Temporary health workers protest around Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul's car, demand a salary hike
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 21 (IANS) A section of temporary health workers protested around the car of West Bengals Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul on Monday, demanding a hike in their salary. In the morning, the state minister joined the anti-dengue campaign in the Chitpur area of north Kolkata. While leaving the programme, a section of temporary health workers of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) protested around her car. The protesters demanded a salary increase. The state minister said that she will look into the demands of the health workers. The minister said that a decision will be taken considering the poor financial condition of the state. In Agnimitra's words, They get only Rs 303 per day. We will try to increase the salary. No one's salary has been stopped. No one's salary will be stopped during this new government's tenure. Rather, it will increase. At the same time, the state minister added, We will have to take a decision after seeing the state's treasury. The previous government has incurred debts. We are giving women Rs 3,000 per month. There are also many projects currently underway. We will also have to look at the state's treasury before taking a decision in this regard. Meanwhile, regarding the dengue awareness campaign in the city, she said, Everyone should be careful not to allow water to accumulate anywhere near the house or roadside. Because dengue mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Even if iron, nails or other materials used in building a house are left for a long time, water can accumulate there. Therefore, action will be taken if construction materials are left on the roadside or anywhere else. The Minister gave a clear message that if the rules are not followed, in addition to fines, those materials can also be confiscated if necessary. She warned of hefty fines in this regard. According to her, awareness and active cooperation of the general public, along with the administration, is also very important in preventing dengue. Agnimitra Paul said that last year the number of dengue cases in Kolkata was 585. So far this year, the number has been 539. However, she said that the goal is to reduce this number to zero.
Bengal govt joins Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 21 (IANS) West Bengal on Monday formally joined the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), a Union Government initiative to reduce infrastructural gaps and strengthen the fisheries sector. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari met Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh in Newtown, Kolkata, to finalise the decision. After the one-and-a-half-hour meeting, Adhikari announced that West Bengal had been brought under the PMMSY scheme. He said, There is a lot of potential in the states fisheries sector. We have discussed it repeatedly. Today I thank Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh in particular. He listened to our concerns and handed over Rs 9 crore for fisheries development. From today, fishermen will get loans as needed along with other benefits. Adhikari accused the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government of depriving fishermen by not allowing West Bengal to join the scheme earlier. Singh seconded the Chief Minister, saying the Union Government's efforts had stalled due to non-cooperation from the previous regime. Adhikari added that coastal areas, including the Sundarbans, would be further developed. We have seas and rivers in South Bengal. Fishermen there have their own problems. Following our proposals, the Union Minister has approved six Amrit Sarovars in Bankura and Purulia districts, he said. Singh noted that a lot of work pending for the last five years has been cleared in the last four months.
School holiday tomorrow, September 22: Check if schools will remain closed in your state
Schools in parts of India will observe a holiday on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, mainly because of Karam Puja. West Bengal has declared a state holiday covering educational institutions under government control, while Assam's official calendar also lists Karam Puja on the date. Students in other states, including Delhi-NCR, should check their school's individual holiday calendar before assuming classes are cancelled.
