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.
Mamata Banerjee cant dare to touch CAA: Amit Shah
Malda: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) claiming that neither she nor the Congress can dare to touch the CAA. While addressing a rally at Karandighi in the Raiganj constituency, Shah slammed the TMC Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
'Minority Factor': In Bengal, 6 Lok Sabha Seats to Witness Tough Fight Among INDIA Bloc Allies
In case of a successful seat-sharing pact with the TMC in West Bengal, the INDIA bloc could have been in pole position in six seats Murshidabad, Malda North, Malda South, Raiganj, Jangipur and Baharampur
Mamata opposing granting Indian citizenship to refugees : Shah
Malda, Apr 23 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of opposing granting Indian citizenship to the refugees Hindu, Buddhists, Christians and Sikhs now settled here after arriving from neighbouring Bangladesh. Addressing a gathering after completing a massive roadshow in favour of BJP... The post Mamata opposing granting Indian citizenship to refugees : Shah first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .
Infiltration continuing unabated in West Bengal under TMC rule: Amit Shah
Amit Shah accuses TMC of enabling infiltration in West Bengal, criticizes Mamata Banerjee for opposing the Citizenship Act during a roadshow in Malda South. BJP supporters advocate for stopping infiltration and corruption before May 7 elections.
Shah holds roadshow in West Bengals Malda
Malda: Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Tuesday held a roadshow in West Bengals Malda, weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in the district. The roadshow started around 1 pm in the Malda South constituency, from Head Post office More to the Rabindra statue. Shah, standing atop a decorated lorry Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
'Opposition trying to save dynasties, BJP fulfils its promises': Nadda
MUMBAI: BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Sunday launched an attack on the opposition parties, saying they were trying hard to save their dynastic politics. Be it the Sharad Pawar-led NCP(SP) or Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena (UBT), the opposition parties are now trying hard to save their dynastic politics, Nadda said, addressing a rally in Maharashtras Buldhana district. Nadda claimed the BJP provided a stable government in the last 10 years and crucial issues like the practice of instant triple talaq and the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya were resolved under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership. We also provided hundreds of thousands of homes to the homeless people and increased the reach of various government schemes, offering a comfortable life to the rural people, he said. The BJP-led government also came up with the Citizenship (Amendment) Act that now offers Indian citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Parsis and Christians (from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have come to India), Nadda said. After Modi came to power, politics of the country changed and became more accountable to the people. In a way, it has become more responsible, the BJP chief said. Polling in the Buldhana and seven other Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra will be held on April 26. Meanwhile, addressing a rally in Malda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that no one can stop implementation of the CAA in West Bengal. Mamata didi says she will not allow CAA in her state. Why is she trying to hoodwink the people of West Bengal? Singh asked. He said the CAA is not meant to take away anyones citizenship, but is a law for granting Indian citizenship to people displaced from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on religious grounds. The defence minister said that India is treated with respect under the Narendra Modi-led government, unlike under previous dispensations. When we say something in an international forum, it is being listened to with respect, Singh said, adding that Modis pledge is to turn India into a developed country by 2047.
Mamata Banerjee spreading lies over CAAno power can stop it: Rajnath Singh in Malda
The News Mill
No one can stop implementation of CAA in West Bengal: Rajnath
No one can stop implementation of CAA in West Bengal: Rajnath Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday asserted that the BJP delivers on its promises, and maintained that no one can stop implementation of the CAA in West Bengal. He said the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 is not meant to take away anyone's citizenship, but is a law for granting Indian citizenship to people displaced from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on religious grounds. ''The Congress, Trinamool Congress or the Left parties make promises during elections that are not fulfilled, but the BJP delivers on its promises,'' he said, addressing a rally here in support of BJP candidate from Malda Uttar constituency, Khagen Murmu. He asserted that no one can stop the implementation of CAA in West Bengal, along with the rest of India. ''Mamata didi says she will not allow CAA in her state. Why is she trying to hoodwink the people of West Bengal,'' Singh said. The Centre had in March implemented the CAA, notifying the rules four years after the law was passed by Parliament to fast-track citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014. Singh said that India is treated with respect under the Narendra Modi-led government, unlike under previous dispensations. ''When we say something in an international forum, it is listened to with respect,'' he said, adding that Modis pledge is to turn India into a developed country by 2047. Singh said promises like abolishing Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and constructing the Ram Temple in Ayodhya have been fulfilled, and that there are indications of the coming into being of a Ram Rajya. The defence minister said the BJP government at the Centre has also delivered on its promise of abolishing triple talaq. ''We can not only bring to book terrorists inside our territory, but if anyone tries to attack our unity and pride from outside, we can dare to go beyond our borders to teach them a lesson; this is our strength,'' Singh said. Slamming the TMC, he alleged that only extortionists, criminals and the corrupt have flourished in Bengal after the party came to power. The senior BJP leader also accused the state government of denying people benefits of central welfare projects.
Extortionists, criminals and corrupt flourished under TMC rule: Rajnath Singh in Malda
The News Mill
Meat thrown in UP village temple; 4 booked
Ballia: Four people here have been booked in connection with an incidence of meat being found inside a temple here, Police said on Sunday. Sikanderpur Police Station SHO Dinesh Pathak said a piece of meat was found in the Hanuman temple in the Maldah Chatti area on Saturday afternoon. When templegoers spotted the meat, they Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Bengal's political landscape witnesses rise of dynasties this LS polls
Bengal's political landscape witnesses rise of dynasties this LS polls Dynastic politics has been a prominent feature of Indian democracy, but its increased presence in Bengal this Lok Sabha election marks a significant departure from the state's tradition of cultivating leaders from grassroots politics. Out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats, 13 have candidates from political dynasties. This represents a significant increase compared to previous elections, where political dynasts were limited to just three seats. Traditionally known for its vibrant student politics, Bengal is experiencing a notable shift as influential political families are gaining prominence. ''This is a new trend or an evolution of Bengal politics from class-based politics to dynasty politics. Never in the polls have so many candidates come from political families,'' political scientist at Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Maidul Islam, told PTI. He said in Bengal where politics is dictated by the charisma of mass leaders, party symbols and issues, ''it remains to be seen how people accept these political dynasties.'' The TMC has fielded five, the Congress four, and the two parties, the BJP and the CPI (M), which used to decry dynasty politics, also have two candidates each. According to TMC, BJP, and Congress leaders, several factors contribute to the rise of political dynasties in Bengal. According to them, family members are valued for their loyalty and trustworthiness, making them reliable allies. ''The success of established family names in politics is attributed to two main factors - name recognition and networking, which make it easier for them to garner electoral support,'' a senior TMC leader said. TMC national general secretary and two-time MP from Diamond Harbour, Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, tops the chart of political dynasty contesting the polls. He is seeking re-election from the seat. BJPs candidate from Kanthi Lok Sabha seat, Soumendu Adhikari, comes from the powerful Adhikari family of East Midnapore, with his father Sisir Adhikari being a three-term MP from the seat, and his brother Suvendu Adhikari is the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal assembly. In Malda South seat, the Congress has passed on the representation mantle from an indisposed Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, Congress patriarch ABA Ghani Khan Choudhurys brother who won the seat without a break from the 2006 bypolls, to his son Isha Khan Choudhury, a former Congress MLA. CPI(M)s South Kolkata candidate Saria Shah Halim, is also from a political dynasty, as her father-in-law, Hashim Abdul Halim, was the longest-serving speaker of West Bengal assembly, and her husband, Fuad Halim, is a CPI(M) state committee member. ''If a son of a doctor aspires to be a doctor, a son of an advocate aspires to be a lawyer, then what is wrong in children or relatives of politicians following similar footsteps? It becomes problematic only when eligibility criteria are compromised, leading to a concentration of power,'' TMC leader Santanu Sen told PTI. The TMC has fielded its sitting MP from Uluberia Sajda Ahmed, wife of former TMC MP Sultan Ahmed; it has repeated its Jaynagar candidate Pratima Mandal, the daughter of former party MP Gobinda Chandra Naskar. From the Bardhaman-Durgapur seat, the party has fielded former cricketer Kirti Azad, a former BJP MP from Bihar, who is the son of former Bihar Chief Minister Bhagwat Jha Azad. The Bengal Congress has fielded its veteran leader Nepal Mahato from Purulia, son of former MP Debendra Mahato, and also Mortaza Hossain, grandson of former minister Abdus Sattar, from Jangipur seat. ''It is not just because of my family; I too have been an MLA here and served the people for the last 15 years,'' Congress candidate from Raiganj Ali Imran Ramz, son of veteran Forward Bloc leader Mohammed Ramzan Ali and nephew of former minister in the Left Front government Hafiz Alam Sairani, said. BJP candidate from Bongaon seat, Shantanu Thakur, who comes from Matua-Thakurbari family, with his father Manjul Krishna Thakur being a former minister in TMC cabinet and his aunt Mamata Bala Thakur being a TMC MP. CPI(M)s Serampore candidate Dipsita Dhar, a youth leader, is granddaughter of former three-term MLA Padma Nidhi Dhar. The BJP and CPI(M) defended their decisions to field candidates with political lineage by saying, ''Their candidature has nothing to do with their families.'' ''Both Saria Shah Halim and Dipsita Dhar are good leaders and speakers. It has nothing to do with dynasty,'' CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said. West Bengal BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said the party has been vocal against dynasty politics, but in the case of Thakur and Soumendu Adhikari, both are well-known leaders. ''Both are leaders in their own right and got party tickets based on their winnability,'' he said. Although political dynasties have been prevalent in Bengal politics since pre-independence era, post-independence, especially since the late Fifties, student politics was considered the breeding ground for next-generation politicians. CM Mamata Banerjee, former CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Left Front chairman Biman Bose, and Congress leaders Somen Mitra and Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi are products of student politics. Political scientist Biswanath Chakraborty said the trend of dynasty politics will gain momentum due to a lack of leaders emerging from campuses. ''Earlier, colleges and universities were breeding grounds for the next-generation politicians. But except for Presidency College and Jadavpur University, none of the universities and colleges had a student body election in last five years. So there is hardly any new batch of leaders, forcing the political parties to rely on dynasties,'' he said.
