from Kolkata Dakshi also comes from an illustrious family of Left party leaders of West Bengal. His husband Dr Fuad Halim is the son of the veteran Leftist leader Hasim Abdul Halim, who served as the speaker of the Bengal assembly for almost three decades. Saira is the daughter of retired Lieutenant General Zameer Uddin Shah and niece of actor Naseeruddin Shah. Lok Sabha polls 2024: Left, Congress talks on in West Bengal to keep BJP, TMC at bay She actively participated in the campaign against the National Register of Citizens and the Citizenship Amendment Act in Bengal and Delhi. She has been speaking on the rights of religious minorities and LGBTQ+ community. On her candidature from the seat, Saira said, People here are looking for an alternative which is not corrupt and communalist. So I hope the public will like my candidature and give me their blessings. The party has nominated two young lawyers; Sayan Banerjee (31) from Tamluk and Sabyasachi Chatterjee (39) from Howrah constituency. Banerjee, a fresher in politics but quite popular in the civil society because of his arguments at the Calcutta High Court in the school-job case is challenging former judge of Calcutta High Court Abhijit Gangopadhyay. The TMC has named its youth leader Debangshu Bhattacharya from the constituency. Basically the thought behind the entire plan of nominating the young candidates is to attract the youth; younger generation because the majority of the electoratebelong to the 18-40 years age group. The party has nominated young candidates; it is a hope for the new generation and we believe that if young educated youth dont come forward then the entire political vacuum will be taken over by hooligans and corrupt, he said. Chatterjee, also a practicing lawyer in the Calcutta High Court, has been given ticket to face incumbent MP of TMC Prasun Banerjee, a former professional footballer, and Arjuna Awardee and BJPs Rathin Chakraborty . Nearly half of Bengal's new voters reluctant to vote in2024 Lok Sabhaelecions Chatterjee said that his priority would be redevelopment and revival of industry in Howrah and rein in illegal construction. Howrah is a mix of rural and urban areas. Congestion and unauthorized construction are two big issues in the constituency. If I am elected, my priority will be to make proper planning for restoration and rival industry; to find out possibilities and work on thembasically planning for the unplanned city, he said. The other new faces of CPM in these elections are Debraj Burman (Jalpaiguri), Nilanjan Dasgupta (Bankura), Shital Kaibarta (Bishnupur), Monodip Ghosh (Hooghly) and Nirab Khan (Burdwan Purba).