School Holiday Tomorrow, Sept 22: Schools closed in West Bengal, Assam
Karam Puja is an important regional festival observed in parts of eastern India on September 22, 2026. Students and parents are checking whether schools will remain closed on Tuesday
Heavy rain likely in south Bengal from Tuesday to Friday, says Met Department
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 21 (IANS) There is a possibility of heavy rainfall in various parts of West Bengal from Tuesday to Friday due to the influence of a low-pressure area formed in the Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday. According to a Met Department official, a cyclone strengthened in the north Andaman Sea and turned into a clear depression on Sunday. Its direction is west and northwest. It is likely to turn into a deep depression in the east-central Bay of Bengal on Monday. As a result, there is a possibility of scattered rain and thundershowers in south Bengal, and the possibility of rain will increase from Tuesday, the official said. There is a possibility of heavy rain in most districts of south Bengal from Wednesday to Friday. On the other hand, there is no possibility of heavy rain in north Bengal for now. The possibility of rain will be low until Wednesday. However, heavy rain is predicted again in the northern districts, i.e. Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar on Thursday. Fishermen have been prohibited from going deep into the central and north Bay of Bengal on Monday. There is a ban on going into the central and north Bay of Bengal from Tuesday to Friday, while fishermen have been banned from going to sea off the coast of Bangladesh, Odisha and West Bengal from Wednesday to Friday. According to the forecast, rain will increase in the districts of south Bengal from Tuesday. Thunderstorms with lightning will occur in all districts, along with rain accompanied by gusty winds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour. Yellow alert for heavy rain will be in place in East Midnapore, and some parts of North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts. Yellow alert for heavy rain will be in place in South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Jhargram districts on Wednesday. Gusty winds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour are likely to occur in coastal districts, i.e., South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore. Light to moderate rains with gusty winds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour are expected in some parts of all the remaining districts. The rainfall will increase slightly on Thursday. A Yellow alert for heavy rain will be in place in South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts today. A Yellow alert for heavy rain will be in place in seven districts - North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Nadia, and East Burdwan - on Friday. Gusty winds of 40 to 50 kmph are likely in coastal parts of North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore. Light to moderate rain with gusty winds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour is expected in some parts of all the remaining districts. Rain will increase in north Bengal from Wednesday. Light to moderate rain with thunderstorms is likely in all districts today. There is a Yellow alert for heavy rain in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts on Thursday. A Yellow alert will be in effect in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and North Dinajpur districts on Friday as well. There are fewer chances of rain in Kolkata on Monday, while the chances will increase from Tuesday. There will be a higher chance from Wednesday to Friday. On Sunday, the maximum temperature in Kolkata and its surrounding areas was 29.02 degrees Celsius, which is 3.06 degrees Celsius below normal. The minimum temperature was 24.06 degrees Celsius, which is 1.07 degrees below normal. The relative humidity was at a maximum of 98 and a minimum of 79 per cent.
Democracy facing deep crisis in country under BJP rule: Bengal Congress chief
West Bengal Congress chief Subhankar Sarkar has accused the BJP government and Election Commission of undermining democracy, alleging repression of dissent and calling for opposition unity ahead of the October 6 Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls. His remarks come as Congress candidate Milan Pradhan remains in judicial custody in connection with cases linked to the 2007 Nandigram agitation.
SC agrees to urgent listing of Mamata Banerjee
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday, September 21, agreed to list for urgent hearing a plea by former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee challenging the Election Commissions decision to freeze the Trinamool Congress name and party symbol amid a dispute between two rival factions of the TMC. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the 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 .
Mamata Banerjee seeks urgent SC listing of her plea over ECIs freeze on TMC name, symbol
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday sought urgent listing of her plea in the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of Indias (ECI) decision to freeze the partys name and election symbol amid the ongoing dispute between rival factions. Mentioning the matter before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared on behalf of Mamata Banerjee, sought urgent listing of the plea. They (ECI) issue a by-poll notification and in the middle of notification, they freeze the symbol. We want urgent listing, Sibal submitted. At this, the CJI said that the rival side would also have submissions to make and assured that the matter would be considered for listing. Both sides will have something to say. When the matter is listed, then argue. We will try to list, CJI Kant said. The plea has been filed by Mamata Banerjee challenging ECIs interim decision to freeze the name All India Trinamool Congress and its reserved Flowers and Grass election symbol amid the dispute between the rival factions of the party. The ECI had on Thursday passed an interim order barring both factions from using the TMCs existing name and symbol, observing that there were two rival groups claiming to be the recognised political party and that the dispute required a substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. The poll panel subsequently allotted alternative names and symbols to the two factions for the upcoming by-elections. Mamata Banerjee-led faction was allotted the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the football player symbol, while the rival faction was allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the envelope symbol. The ECIs interim arrangement applies to the October 6 by-elections in West Bengal, including the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies. The Mamata-led faction has challenged the ECI decision in the Supreme Court, with the plea questioning the freezing of the partys established name and symbol pending the final determination of the dispute. Mamata-led faction has maintained that it does not accept the ECIs interim order, while the rival camp led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee has claimed control over the partys organisational and legislative structures. The dispute had also spilled over into Parliament, where 20 rebel TMC Lok Sabha MPs had broken away and aligned themselves with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), claiming recognition as a separate parliamentary group. The Mamata-led faction had challenged the delay by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in deciding disqualification petitions against the 20 rebel MPs under the anti-defection law. On August 25, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the 20 rebel MPs on a plea filed by TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, while refraining from issuing notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Speaker, had informed the top court that notices had already been issued to the 20 MPs in the disqualification proceedings. The apex court had thereafter sought responses from the rebel MPs. The TMC has maintained that the MPs were elected on its symbol and that their subsequent decision to join another political formation attracts the provisions of the anti-defection law. However, the rebel faction has claimed the support of more than two-thirds of the TMCs Lok Sabha MPs and sought recognition as a separate parliamentary group. The dispute over the partys organisational control subsequently reached the ECI, with both sides staking claim to the TMC name and symbol. The poll bodys interim order said the temporary arrangement was intended to place the rival groups on an even footing and protect their respective rights and interests until a final determination of the dispute.