'7-phase poll a plan to give BJP campaign advantage': Mamata
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that the Election Commission chalked out seven-phase polls to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues to carry out extensive campaigning using the nations resources. Addressing a public meeting in Malda district, Banerjee said polls have been scheduled from April 19 to June 1 so that Modi and his cabinet colleagues can travel on special planes across the country before every phase to overwhelm the Opposition. Elections used to be over by May but this year, it has been extended till June 1 so the PM can visit various places on military planes, while we are made to arrange for our own transport, including helicopters, which are also being booked by BJP leaders so that we get little space, she alleged. People are inconvenienced by the scorching heat but Modi is unperturbed as they (BJP leaders) are campaigning in VVIP comfort with all facilities at hand, she added. Banerjee alleged that though the Union council of ministers is a caretaker cabinet after the announcement of elections and the EC is in charge of running the administrative machinery, the poll body is toeing the line dictated by Modi and his party colleagues. Attacking the BJP and Congress MPs from West Bengal, Banerjee alleged that none of them took up the states cause regarding the release of MGNREGA funds or building houses for the poor under PM Awas Yojana. Our (TMC) MPs were manhandled and arrested when they went to Delhi in November last year to demand the release of MGNREGA funds, she said. Banerjee accused CPM and Congress of bolstering the BJP in the state and urged people not to cast votes for any non-TMC candidate.
Trinamool to receive major jolt next week: Suvendu Adhikari
Kolkata: The leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Saturday predicted a major jolt for the ruling Trinamool Congress next week. Speaking at an election rally in Malda, Adhikari said the jolt will be such that the entire Trinamool will be imbalanced next week. Although Adhikari did not give any []
Will ensure that Trinamool Congress draws a blank in Murshidabad: Adhir Chowdhury
Murshidabad and Malda are the two districts where the electoral understanding between the Congress and Left parties is likely to pose a challenge to both the Trinamool and the BJP
EC chalked out seven-phase polls to assist BJP campaigning: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that the Election Commission of India chalked out seven-phase polls to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues to carry out extensive campaigning using the nation's resources. Addressing a public meeting at Gajol in Malda district in support of Maldaha Uttar TMC candidate Prasun Banerjee, a former IPS officer, Mamata Banerjee, the party supremo, said polls have been scheduled from April 19 to June 1 so that Modi and his cabinet colleagues can travel on special planes across the country before every phase to overwhelm the Opposition.
In Bengal, Congress and CPI(M) are helping the BJP, Mamata Banerjee said while campaigning for Malda North Lok Sabha candidate Prasun Banerjee
Congress and CPI(M) are helping BJP in Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee
Congress and CPI(M) are helping BJP in Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee Malda (West Bengal) [India], April 20 ANI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee campaigned for Malda North Lok Sabha candidate Prasun Banerjee on Saturday and asked what the BJP has done except causing harm to the people. She claimed that in Bengal, Congress and CPI(M) are helping the BJP. At a public rally here, the West Bengal CM danced and played drums on the stage. Mamata Banerjee said, What has the BJP done for anyone? Has it done anything else except causing harm to people? During elections, we stay in rented hotels but on the other hand, PM Modi uses army benefits such as planes. Have you ever heard of anyone from the BJP or Congress going to Delhi and talking about Bengal? She hits out at incumbent BJP MP Khagen Murmu and asked where he was when funds were stopped for MGNREGA workers for 100 days of work. In Bengal, Congress and CPI(M) are helping the BJP. They suspended our MPs in Parliament but still, we went to Delhi and raised our demands. When the NRC was implemented in Assam, our leaders were stopped at Guwahati Airport; and seven cases were registered against me, she added. She further stated that the BJP won't succeed in Bengal, South India, Punjab and Delhi, and the number of votes in MP and Rajasthan would be reduced to 50 per cent so the target of 400 seats is exaggerated. Last time during the election, they assured Rs 15 lakh in everyone's account. Has anyone received the money yet? she asked. The state's three parliamentary constituencies--Coochbehar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri--all of which were won by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, voted on Friday in the first phase of the general elections. Polling in the 42 parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal is being held across all seven phases: April 19, April 26, May 4, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 4. Though the TMC is part of the INDIA bloc, it does not have a seat-sharing arrangement with the other parties in the alliance, like Congress and the Left parties in the state. 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. (ANI)
Special trains to be run from SMV Bengaluru to Malda Town, Santragachchi to Secunderabad via Duvvada to clear rush The Hindu
Aakar Patel| We cant forget how govt failed to tackle Covids 2021 2nd wave
Three years ago, on April 15, 2021, the National Task Force on Covid-19 met for the first time in three months (the last meeting was on January 11). Cases were now at 216,000 and deaths over 1,100. Two days after that, on April 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held what he said was his largest-ever rally at Asansol in West Bengal, with lakhs of people in the audience. The daily positive cases that day were 260,000 with 1,500 deaths. Till this time, Mr Modi had appeared to be oblivious to the power of exponential growth though the government was warned specifically and severally about an impending second wave. It was only after he returned that evening from West Bengal and perhaps internalised the commentary on television of the devastation in Delhis hospitals that Mr Modi acted. The next day, April 18, he cancelled any further activity at the Kumbh Mela. Daily cases were now at 275,000 but it still took another four days for Mr Modi to cancel his rallies in Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum and Kolkata. He said the rallies would be virtual (in reality, only the speaker was virtual and appeared on a screen; the crowd still gathered). By now, cases were at 332,000, with 2,200 deaths daily. The same day that Mr Modi cancelled his rallies, the obliging Election Commission banned rallies for all parties. In guiding India through this second wave, Mr Modi flew by the seat of his pants. Structurally, there was nothing other than his office running the Covid-19 strategy. The Union Cabinet did not decide or discuss a single issue related to the pandemic as the second wave surged through March and April 2021. It met five times, but only to clear things like the second phase of Bengalurus metro project and some memoranda of understanding with foreign nations. Even on May 11, it met only to approve things like a ropeway project in Uttarakhand. Ministers did not appear to know what Mr Modis vaccination strategy was, or if indeed he had any. On May 18, Nitin Gadkari asked for more firms to be issued licences to make the vaccine. This was reported the next day, and it was pointed out that this was exactly what former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had suggested to Mr Modi a month before (a suggestion that was met with an insolent reply from Harsh Vardhan). In the face of calamity, Mr Modi froze. In the seven months from March to September 2020, Mr Modi made 82 public appearances physical as well as virtual. In the next four months, he made 111 such appearances. From February to April 25, 2021, he clocked 92 public appearances. From April 25, after he called off the Kumbh and his West Bengal rallies, Mr Modi disappeared. He