Rejinagar bypoll: AJUP chief Kabir approaches EC over police harassment; suspends campaigning
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 21 (IANS) Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder and legislator Humayun Kabir on Monday submitted an official complaint to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday, alleging that the West Bengal Police are selectively targeting his party leaders and cadre prior to the upcoming Rejinagar assembly bypoll in Murshidabad district. In a surprise move, Kabir announced that he would refrain from campaigning for his party candidate and son, Golam Nabi Azad, who is contesting from the Rejinagar assembly constituency. He also directed Azad to avoid physical campaigning and instead focus on social media, leaving the final decision to the voters of Rejinagar. AJUPs Beldanga-1 block president, Munaim Sheikh, has been arrested. Our state committee secretary, Sukhbar Mollah, was arrested from his house at 12 midnight. He has been falsely implicated in a case related to fake notes and firearms. I have filed a complaint with the ECI highlighting the intentional and selective targeting of our party leaders and workers before the Rejinagar bypoll, he said. I have demanded the immediate transfer of the Baharampur Police District superintendent and the inspectors-in-charge of the Beldanga Police Station and Rejinagar Police Station, Kabir, a former Trinamool Congress leader, said. Meanwhile, Kabir has been summoned to Baharampur Police Station on Monday in connection with a surfaced audio clip in which he was reportedly heard speaking about violence. IANS could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio clip. The police said they registered a case against Kabir under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). In the notice, the police asked him to cooperate with investigating officer Rabindranath Biswas or face legal action under Section 208 of the BNS. Rejinagar, along with Nandigram Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district, will go to the polls on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9. In the Assembly elections earlier this year, Kabir was elected simultaneously from Naoda and Rejinagar, both in Murshidabad district. He later chose to retain Naoda, necessitating the Rejinagar bypoll. Rejinagar is witnessing a seven-cornered contest involving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), two Trinamool Congress factions, Congress, CPI-M, Revolutionary Party and AJUP. Around 65 per cent of voters in the constituency belong to the minority community. The bypoll has assumed added significance amid the closely watched contest.
Mamata Banerjee seeks urgent Supreme Court hearing against ECI freeze on TMC name, flowers
Trinamool Congress founder and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday sought urgent listing before the Supreme Court of her challenge to the Election Commission of Indias interim decision to freeze the partys name and its reserved Flowers & Grass election symbol. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the matter before a Bench headed [] The post Mamata Banerjee seeks urgent Supreme Court hearing against ECI freeze on TMC name, flowers & grass symbol appeared first on India Legal .
WB Class 12 Semester 3 Board Exams 2027 From September 21: Check Complete Subject-Wise Timetable
The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has released the timetable for the Class 12 Semester 3 Higher Secondary Examination 2027. According to the Council's official routine, the examinations will begin on September 21, 2026, and continue until October
West Bengal Class 12 Semester 3 Exams 2027 begin today: Check guidelines
The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has released the Class 12 Semester 3 board exam timetable for 2027. The exams begin today and will continue until October 14
Migrant Farm Labourer from Banga Wins Rs 3 Crore Sikkim Lottery Jackpot
PHAGWARA: In a stroke of luck, Madhu, a migrant farm labourer living in the Banga area, has won the 3-crore bumper prize in the Sikkim Government Ganesh Chaturthi Bumper Lottery. Madhu, originally from West Bengal, had come to the Banga area in search of work and had been earning his livelihood as an agricultural labourer. []
WB HS Semester 3 Exam 2027 Admit Card - Direct Link to Download Notice Online @ wbchse.wb.gov.in
WBCHSE HS Semester 3 Exam 2027 is being held from September 21 to October 14, 2026. Check the full revised Date Sheet, admit card download process, exam pattern, and important exam-day instructions issued by the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education.
Minister Dilip Ghosh Criticizes Mamata Banerjee, Claims She Has Lost Control of Her Party
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh attacks Mamata Banerjee, asserting her loss of control over the TMC and discussing upcoming by-elections. Minister Dilip Ghosh Criticizes Mamata Banerjee, Claims She Has Lost Control of Her Party
Pujo shopping, but make it chill: Shop a little, sip a little and have some cake
Heavy rains, squally wind likely in West Bengal from September 22
West Bengal Chief Minister Promises to Withdraw Cases Linked to Kurmi Movement
West Bengals CM announced the withdrawal of cases against Kurmi protesters and plans to include Kurmali in the constitutions eighth schedule. West Bengal Chief Minister Promises to Withdraw Cases Linked to Kurmi Movement
COUNT THE DAYS FIRST :The paradox behind J&Ks five-day week debate
Srinagar, Sep 20: The school bell in Jammu and Kashmir may ring as late as 4:30 pm, but the school year itself is considerably shorter than in several other parts of the country. That contrast sits at the centre of a debate now reaching the J&K Legislative Assembly: if children are already under academic pressure, should they spend one less day a week in school? National Conference (NC) MLA Hasnain Masoodi has proposed a five-day working week for schools, with Saturdays and Sundays as holidays, saying students are burdened by studies and need time for rest and recreation. Education Minister Sakina Itoo has said the proposal will be examined by the concerned education authorities. A report titled Working Hours Parity Report: An Objective Audit of the Jammu & Kashmir Academic Calendar, records 181 working days for J&K. Its comparison gives Delhi 243 working days, the South India category 236 and West Bengal 217. In other words, the difference between J&K and the three comparison regions is not measured in a handful of days. It is 36 days against West Bengal, 55 against the South India comparison and 62 against Delhi. The report points to one conspicuous reason: the winter break. It records a 76-day winter vacation in J&K, against 13 days in each of the three comparison regions. Overall, it records 184 holiday days in J&K, including 17 national holidays and 26 state holidays, leaving 181 working days. And yet, on a day-to-day basis, J&K can appear to have a demanding school schedule. The report notes the extension of the school day to 4:30 pm and calls the resulting perception the 4:30 PM illusion, the sense that a late closing bell necessarily means a longer academic year. The report puts annual working hours for J&K at 1,086, against 1,458 in Delhi, 1,463.2 in the South India comparison and 1,519 in West Bengal. It calculates the gap between 25.5 per cent and 28.5 per cent, averaging 26.6 per cent across the three comparisons. There is a qualification that matters: these are working-hour figures for teaching staff and the academic calendar, not a direct measure of the hours individual students spend learning. The report therefore