made no public appearance for 20 days. The Prime Minister of India fled the field when his people needed the government most. Twice in 2020, in April and in November, the government had been warned that an oxygen shortage was looming. The minutes of one meeting said in clear terms: In the coming days India could face a shortage of oxygen supplies. While before April, Mr Modi did not himself take the pandemic seriously, he also insisted on managing it personally. If there was any strategy at all in tackling the pandemic, it came directly from Mr Modis office; there was no role for the Cabinet in pandemic control, PMO calls the shots, as a newspaper headline put it. This was in keeping with the way in which he has run the government all this time. A wave that began at the end of February was not only allowed to gather momentum, it was goaded on. Through four weeks of March, through three weeks of April, India held gigantic gatherings directly organised by the BJP or approved and encouraged by it. The consequences were felt by the countrys healthcare system, which was always fragile and unavailable to the poor at the best of times. Here, the second aspect to tackling a pandemic, the failure to anticipate the effects of a sudden wave and the preparation of a war chest of medical equipment, came into playIn the eight weeks between March 1 and April 30, Indias daily cases grew 40 times from 11,000 to more than 400,000. No healthcare system in the world can handle an explosion of patients of this sort. The only way to protect the population is to stockpile things that may not be immediately required today but are produced and procured and set aside in anticipation of a waves peak. India did not do that. In April 2020, the government decided it would procure 50,000 Make in India ventilators, but ultimately only procured 35,000 of them after it determined that the pandemic had been seen off. Corporates like Maruti said they had made ventilators, but the government chose not to procure them. Two months before the second wave, on February 21, 2021, the BJP passed a resolution: It can be said with pride that India not only defeated Covid under the able, sensitive, committed and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, but also infused in all its citizens the confidence to build an Atma Nirbhar Bharat. The party unequivocally hails its leadership for introducing India to the world as a proud and victorious nation in the fight against Covid. When the crematoria began to overflow, no reference to this was made. All this may not affect the claims and the bombast, but this is not history from 1526, this happened to us just three years ago and must not be forgotten.
River erosion and water scarcity creating challenges in Maldaha Uttar LS constituency
River erosion and water scarcity creating challenges in Maldaha Uttar LS constituency The Maldaha Uttar Lok Sabha constituency in the northern part of West Bengal, set for polling on May 7, grapples with enduring challenges including river erosion, substandard healthcare infrastructure, and drinking water shortages. Candidates competing to represent the constituency recognise that addressing these persistent issues must be a primary focus of their campaign agendas. Once considered to be a stronghold of the Congress, the constituency has seen the emergence of the BJP and the Trinamool Congress over the past decade. While the TMC holds sway over Chanchal, Harishchandrapur, Malatipur, and Ratua assembly seats which are part of the Lok Sabha constituency, the BJP has made inroads in Habibpur, Gazole, and Maldaha segments. Incumbent BJP MP Khagen Murmu, confident of retaining the seat for the second term, emphasised his efforts to address local grievances despite resistance from the state government. He cited challenges in implementing central schemes due to ''lack of cooperation'' from the state administration. ''I am confident of winning with a big margin. People of this constituency have realised that the local administration and the state government do not want any development for them. They have been deprived because of the non-cooperative attitude of the state government. I have fought for them and the people of Maldaha Uttar know it. I know they will vote for me again,'' the BJP nominee told PTI. Murmu, a former CPI(M) MLA from Habibpur who joined the BJP in 2019, alleged that he had faced ''huge resistance from the state government whenever he tried to implement any central government scheme''. ''There is a huge population who are still residing in kutcha houses. I tried to help them rebuild their houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, but the state government did everything to prevent me from helping the poor people,'' he said. He also referred to the persisting problems of river erosion and inadequate drinking water and alleged that people of his constituency were ''getting poor quality provisions'' procured from ration shops. ''I have requested the state minister several times to send a detailed project report to the Centre so that river erosion could be checked. But that never happened,'' Murmu alleged. He said Ganga river erosion displaced thousands of villagers at Mahanandtola gram panchayat under Ratua assembly seat. Opposing Murmu's claims, TMC MLA Samar Mukherjee criticised the BJP for its ''failure to fulfil promises to arrest river erosion before the 2019 elections''. ''Ganga river erosion is a major issue that affects the lives of thousands of people in Malda and Murshidabad districts. Our government helped villagers who were displaced by erosion. They are very upset with the BJP MP as he has failed in keeping his promise,'' Mukherjee said. Congress candidate Mostaque Alam expressed confidence that his party will win the elections as people are ''fed up with the BJP and TMC's politics''. Alam questioned understanding of the grassroots politics of IPS officer-turned-TMC candidate Prasun Banerjee. ''What does he (Prasun Banerjee) know about politics? You cannot gauge the pulse of the people suddenly after coming out of an air-conditioned room. Maldaha Uttar is not that an easy affair,'' the Congress leader said. He said people have realised that the ''politics of the BJP and the TMC will not benefit them''. Banerjee, a 2006-batch IPS officer, has held several important positions, including Inspector General (IG) of Raiganj range, before taking voluntary retirement to contest elections. ''I had offers from the TMC and was promised to be inducted into Mamata Banerjee's Cabinet, but they do not know that I am not a traitor. I started as a student leader under the leadership of ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, worked with leaders like Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and Pradip Chakraborty, and have learnt what politics is all about,'' Alam told PTI over the phone. Banerjee declined to reply to his opponents and went on to say, ''I do not want to speak anything now. June 4 will reveal everything.'' In the 2019 polls, the BJP secured over 37.5 per cent of the votes, while the TMC and the Congress had a share of 31 per cent and 22.5 per cent, respectively. Maldaha Uttar parliamentary constituency will go to polls on May 7.
BJP MP Khagen Murmu Caught in Controversy Over Campaign Kiss
Trinamul Congress criticizes BJP's Khagen Murmu after photos surface of him allegedly kissing a woman during a door-to-door campaign in Malda Uttar constituency
Dakshin Malda LS Election: Meet BJP`s Nirbhoy Didi, Only Female Candidate In North Bengal
Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury is currently serving as MLA fromEnglish Bazar constituency.
2021 Video Of BJP Workers Vandalising Party Office Peddled As Recent
BOOM found that the incident took place in West Bengal's Malda over candidate choice for the 2021 assembly election.
Minorities likely to support TMC in West Bengal during Lok Sabha Polls
In West Bengal, minority voters, comprising nearly thirty per cent of the electorate, are expected to support the TMC over the Left-Congress alliance to counter the BJP's advance, despite the secular alternative. This inclination is particularly evident in districts like Murshidabad, Malda, and Uttar Dinajpur, where minorities form the majority. Efforts to woo minorities may become more challenging for the Left-Congress with the Indian Secular Front (ISF) choosing to go solo.