cannot establish that a J&K student receives only 1,086 hours of classroom instruction in a year. But it does establish something relevant to the present debate: J&Ks formal school calendar has fewer working days than the three regions against which the report compares it. The report offers another way of looking at the issue. It applies a common 7.5-hour working day to J&K and West Bengal, removing the difference in daily schedules from the calculation. J&K would still have 1,357.5 annual hours against West Bengals 1,627.5, a 270-hour difference, because the number of working days is different. The comparison becomes even more striking against private-school benchmarks cited in the report. It puts annual hours at 1,498 for private schools in Delhi, 1,536 in West Bengal and 1,711 in its South India comparison, against 1,086 for J&K, with reported gaps ranging from 27.5 per cent to 36.5 per cent. None of these figures, however, answers Masoodis central contention that children are burnt out by academic pressure. That is a different proposition, and it requires different evidence. Nor does the report establish that J&K should have more working days. Its purpose is comparative: to show how the distribution of the academic year differs across the regions examined. Its own figures show that the 76-day winter closure is doing much of the work in producing the annual gap. The calendar data also needs to be read against J&Ks existing academic schedule. The JKBOSE 2024-25 academic calendar separately provided roughly 185 working days for the Kashmir division and winter-zone Jammu. That figure comes from a different academic year and calendar dataset from the 181 working days cited in the institutional audit. J&Ks academic calendar has also changed over time. An earlier DSEK academic planner for 2017-18 prescribed 200 instructional days and 800 effective school hours for primary classes, while upper-primary classes were prescribed 220 instructional days and 1,000 effective school hours. The report also examines the effect of the daily timetable across seasons. It puts peak daylight at roughly 13-14 hours between April and July, when the school day may run to 4:30 pm. For September and October, it puts daylight at about 11-12 hours, while during November and December the school day ends at 3 pm. The report describes these as approximate seasonal daylight figures. Itoo has said the proposal will be taken up with the Directorate of School Education Kashmir, Directorate of School Education Jammu and the Director of Colleges for examination.
AJUP chief Kabir to stay away from Rejinagar bypoll campaign, candidate son follows suit
Clubs bat for senior citizens, launch year-round events to keep them active
Neurologists raise caution about early onset of Alzheimers
Orange Line milestone: 1st wheels roll out at Chingrighata stretch
Lower maintenance cost pushes e-auto shift in city
US visa delay: France and Germany Are Emerging as Preferred Choices for Indian Students
Min Agnimitra Paul rescues bikers injured by manja on Maa
Ex-VC, Emeritus Profs Write To Guv Over Transfer Bill
Soon, Kolkata Key App For Tourists To Feature Spots, Hotels & Transport
First conviction in child pregnancy case after CM prod
BJP natl VP, party MLA may fight IMA Bengal poll
Ananda Marga holds cultural competition on Prabhat Samgiita Divas anniv
After Court Ends Deadlock Over Panel Vote, Bagbazar Club Holds Khuti Puja
Pol row erupts as Mamata TMC neta dies after assault
Alfred Cooke's Final Interview: The Dogfight That Defined A Legend
The air battle fought by Flight Lieutenant Alfred Tyrone Cooke over West Bengal's Kalaikunda during the 1965 India-Pakistan war is regarded as one of the most remarkable fighter engagements of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Flight Lt Cooke recorded what became his final interview three days before he died at a hospital in Delhi. In a conversation with NDTV's Vishnu Som and Shiv Aroor in their podcast 'Ctrl+Alt+Defence', he gave a detailed account of the September 7, 1965 battle when he took on Pakistani Sabre jets attacking Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal. The podcast gives an unprecedented and detailed look at the events of the day. Flight Lt Cooke shot down at least one Sabre and was officially credited with a second. He engaged a third aircraft before running out of ammunition, according to his account.
Bengal's industry push needs clear intent
Under BJP, West Bengal is once again debating how to put land together for industry. The debate has now acquired a distinctly technical vocabulary: acquisition, negotiated purchase and land pooling.The three mechanisms are not interchangeable. Acquisition involves compulsory purchase under a statutory framework. Negotiated purchase relies on agreement between landowner and purchaser. Land pooling allows owners to contribute land to a development scheme and receive a smaller, but serviced, and potentially more valuable plot in return. The choice, as recent policy discussions suggest, should depend on the nature of the project.Also Read: Picasso, Omega, Prithvi and Cats: A Mumbai journey through books, unexpected encounters and theatreFor Bengal, the question of land has always been inseparable from the question of industrialisation. So, the new discussion raises a more fundamental question: even if Bengal succeeds in solving the problem of industrial land, will it succeed in attracting capital? Land can be assembled through legislation, negotiation or planning. But capital can only be attracted through confidence.Excitement surrounding political change is understandable. Bengal has always regarded politics not merely as a mechanism of governance but also as a form of public entertainment. Movement of legislators from one camp to another has become a spectator sport.Also Read: Pass the buck to RBI, banks: Let the savings from digital payments fund UPI costs, not consumersCapital, however, follows a different script. It's largely indifferent to the daily theatre of politics, and far more concerned with the stability of institutions. Consider an entrepreneur planning a large investment. The questions are surprisingly simple. Not whether the government is Left, Right or Centre. Not whether ministers speak Bengali, Hindi or English. Not whether people will eat veg or non-veg food. Not whether one political camp will replace another in controlling campuses, institutions or public spaces. The real question is: will rules that exist today survive tomorrow? That confidence in the durability of institutions is what economists and investors describe as institutional credibility.It is in this context that the new government's willingness to reconsider how industrial land is assembled becomes significant. Bengal has already begun examining land pooling, industrial parks, and changes to landholding and land-utilisation rules. The government is also considering ways of making large contiguous parcels available without directly acquiring individual agricultural plots.This is important because Bengal's problem is not simply a shortage of land. It's a shortage of large, contiguous and legally usable parcels of land. Fragmented holdings, overlapping claims and restrictions on land use can make an apparently simple industrial project extraordinarily complicated.134372690Earlier attempts to create land banks from idle public sector land ran into precisely this problem: available parcels were often too small or too fragmented for large investors. Indeed, there are now signs of movement from policy to implementation. The government has cleared land for 33 industries, and that the land will be handed over before Durga Puja. This is significant. But the real test will be whether these allocations translate into timely project execution, employment and sustained private investment.Land pooling could be a useful solution. But it's not a magic wand. Bengal has laws that allow land to be reorganised for development. What matters now is whether these provisions can be implemented effectively, with clear rules on ownership, compensation, infrastructure and land use. Land pooling may bring plots together. But it cannot make ownership disputes disappear.And this is where the land question meets the question of capital. Corruption is costly. But uncertainty can be even more so. Investors can price an unofficial cost. It's much harder to price changing rules, administrative discretion and unpredictable policy.There's also a geographical reality. Large, contiguous parcels are rarely available near Bengal's major cities. So, industry may have to move farther out, where land disputes and infrastructure gaps can be greater. Industrialists, therefore, need to look beyond quick returns and become partners in building these new industrial regions with the government. Given Bengal's political history, industrialisation cannot be reduced to capitalist extraction alone. It must also create a stake for local communities.Capital has no ideology. But it has an excellent memory. Two decades ago, large sections of Bengal's political class mobilised against industrial projects in Singur and Nandigram. Today, many of those political actors either constitute an important part of the new political establishment, or have moved into entirely different political formations.One may celebrate or criticise this phenomenon. But it deserves analysis rather than outrage. The human mind, after all, is a time-variant function. Mathematics teaches us that important variables seldom remain constant. Political preferences are no exception. The objective function of a leader in opposition differs from that of the same leader in government. In electoral democracy, opposition rewards agitation, while government rewards investment; employment and revenue suddenly become governing responsibilities rather than campaign slogans.Consequently, it may be unnecessary to ask whether politicians have become different human beings. The more relevant question is whether the institutional incentives under which they operate have changed.Many of the legal instruments required for assembling industrial land already exist. Creating another set of laws, by itself, will not rebuild West Bengal's industrial land bank. What is required is an unambiguous intention to build industry rather than perform shallow politics. The Left Front came to power in 1977 with a clear intention to pursue land reform for the landless. Today, the era, ideology and people are different. Will the new industrial agenda reflect genuine intent? Or will it be merely political rhetoric?