Minorities likely to support TMC in Bengal during LS Polls
Minorities likely to support TMC in Bengal during LS Polls Minorities in West Bengal, constituting nearly thirty per cent of the electorate, are likely to vote for the TMC to halt BJP's advance, despite the presence of a secular alternative in the form of Left-Congress alliance, community leaders said. According to minority leaders, Muslims in West Bengal, pivotal in several Lok Sabha seats, are inclined towards the Mamata Banerjee-led party, which they see as a credible force, unlike the Left-Congress alliance. This inclination is particularly evident in districts such as Murshidabad, Malda, and Uttar Dinajpur, where minorities form the majority. With the Indian Secular Front (ISF) opting to go solo, efforts to woo minorities might become more challenging for the Left Congress, especially with the saffron party capitalising on various polarising issues such as the Ram Mandir and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). West Bengal boasts the second-highest number of Muslim electorate in the country after Kashmir and Assam. Even though there may be some discontent within the community regarding the state government, religious minority leaders believe that voting for the TMC is crucial to counter the BJP. Imams are likely to appeal to members of the community to ensure there's no split in minority votes, which in 2019 contributed to the BJP's success in minority-dominated areas. ''It must be ensured there's no split in minority votes. The TMC is the best choice in most of the seats, whereas the Left and Congress are best suited in some seats of North Bengal,'' said Qazi Fazlur Rehman, the Imam-eh-din, who leads prayers at the Red Road in Kolkata every year. The president of the West Bengal Imam Association, Mohammed Yahya, said in districts such as Murshidabad, Malda, and Uttar Dinajpur, minorities might face a tough choice between the Left-Congress and TMC candidates. ''In these districts, the division of minority votes resulted in BJP victories in Uttar Dinajpur in 2019 and in one seat in Malda. However, this time around, minorities are expected to rally behind the TMC, similar to their support in the 2021 assembly polls,'' he added. Imams are expected to convey this message to minorities from 40,000 mosques across the state. The BJP had won Maldah Uttar and Raiganj seats in North Bengal in 2019, where the minorities constitute approximately 45 per cent of the electorate, due to the split of this voting bloc. In a state where minorities constitute around 30 per cent of the electorate, their influence extends to 16-18 Lok Sabha seats, making them a coveted voting bloc for all parties. Several parliamentary seats in both north and south Bengal, such as Raiganj, Coochbehar, Balurghat, Malda North, Malda South, Murshidabad, Diamond Harbour, Uluberia, Howrah, Birbhum, Kanthi, Tamluk, and Joynagar, have significant Muslim populations. Mohammed Kamruzzaman, general secretary of All Bengal Minority Youth Federation, whose organisation has the biggest following among Muslim youths in the state, said, ''In Bengal, TMC is the most credible force when it comes to fighting against BJP.'' Sabir Ahamed, a researcher with Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's Pratichi Trust, believes that the TMC's public welfare schemes have fostered strong support from minorities. ''The welfare schemes of the TMC government have played a key role in minority voters' preferences,'' he noted. The CPI(M) and Congress highlighted livelihood issues, scams, anti-incumbency, and a rise in religious-ethnic sentiments as factors eroding TMC's hold over the minority vote- with the defeat in Sagardighi bypoll in 2023 being an indicator. ''The minority votes are returning to the Left and Congress and that has left the TMC and the BJP panicked,'' CPI(M) state secretary Md Salim said. The defeat in the minority-dominated seat in the bypoll had sent shockwaves in the TMC camp, with the ruling party taking up measures to reach out to the community. The entry of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) led by Abbas Siddiqui into Bengal's political arena was a response to the absence of a strong proponent for Muslims in the state's political landscape. Although now led by its lone MLA Naushad Siddique, the ISF, despite garnering only 1.35 per cent of popular vote in 2021 West Bengal assembly election, is still seen as a threat to mainstream parties for a share of the state's 30 per cent Muslim vote. ''It's not about dole politics. Minorities in Bengal are fed up with TMC's corruption and misrule,'' remarked the ISF MLA Siddiqui. The ISF, which has decided to go solo, had announced candidates for six Lok Sabha seats Jadavpur, Balurghat, Uluberia, Barrackpore, Diamond Harbour, and Basirhat. Historically, minorities initially supported the Congress against Hindu Mahasabha and Jan Sangh. However, from the late sixties, they shifted towards the Left, especially under leaders like Jyoti Basu. The Left's decline began with the Sachar Committee report in 2008, highlighting the poor condition of minorities and anti-land acquisition movements in Nandigram and Singur. Mamata Banerjee's TMC then emerged as the new minority advocate, leading to her overthrowing of the Left Front in 2011. This shift has been criticised by the BJP-RSS as minority appeasement. TMC won 34 Lok Sabha seats in 2014, reduced to 22 in 2019. However, in the 2021 assembly polls, minorities voted for the TMC, securing its third consecutive term. ''The TMC has fought against the communal onslaught of the BJP and has protected the minorities. The Left-Congress are B team of the BJP in Bengal,'' senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said. The BJP feels that post-abolition of instant triple talaq in 2017 and recent incidents in Sandeshkhali, where women have accused the TMC leaders of sexually abusing them, it is likely to get a pie of women- minority votes. ''The Muslim women this time will vote for the BJP in Bengal to express their gratitude,'' said state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar.
Riverbank erosion, Ghani Khan's legacy likely factors in Bengal's Malda Dakshin Lok Sabha seat
Among the two remaining Congress-held Lok Sabha seats in the state - the other being Baharampur in neighbouring Murshidabad district - Malda Dakshin candidates, cutting across parties, are also expected to factor in the influence of former Congress patriarch ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, whose legacy continues to influence the region even 18 years after his demise.
TMC-backed goons attacked Hoogly candidate Locket Chatterjee's car, claims BJP
TMC-backed goons attacked Hoogly candidate Locket Chatterjee's car, claims BJP The BJP on Sunday alleged that the vehicle of the party's Hoogly Lok Sabha seat candidate Loket Chatterjee's car was attacked by the ruling Trinamool Congress-backed goons, led by Bansberia Municipality's Vice Chairman Shilpi Chatterjee, on Saturday. A post on the official X handle of the BJP's West Bengal unit read, Amidst the Kali Puja celebrations in Bansberia, TMC-backed miscreants, led by Bansberia Municipality's Vice Chairman Shilpi Chatterjee, targeted BJP candidate Loket Chatterjee's car in Hooghly. This attack is part of TMC's widespread violence against BJP in Hooghly and West Bengal. Urging the Election Commission to swiftly apprehend the culprits for a fair and peaceful election, the post read further. Earlier, West Bengal BJP state general secretary Locket Chatterjee alleged that TMC's goons, led by Shilpi Chatterjee, attacked her vehicle in Bansberia. In a video shared by the BJP leader on X, people were seen gathering around her vehicle and banging on it. In a post on X, Locket Chatterjee wrote, TMC's goons, led by Shilpi Chatterjee, shamelessly attacked my vehicle amidst KaliPuja in Bansberia. Their audacity exposes the Trinamool's mafia grip over Hooghly. Today, their thugs dared to block my pilgrimage to Maa's Puja. The lack of candidate security is appalling, a clear sign of voter intimidation. Hooghly deserves a fair election - every thug should be put behind bars now. Reacting to the incident, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said the state police, under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, would likely 'remain a mute spectator'. TMC goons, led by local Councillor Shilpi Chatterjee, attacked BJP MP and Hooghly candidate Locket Chatterjee's car, while she was returning from KaliPuja in Bansberia. Shilpi and her band of thugs can dare to do this because they know Mamata Banerjee's police will remain a mute spectator. This is the surest sign that TMC is losing Hooghly, again, Malviya posted from his official X handle. West Bengal will poll for the Lower House of Parliament across all seven phases for the 42 seats. Malda North will go to polls on May 4. (ANI)
LS Polls: TMC holds meeting to device strategy for to ensure strong performance in Malda
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Pro-TMC forum of intellectuals on 2-week campaign trail
Pro-TMC forum of intellectuals on 2-week campaign trail A pro-Trinamool Congress forum of intellectuals launched a two-week long campaign from Saturday to canvass support for party candidates ahead of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections beginning from April 19. The Desh Bachao Gana Manch (Save Country Peoples Platform) consists of singers Pratul Mukhopadhyay, Nachiketa Chakraborty, Sobhan Sundar Basu and others. We want the defeat of undemocratic, authoritarian, communal forces in the coming Lok Sabha polls and want to tell people there is no alternative to TMC, one of the forum members said. Their campaign on Saturday covered areas like Kolkata airport, Haroa and Baruipur. In the coming days, they will travel to places such as Canning, Kalyani, Krishnanagar, Jangipur, Malda, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Suri, Bolpur, Asansol, Durgapur and Hooghly crisscrossing northern and southern parts of the state. The campaign by the intellectuals will continue till April 13.