Mamata Trinamool, CPM offices face attacks across 7 S Kol wards for 4 hrs
Meat of the matter: BJP's imprint on Durga Puja in West Bengal
With the state govt issuing new guidelines for Bengal's biggest festival, conversations around traditions are intensifying
Birla meets Samik, to meet CM tomorrow; plans Bengal expansion
Police, Customs crack down on illegal trade at Galiff Street pet market
West Bengal: Ex-Jadavpur MLA's Home, Office Attacked
Mr Majumdar took out a protest rally with his aides in the area: Reports
Another warrant against Milan, Cong to move HC
Mob vandalises Mankar health centre after patient death
Oppn missing in action, lone horse BJP setting the tone in Nandigram bypoll campaign
Lake sr citizen loses Rs 29L to digi arrest fraudsters posing as Del cops
28-yr-old abducted, tortured in Entally; Kin forced to pay Rs 5L ransom
Suvendu to drop cases against Kurmis filed under TMC rule
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the withdrawal of all cases against the Kurmi community filed by the previous TMC government. He also pledged to include Kurmali and Rajbanshi languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and reactivate the Kurmi Development Board, allocating Rs 50 crore for community development.
Mamata-Cong bypoll tie-up: A new Bengal Oppn equation?
Former West Bengal Chief Minister's faction has announced support for the Congress candidate in the Nandigram assembly bypoll, marking a significant shift in state politics. This move comes amidst an internal party dispute within the Trinamool Congress and is seen as an attempt to consolidate anti-BJP votes and strengthen the INDIA bloc, despite a history of acrimonious rivalry between the two parties.
Suvendu Adhikari Sings Devotional Songs At Gaudiya Math On Radha Ashtami
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari participated in Radha Ashtami celebrations at Sri Gaudiya Math in Kolkatas Bagbazar, where he sang devotional songs and joined devotees in kirtan. He also offered prayers and participated in the religious celebrations.
Finance Ministry calls meeting with banks ahead of 3-day nationwide strike
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) The Finance Ministry has convened a meeting of chief executives of public sector banks (PSBs), regional rural banks (RRBs), the Indian Banks Association (IBA) and NABARD on Monday to review preparedness and contingency plans ahead of a proposed three-day nationwide bank strike beginning September 28. The meeting, which will be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), is expected to focus on measures to ensure continuity of banking operations and the availability of essential customer services during the strike period. Officials are likely to discuss contingency arrangements to minimise disruptions, particularly as the proposed industrial action coincides with the half-yearly closing period for banks. The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body representing seven bank employee and officer unions. The unions have raised several demands, with the implementation of a five-day banking week emerging as a key issue. UFBU had earlier organised a nationwide strike on September 11 over the same demand. The previous strike affected over-the-counter banking services, cash transactions and cheque clearances in several parts of the country. While banking operations remained largely normal in Mumbai, disruptions were reported in states including Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, particularly in smaller cities and towns. Apart from a five-day work week, the unions are seeking improvements in pension benefits, implementation of a uniform dearness allowance formula for pensioners and an option for employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS) to switch to the old pension scheme. UFBU has claimed that it represents nearly 90 per cent of the country's banking workforce. The proposed strike could have a wider impact on customers because September 26 and 27 fall on a weekend. As a result, normal branch operations could remain affected for up to five consecutive days, from September 26 to 30, increasing concerns about cheque processing, cash transactions and other branch-dependent services. The unions had served a strike notice on August 26, following which conciliation meetings were held involving union representatives, the IBA and government officials. However, discussions failed to produce a breakthrough on the demand for a five-day banking week.
Bengal: Over 33 pc wards in Kolkata and Howrah are reserved for women post-delimitation
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 20 (IANS) Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC), the two major urban civic bodies in West Bengal, will go to polls by the end of 2026 with a substantial number of wards reserved for women candidates. As per the draft delimitation proposal for KMC, the total number of wards is set to increase to 209 from the current 144. Out of the proposed 209 wards, 70 will be reserved for women, accounting for over 33 per cent of the total. Similarly, in HMC, the number of wards is slated to increase to 68 from the current 50. Out of these, 23 will be reserved for women, which comes to nearly 34 per cent. Political parties with complaints or suggestions on the draft delimitation list can submit them to the concerned authorities by October 5. The preparatory process for the elections in both civic bodies has already begun. Elections to form new boards in KMC and HMC are likely to be held in November this year, immediately after the festive season beginning with Durga Puja next month. However, an official involved in the process said the excitement usually associated with civic polls is missing this time, largely because of the lack of enthusiasm among the two factions of the Trinamool Congress, which is officially the principal opposition party in West Bengal. Political observers feel it is uncertain whether the two factions of the Trinamool Congress, especially the original but minority faction led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, will be able to field candidates in all wards of both KMC and HMC.