Hyderabad to witness a three-day music and dance extravaganza - Ramayana Kalpavrksam!
Celebrated Classical dancer, scholar, speaker and writer, Ananda Shankar Jayant, IIRTS (Retd.), Padmashrii and SNA Awardee; in association with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Shankarananda Kalakshetra Natyarambha and Brhat; is hosting a 3-day music and dance extravaganza, the signature festival, Ramayana Kalpavrksam, from 29th to 31st March 2024, at the CCRT Campus, Hyderabad. Chief Guest Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, will inaugurate the 3 day festival on March 28 th , 2024 at 6.00 pm at CCRT Campus, Hyderabad. The festival presents a visual treat with a stellar line up of events that include a galaxy of renowned artistes and speakers from across the country, with something for all ages. It includes scintillating performances, ranging from the classical to the popular; thought provoking talks and discussions, immersive arts workshops in dance ideation, Sanskrit and digital arts, Book release, Artisans corner, meet the legend and plethora of other special features. On day one, Friday 29 th , March, the festival has a dance choreographed by Ananda Shankar Javant, Sri Rama Namam - Entha Ruchi Ra and A Civilisation rises again - Ayodhya a Ground Report talk by Swati Goel Sharma. On 30 th March there is an interesting line up of The evening programs - Ramayana in warp and weft - Ramayana on textiles, painting, weaving and embroidery talk by Shefali Vaidya; Svayambodha and Shatrubodha - Twin Wheels of a Civilisation; Panel Discussion,Nupur Sharma in conversationwith Pankaj Saxena; Sri Rama Raksha, storytelling and music byVinay Varanasi and Vivek Sadasivamand Dhruva,songs of faith in loving praise of Hanuman anddance production byAayana Dance Companyand choreography by Krishna Manognya Balaraju. Sunday the 31 st March tar concluding day of the festival The evening session has a book release, Babur- The Chessboard King, by author Aabhas Maldahiyar who will interact with writer Shivakumar; A Sacred awakening Talk by Dushyanth Sridhar and Musical evening , Rejoicing in Raghu, IndoSoul by KarthickIyer. The festival also has Immersive Arts workshops on Saturday 30 th , March, and Sunday 31 st March in the forenoon from 8.30am to 1pm Ramayana mantra mala, potent Life Mantras within Valmiki's Verses; Sanskrit chanting and learning Workshop by Udaya Shreyas, Founder - The Sanskrit Channel; Rama Mandala, Drawing on Canvas and Digital painting Workshop by Lakshmi Ambady and Purushottama, Exploring elements of Shakti and Bhakti in the stories of Rama; Dance, Ideation Workshop by Dr Anupama Kylash A special interactive session of meet the Legend with renowned dance guru Chitra Visveswaran is also planned The festival has a wide bouquet of performances talks and workshops with something for everyone. A Kala Grama artisans market will also rare cultural products. The festival requires registration on the site, ramayanakalpavrksam
TMC lodges complaint to EC against BJP candidate for levelling false allegation
TMC lodges complaint to EC against BJP candidate for levelling false allegation The Trinamool Congress on Thursday complained to the EC against BJP candidate from Maldaha Uttar constituency Khagen Murmu, accusing him of violating the model code of conduct by falsely claiming that TMC nominee Prasun Banerjee has held a private meeting with top Malda district officials. Murmu is the sitting MP of Maldaha Uttar seat. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, the Malda district unit of the TMC alleged that Murmu had made baseless and unsubstantiated allegations against Banerjee, the party candidate for Maldaha Uttar seat. Murmu had made public statements alleging Banerjee had a 'private' meeting with the government and administrative officers of the district, the TMC claimed in the letter. The BJP MP is fully aware that no such meeting had taken place and his statement was aimed at misleading the voters ahead of the general elections, the ruling party of West Bengal said. The TMC also alleged that the BJP candidate had made personal remarks against Banerjee which were unwarranted and derogatory. The TMC urged the CEO to take strict action against Murmu for breaching the MCC. Murmu should not be allowed to hold any public meeting, speak to the media or take part in any campaign pending an enquiry by the CEO's office.
West Bengal Resident Among 3 Drug Peddlers Arrested In Kashmir
Srinagar, Mar 27: Police on Wednesday arrested three drug peddlers, including a West Bengal resident, and recovered contraband substances from their possession in Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district. Police said at a checkpoint established at Kanispora Chowk Baramulla, they intercepted one person. During the search, 20 grams of contraband brown sugar-like substances were recovered from his possession. The accused has been identified as Sheikh Hashmat, a resident of Malda, West Bengal, presently staying at Kanispora, who was arrested. Similarly, a [] The post West Bengal Resident Among 3 Drug Peddlers Arrested In Kashmir appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Three people killed in a road accident in Malda
Malda, Mar 24 (UNI) Three people were killed when the car, in which they were traveling, was hit by a gas-laden tanker at English Bazar in West Bengals Malda district, police said on Sunday. Police said while two of the deceased were from Mothabari one was a resident of English Bazar. The mishap happened last... The post Three people killed in a road accident in Malda first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .
Discontent grows in TMC, BJP ranks in Bengal over ticket distribution for LS polls
Discontent grows in TMC, BJP ranks in Bengal over ticket distribution for LS polls Discontentment seems to be increasing by the day in sections of the BJP and the TMC in West Bengal with several leaders of both camps expressing displeasure over the selection of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Several TMC leaders aspiring for tickets have openly voiced their unhappiness over not being nominated for the seats they eyed. The BJP has witnessed similar dissatisfaction among some influential leaders over candidate selection. At least five senior TMC leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Mausam Benazir Noor and party spokesperson Santanu Sen, who were seeking nomination from Malda North and Dum Dum seats respectively, have expressed dissatisfaction after being denied tickets. Even Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's younger brother, Babun Banerjee, voiced his displeasure after not being nominated for the Howrah seat, in which the TMC gave its ticket to sitting MP Prasun Banerjee. The CM disowned her brother following his outburst. Sitting BJP MP from Barrackpore, Arjun Singh, who had previously switched over to the TMC two years ago, returned to the saffron party after being denied a ticket. Similarly, TMC's four-term MLA and ticket aspirant from Kolkata North, Tapas Roy, joined the BJP due to disagreements over the re-nomination of five-term party MP Sudip Bandopadhyay from the seat. Likewise, the BJP, which has announced candidates for 19 of the 42 seats so far, has also encountered embarrassing situations as Union minister and Alipurduars MP John Barla and Rajya Sabha MP Ananta Maharaj, who have significant influence over Scheduled Tribes and Rajbanshi community respectively, expressed dissatisfaction over the selection of candidates in some seats in north Bengal. Barla was replaced with the party's assembly chief whip Manoj Tigga for Alipurduars, while the BJP re-nominated Union minister Nisith Pramanik in Cooch Behar, even as Maharaj, a prominent figure in the Greater Cooch Behar statehood movement, opposed his candidature. Both the TMC and BJP, amidst their intense election campaigns, downplayed the discontentment. ''What you are calling discontentment is actually disappointment, which is natural if you are expecting something and don't get it. But except for Arjun Singh, everybody else is still in TMC and is working for the party,'' TMC spokesperson Sukhendu Sekhar Ray told PTI. While 16 of the 23 sitting MPs were retained, the TMC chose not to re-nominate seven incumbents. Two-term MP from Bardhaman Purba, Sunil Mondal, who had joined the BJP ahead of the 2021 assembly polls only to return after the saffron camp's defeat, was also dropped, and a political newcomer was nominated for the seat. The TMC candidate list included 26 fresh faces, 11 of whom were political greenhorns. Not a single candidate who lost in the 18 seats in the 2019 polls was offered candidacy this time. ''Would we nominate Arjun Singh and Sunil Mondal so that they again betray us after winning on our tickets? It was a conscious decision by the party not to make them candidates,'' Ray said. Mausam Benazir Noor, the scion of Congress stalwart ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury's family and the TMC's Rajya Sabha MP, expressed her displeasure over being overlooked for a party ticket. ''I wanted to contest from the Malda North seat as I had won it twice but got defeated last time due to division of votes. Anyways, the party must have taken such a decision considering various factors,'' Noor, who had switched over from the Congress in 2019, said. Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan's nomination from the Congress stronghold of Behrampore seat initially sparked an inner-party debate, with TMC's Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir criticising the nomination of an ''outsider'' and contemplating contesting as an independent. However, after the intervention of the TMC's top brass, Kabir changed his stance and decided to work for the party nominee's victory. ''There is nothing wrong in being an aspirant for a ticket, and expressing disappointment if overlooked is normal. But once the party announces the nominees, every one of us has to work to ensure the victory of the party candidates,'' Santanu Sen told PTI. On the other hand, the BJP, which has set a target of winning over 35 seats in the state, has also been trying to pacify Maharaj and Barla. Maharaj, who heads one of the factions of the Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA), holds sway over the Rajbanshi community, which accounts for nearly 30 per cent of the electorate in the region. The BJP had offered him nomination during the Rajya Sabha polls last year, and he won comfortably. Similarly, Barla, who had attracted attention in 2021 after demanding a Union territory for north Bengal, is a popular leader of the STs and tea garden workers in Alipurduars. In 2019, Barla played a pivotal role in securing BJP victory in both Alipurduars and adjoining Jalpaiguri seats. ''The party has already spoken to them, and the issues will be sorted out. It is quite natural to express displeasure if your expectations are not fulfilled. The party stands united,'' BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said. Political analysts believe that while dissent among lesser-known figures is unlikely to significantly affect the TMC's poll prospects, given the party's reliance on the CM's popularity, it could pose a concern for the BJP due to caste dynamics, particularly in north Bengal. ''For the TMC, Banerjee holds sway, making the dissatisfaction of these individuals inconsequential as they lack significant political weight,'' said political scientist Subhamoy Maitra. Political analyst Maidul Islam, on the other hand, highlighted the pivotal role caste equations played in favour of the BJP in 2019. ''The discontent might upset BJP's prospects in not only Cooch Behar and Alipurduar but also Darjeeling and some other seats of north Bengal, which the saffron party had swept in the last Lok Sabha polls,'' he said. In 2019, the TMC had won 22 seats whereas the BJP had bagged 18 seats, out of which seven were from north Bengal. Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. Results will be announced on June 4.
AISF announces candidates for eight LS seats in Bengal
Kolkata, March 22 (IANS) The All India Secular Front (AISF) on Thursday announced its candidates for eight out of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal. The eight constituencies are Malda Uttar, Jaynagar (SC), Murshidabad, Barasat, Basirhat, Mathurapur, Serampore, and Jhargram. Barring Jhargram, all the other seven constituencies have a sizable population of minority []
Cong announces candidates for 8 LS seats in Bengal
Cong announces candidates for 8 LS seats in Bengal West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and the son of a sitting MP are among 56 candidates who feature in the third list of nominees announced by the party for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The party has announced candidates for eight out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. It presently holds two Lok Sabha seats - Berhampore and Maldaha Dakshin - in the state. Following are the key Congress candidates from West Bengal: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Berhampore): The leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha, Chowdhury is a five-term MP from the seat in the minority-dominated Murshidabad district. The 67-year-old Chowdhury, who also doubles up as the state Congress president, is probably the only mass leader the grand old party has in the state. An architect of the Congress-Left Front alliance in the state in 2016, Chowdhury is a bitter critic of the TMC government in West Bengal. He is presently in talks with the Left for clinching a seat-sharing deal in the state. The re-nomination of Chowdhury from Berhampore has set the stage for the much-anticipated clash between the veteran Congress leader and cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan, who has been fielded by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Known as the 'Robin Hood of Berhampore', Chowdhury won the seat in 2019 by a margin of over 80,000 votes with a vote share of 45.5 per cent. Isha Khan Choudhury (Maldaha Dakshin): The son of sitting MP and Congress leader Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, Isha is a two-time Congress MLA from 2011-2021. In 2021, he failed to win the Sujapur assembly seat. The scion of Congress stalwart ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury's family, Isha spent much of his life in Canada before taking a plunge into politics in 2011. His 86-year-old father, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, a four-term sitting MP from the Maldaha-Dakshin seat, has decided to step aside due to failing health. Known for his well-researched speeches in the West Bengal assembly, the 52-year-old Isha is presently a senior leader of the Bengal Congress unit. Pradip Bhattacharya (Kolkata North): One of the most senior leaders of West Bengal Congress unit, Bhattacharya is a two-term Rajya Sabha MP and a one-term Lok Sabha MP from the state. A former state Congress president, Bhattacharya served as a minister in the Siddhartha Sankar Ray government in West Bengal from 1972-1977, the last Congress government in the state. In Kolkata North Lok Sabha constituency, he will be up against five-term MP and TMC candidate Sudip Bandyopadhyay. The other seats where the party has decided to field candidates are Jangipur, Raiganj, Maldah Uttar, Purulia and Birbhum. While Murtoza Hossain is contesting from Jangipur, Nepal Mahato has been fielded from Purulia. Similarly, Ali Amran Ramz will contest from Raiganj, Mostaque Alam (Maldah Uttar) and Milton Rashid has been named as the candidate from Birbhum, the AICC statement said.
Election Commission Declares Six Lok Sabha Constituencies As 'Financially Sensitive'
These six constituencies are Darjeeling, Malda Uttar, Malda Dakshin, Asansol, Bangaon and Kolkata North, he said.
Six LS constituencies in Bengal identified as financially sensitive seats
Kolkata, March 19 (IANS) Six out of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal have been identified as financially sensitive seats, sources in the state Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) office said on Tuesday. The six constituencies are Maldaha Uttar, Maldaha Dakshin, Darjeeling, Asansol, Bangaon, and Kolkata Uttar. The poll panel has also directed the []
Woman delivers baby on moving train with passengers' help near Bengal's Malda
Woman delivers baby on moving train with passengers help near Bengals Malda
South Malda 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Date, Schedule, party wise candidates and other key details
The upcoming Lok Sabha elections in South Malda, West Bengal, will feature a triangular contest between Trinamool Congress (TMC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress. Scheduled for May 7, 2024, under the second phase of elections, the constituency comprises seven assembly segments. Incumbent MP Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury faces tough competition, reflecting the dynamic political landscape in the region ahead of the polls.
High-stakes battle looms in West Bengals South Malda, triangular fight likely on May 7
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I am Prasun Banerjee. Main hoon na: TMC Malda North candidate dares central forces, EC
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Will apply under CAA to debunk TMC claims: Union minister from WB
Facing unrest in Matua-dominated areas of Bengal over the CAA's schedule 1A requirement for Bangladeshi documents, Union Minister Shantanu Thakur, also Bongaon MP, plans to seek citizenship under the CAA to counter alleged misinformation by the TMC. Thakur's announcement on Saturday follows recent protests in Nadia's Chakdah and threats of further demonstrations by the Sara Bharat Matua Mahasangha in Malda.
Trinamool Congress Candidate Warns Central Forces and Election Commission, BJP Reacts
Kolkata: Prasun Banerjee, Trinamool Congress's candidate for the Malda North Lok Sabha seat, stirred controversy with his remarks cautioning central forces and the Election Commission against any acts of intimidation during elections. Speaking at a rally in Malda, Banerjee, a former IPS officer, stated, I urge all BSF and paramilitary forces to adhere to the law. We will also abide by the law. Let the elections be conducted freely and fairly. If paramilitary forces attempt to intimidate, 'main hoon na' (I am here). Banerjee emphasized the importance of treating Election Commission officials with respect. He suggested that they should be provided with appropriate facilities and not be ignored. In a somewhat threatening tone, he asserted, Just inform that Prasun Banerjee is here to mediate. There is no need for boots or AK-47s. Simply let them know that I am called and I will arrive within half an hour. I will educate everyone on the laws. The observer will comprehend everything. Concluding his speech, he exclaimed, 'khela hobe' (the game is on). Banerjee is among the 42 Lok Sabha candidates nominated by the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. BJP Responds Amit Malviya, head of the BJP IT cell, shared a video of Banerjee's comments regarding paramilitary forces and the Election Commission. Prasun, who resigned from the IPS and joined the Trinamool Congress the very next day to contest Lok Sabha elections, is now issuing warnings to the Election Commission of India. One can only imagine his actions as a police officer! He epitomizes all that is wrong with the West Bengal Police, Malviya wrote on X. Earlier this month, Banerjee opted for voluntary retirement from the IPS. He served as the Inspector General of Police for the Raiganj Range. In addition to his political career, Banerjee is also a well-known theatre actor in the state. Gulfam Kills Wife in Meerut After Influence by Maulvi, Arrested Congress Leader Rajendra Bhandari Resigns and Joins BJP Clash between Foreign and Local Students at Gujarat University Hostel: Details and Background
TMC Against Seven-phase LS Polls in WB
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee has ordered Adilabad district and mandal level leaders to attend the TPCC general body meeting on Wednesday, which will be chaired by the newly appointed AICC in-charge of Telangana Deepa Dasmunshi. Ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabh (DC file photo) Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee has ordered Adilabad district and mandal level leaders to attend the TPCC general body meeting on Wednesday, which will be chaired by the newly appointed AICC in-charge of Telangana Deepa Dasmunshi. Ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabh (DC file photo) Kolkata: The Trinamul Congress has objected to the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections for the 42 seats in West Bengal. State finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya claimed, We repeatedly had sought the LS polls be held in one or two phases in Bengal because we found that the minimal phases help people to cast their votes freely and increase their turnout here. Still the number of phases has been stretched to seven. She also pointed out: If there are multiple phases, voter turnout drops like it happened in 2019 compared to its previous occasion. It is also against federal structure as it helps those, who have the moneypower, to mobilize their funds fully by utilizing the time they get out of multiple phases. Bhattacharya added, Many bigger states are going to have one phase poll. There was no need to hold the LS polls here in seven phases. Among the 42 seats in Bengal, three seats each will go to the first two phases. These are Coochbehar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri on April 19 and Darjeeling, Raiganj and Balurghat on April 26. The third phase on May 4 will cover Malda North, Malda South, Murshidabad and Jangipur. On May 13, Berhampore, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Bardhaman Purba, BardhamanDurgapur, Asansol, Bolpur, Birbhum will go to polls in the fourth round, followed by Bongaon, Barrackpore, Howrah, Uluberia, Serampore, Hooghly and Arambagh in the fifth phase on May 20. While the sixth phase on May 25 will cover Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura and Bishnupur, the seventh and final round will have Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Joynagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin, Kolkata Uttar on June 1.
Trinamool LS candidate fears sabotage by party colleagues
Kolkata, March 15 (IANS) Shahnawaz Ali Raihan, the Trinamool Congress candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Malda South in West Bengal, fears sabotage by a section of leaders and workers from his own party. Speaking to mediapersons on Friday, Raihan, who is a fresher in politics, said that there are examples of party []
Left fields 16 in Bengal, ready for adjustment with Congress
Left Front announces 16 Lok Sabha candidates in West Bengal, willing to collaborate with Congress, except in Malda and Murshidabad. They aim to challenge Trinamool, BJP, aligning with the INDIA Bloc, differing from Kerala's political landscape.
Following backlash on social media, Prasun Banerjee quickly deactivated his account. He did not bother to cite any apology or reassure the residents of the Malda North constituency.
CAA a game changer in all Matua belts of Bengal in 2024 Lok Sabha polls
The implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) ahead of the Lok Sabha election is a game changer for the Matua communities in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Malda, and North Bengal. It fulfills their long-term demand for citizenship rights and has the potential to impact the upcoming polls
TMC abandons INDIA bloc, fields 42 candidates for Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal
TMC abandons INDIA bloc, fields 42 candidates for Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal Abandoning the Mallikarjun Kharge-led INDIA bloc, Trinamool Congress on Sunday announced its candidates for all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal for the upcoming general elections. Giving a message of TMC going solo in the Lok Sabha polls, party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee announced the list that included certain surprises from former cricketers Yusuf Pathan from Berhampore and Kirti Azad from the Bardhaman Durgapur Lok Sabha seat. Sukanta Majumdar, the President of the West Bengal BJP, raised questions about TMC's decision to field Yusuf Pathan and Kirti Azad. Just half an hour before the TMC's list was announced, Abhishek Banerjee was making statements like BJP is anti-Bengal. Now, when the candidates are announced, it's clear that TMC is bringing people from outside. I don't 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. The list was announced by Abhishek Banerjee at Brigade Parade ground on Sunday. Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will contest from Diamond Harbour. Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from Lok Sabha in the Winter session last year has been given a ticket from Krishnanagar constituency. Meanwhile, Mukut Mani Adhikari who recently quit the Bharatiya Janata Party has also been given a ticket from Ranaghat Lok Sabha seat. Shatrughan Sinha is set to again contest from Asansol, a seat he had won earlier in 2022 bypoll. TMC has fielded Jagadish C Basuniya from Cooch Behar, Prakash Chik Baraik from Alipurduar, Nirmal Ch Roy from Jalpaiguri, Gopal Lama from Darjeeling. Krishna Kalyani has been fielded from Raiganj whereas Biplab Mitra and Prasun Banerjee will contest from Balurghat and Malda Uttar respectively. On the announcement of the candidates, Trinamool Congress said that the ruling party in Bengal will stand with the common people as part of its committment. Under the leadership of Chairperson @MamataOfficial, we're pleased to announce the names of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. We are steadfast in our commitment to stand by the common people against the deprivation of the Central Govt. When it comes to confronting the @BJP4India jomidars head-on and responding in the language they understand best, the Twin Flower is people's only choice!, TMC posted on X. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who was also sharing the stage when the list was released, asserted that her party will contest elections in multiple states in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. TMC will contest the election against BJP, Congress, and CPM in West Bengal. TMC will fight alone here in Bengal. TMC will also fight in Assam, Uttar Pradesh. For one seat, there has been a discussion with Samajwadi leader Akhilesh Yadav. We will also fight in Meghalaya, she said. The party also announced to field Shahnawaz Ali Raihan from Malda Dakshin. From Jangipur, Khalilur Rahman has been given the ticket to contest the polls. Abu Taher Khan has also been given a ticket from Murshidabad, Biswajit Das from Bongaon and Partha Bhowmick from Barrackpore. TMC leader Saugata Roy is set to contest from Dum Dum, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar from Barasat, Haji Nurul Islam from Basirhat, and Pratima Mondal has been given a ticket from Joynagar constituency. From Mathurapur, Bapi Halder will contest whereas Saayoni Ghosh has been fielded from the Jadavpur seat. Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary (Communications), Jairam Ramesh expressed his dissatisfaction and said that a unilateral announcement should not have been made by the TMC. The Indian National Congress has always maintained that it wants a respectable seat-sharing formula with the TMC in West Bengal. It means mutual negotiations, give and take, some compromise. We have always said that our doors are open for negotiations and seat-sharing talks but there should be no unilateral announcement of the seats, we should do it collectively together as we have done in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Delhi, UP, and so on, Jairam Ramesh said. The TMC has announced, I don't know what pressure was there on the TMC but as far as we are concerned we want to strengthen the INDIA alliance in West Bengal. So let's see what happens, he added. The ruling party also fielded Mala Roy from Kolkata Dakshin, Sudip Bandhopadhyay from Kolkata Uttar and Prasun Banerjee from Howrah. Meanwhile, Sajda Ahmed will contest from Uluberia, Kalyan Banerjee from Serampore, Rachana Banerjee from Hooghly and Mitali Bag from Arambagh seat. TMC further announced that Debangshu Bhattacharya will contest from Tamluk, Uttam Barik from Kanthi , Deepak Adhikari (Dev) from Ghatal, Kalipada Soren from Jhargram and June Malia from Medinipur. From Purulia, Shantiram Mahato has been fielded whereas Arup Chakrabarty will contest from Bankura. Sujata Mondal from Bishnupur, Dr Sharmila Sarkar from Bardhaman Purba , Asit Kumar Mal from Bolpur and Satabdi Roy from Birbhum have also been given a ticket by TMC. The Trinamool Congress kicked off the campaign for the upcoming elections through its show of strength. In the previous Lok Sabha polls, the TMC won 22 seats while the BJP sprung a major surprise, winning 18 seats. The Congress won the remaining two seats.In 2019, the BJP-led National Democratic (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats. The Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)
Won't let anyone among you go to detention center...: Mamata Banerjee on NRC implementation
Won't let anyone among you go to detention center...: Mamata Banerjee on NRC implementation Assuring the people of West Bengal of vehemently opposing the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state, Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) Supremo Mamata Banerjee on Sunday that she won't let anyone to the detention center. She also slammed the BJP for the situation in Manipur. Addressing the crowd at Brigade Parade ground, Banerjee asserted, Before the elections, they (BJP) will promise to implement CAA... After the elections, they (BJP) will take everything from you and try to drive you out of Bengal. But we (TMC) will provide you shelter, we won't let anyone among you go to the detention center. We (TMC) won't allow NRC to be implemented. Banerjee also criticized the BJP's handling of the situation in Manipur, stating, In Bengal, people continue to arrive regardless of the circumstances. What was the BJP's response when Manipur was burning? How many BJP leaders went there? How many BJP leaders extended assistance to the woman who was paraded naked? The West Bengal CM further asserted that her party will contest elections in multiple states in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. TMC will contest the election against BJP, Congress, and CPM in West Bengal. TMC will fight alone here in Bengal. TMC will also fight in Assam, Uttar Pradesh. For one seat, there has been a discussion with Samajwadi leader Akhilesh Yadav. We will also fight in Meghalaya, she said. The Trinamool Congress on Sunday announced its candidates for all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal for the upcoming general elections. The list was announced by the party at Brigade Parade ground on Sunday. The ruling party in Bengal sprung a surprise by fielding former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan from Berhampore constituency. Another former Indian cricketer Kirti Azad will contest from Bardhaman Durgapur. Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will contest from Diamond Harbour. Mahua Moitra, who was expelled from Lok Sabha in the Winter session last year has been given a ticket from Krishnanagar constituency. Meanwhile, Mukut Mani Adhikari who recently quit the Bharatiya Janata Party has also been given ticket from Ranaghat Lok Sabha seat. Shatrughan Sinha is set to again contest from Asansol, a seat he had won earlier in 2022 bypoll. TMC has fielded Jagadish C Basuniya from Cooch Behar, Prakash Chik Baraik from Alipurduar, Nirmal Ch Roy from Jalpaiguri, Gopal Lama from Darjeeling. Krishna Kalyani has been fielded from Raiganj whereas Biplab Mitra and Prasun Banerjee will contest from Balurghat and Malda Uttar respectively. The party also announced to field of Shahnawaz Ali Raihan from Malda Dakshin. From Jangipur, Khalilur Rahman has been given the ticket to contest the polls. Abu Taher Khan has also been given ticket from Murshidabad, Biswajit Das from Bongaon and Partha Bhowmick from Barrackpore. TMC leader Saugata Roy is set to contest from Dum Dum, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar from Barasat, Haji Nurul Islam from Basirhat, and Pratima Mondal has been given ticket from Joynagar constituency. From Mathurapur, Bapi Halder will contest whereas Saayoni Ghosh has been fielded from Jadavpur seat. The ruling party also fielded Mala Roy from Kolkata Dakshin, Sudip Bandhopadhyay from Kolkata Uttar and Prasun Banerjee from Howrah. Meanwhile, Sajda Ahmed will contest from Uluberia, Kalyan Banerjee from Serampore, Rachana Banerjee from Hooghly and Mitali Bag from Arambagh seat. TMC further announced that Debangshu Bhattacharya will contest from Tamluk, Uttam Barik from Kanthi , Deepak Adhikari (Dev) from Ghatal, Kalipada Soren from Jhargram and June Malia from Medinipur. From Purulia, Shantiram Mahato has been fielded whereas Arup Chakrabarty will contest from Bankura. Sujata Mondal from Bishnupur, Dr Sharmila Sarkar from Bardhaman Purba , Asit Kumar Mal from Bolpur and Satabdi Roy from Birbhum have also been given a ticket by TMC. The Trinamool Congress kicked off the campaign for the upcoming elections through its show of strength. In the previous Lok Sabha polls, the TMC won 22 seats while the BJP sprung a major surprise, winning 18 seats. The Congress won the remaining two seats.In 2019, the BJP-led National Democratic (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats. The Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)
Cricketer Yusuf Pathan, actress Rachana Banerjee to make political debut in LS polls from Bengal
Cricketer Yusuf Pathan, actress Rachana Banerjee to make political debut in LS polls from Bengal The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which unveiled its candidate lineup for all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, has introduced six political newcomers, among them former cricketer Yusuf Pathan and Padma Shri recipient Kalipada Soren. The other fresh faces are actor Rachana Banerjee, psychiatrist Sharmila Sarkar, Oxford University's PhD scholar Shahnawaz Ali Raihan, and former IPS officer Prasun Banerjee. Yusuf Pathan, renowned for his cricket career, notably representing India in the 2011 World Cup-winning team, officially retired from all forms of cricket in February 2021. Fielded from Baharampur, a Congress stronghold, he stands out as a political newcomer and a non-resident of Bengal. Pathan, born in Baroda in Gujarat, is likely to be up against five-term MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who doubles up as the Bengal Pradesh Congress president. Kalipada Soren, honoured with the Padma Shri for his contributions to literature and education, particularly in promoting Santhali culture, emerges as a political novice at 64. He is a celebrated playwright and author, recognised with the Sahitya Academy Award twice. Actress Rachana Banerjee ventures into politics, contesting against BJP's sitting MP Locket Chatterjee from Hooghly Lok Sabha seat, where Singur, known for anti-land acquisition protests against the erstwhile Left regime, is situated. Renowned psychiatrist Sharmila Sarkar makes her political debut as the TMC's candidate for Bardhaman Purba Lok Sabha seat, replacing incumbent MP Sunil Mondal, who briefly joined the BJP before returning to the TMC fold after the 2021 assembly polls. Shahnawaz Ali Raihan, a PhD scholar at Oxford University, and TMC's candidate from Malda South seat, has been actively engaging in academic and public discourse on various political issues in the country, including government policies related to migration and other matters affecting the populace. Former IPS officer Prasun Banerjee, who recently resigned, has been chosen as the TMC's candidate for the Malda North seat, currently held by the BJP. Banerjee, who previously served as DIG of the Malda range and superintendent in various districts of North Bengal, has also ventured into acting in Bengali television dramas for a brief period.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury approaches Calcutta HC as case filed against him under non-bailable charges
Kolkata, March 6 (IANS) Congress West Bengal President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday approached the Calcutta High Court for protection as the state police has filed a case against him under non-bailable charges. The police, in a notice served to Chowdhury, had accused him of making provocative statements at Harishchandrapur in Malda district on January []