Centre, Bengal govt meeting tomorrow to boost fisheries sector
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) The Centres Department of Fisheries is organising a review meeting in Kolkata on September 21 to chart a roadmap for the state's huge untapped fisheries potential, according to an official statement issued on Sunday. Union Minister for Fisheries Rajiv Ranjan Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will co-chair the meeting. The deliberations are expected to identify priority interventions and strengthen Centre-State collaboration to accelerate sustainable and inclusive growth in West Bengal's fisheries sector. The meeting will provide a comprehensive platform to review the progress of various schemes and programmes in West Bengal and deliberate on key focus areas for future development. Presentations by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, and the Government of West Bengal, along with interactions with leading fisheries research, regulatory, and financial institutions, will facilitate discussions on enhancing production, expanding aquaculture, adopting technology, developing infrastructure, strengthening institutional support, and promoting investment. This will be followed by the handing over of administrative approval for integrated reservoir development in West Bengal. West Bengal, the second largest fish-producing state in the country, contributed 25.43 lakh tonnes to Indias total fish production in 2025-26. An investment of Rs 617 crore under various schemes supported the production increase by strengthening production technologies, post-harvest infrastructure, processing, and capacity building. These initiatives provided livelihood opportunities to more than 30 lakh fisherfolk and developed a robust fisheries ecosystem supported by value chain and market access. The Government of India has also notified 34 fisheries production and processing clusters, including a dry fish cluster in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal. The Department of Fisheries is placing special emphasis on strengthening fisheries farmer producer organisations (FFPOs) and fisheries cooperatives, while also focusing on digitisation of the fisheries sector in the state through various initiatives. The review meeting is expected to provide direction to accelerate growth in West Bengal's fisheries and aquaculture sector through stronger convergence between the Central and State Governments and key stakeholder institutions. The deliberations are expected to help identify priority areas for intervention, strengthen implementation of flagship fisheries schemes and programmes, promote technology-led and sustainable development, and increase investments across the fisheries value chain. The meeting is also expected to help improve fishers' livelihoods, increase fish production and productivity, strengthen market linkages, boost ornamental fisheries, improve post-harvest infrastructure, and advance the vision of a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive fisheries sector in the state, the statement added.
CPI (M) seeks online donations for Bengal bypolls
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 20 (IANS) CPI(M), the lead party in the West Bengal Left Front, has issued a social media message seeking online donations for the forthcoming bypolls in Nandigram Assembly Constituency in East Midnapore district and Rejinagar Assembly Constituency in Murshidabad district. CPI(M) Politburo member and state secretary Md Salim shared the appeal on social media, attaching a QR code through which people can contribute online to the partys election fund. The bypolls for Nandigram and Rejinagar will be held on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9. The appeal comes as the Left Front faces internal challenges, particularly in Rejinagar. While CPIs Shanti Gopal Giri is the unanimously accepted Left Front candidate in Nandigram, both CPI(M) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) have fielded candidates in Rejinagar. After CPI(M)s Syed Asad Ali was chosen as the Front-nominated candidate in Rejinagar, the RSP revolted and fielded its own candidate, Bikash Chandra Mishra. Salim urged supporters: Help as much as you can by donating to the election fund for campaigning for the upcoming Rejinagar and Nandigram assembly by-elections. During the last West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year, CPI(M) had also appealed for funds through social media. At that time, Trinamool Congress ridiculed CPI(M) for seeking online donations, arguing it was contradictory given the Left Fronts opposition to computerisation in government offices during its 34-year rule from 1977 to 2011. CPI(M) leaders dismissed the criticism, saying many left-minded voters, though not active party members, wish to support the party financially during elections. This online donation system is aimed at making it easy for such voters to donate. Remember, our party does not have electoral bonds like others. Our leadership believes in the help from common people, a state committee member said.
West Bengal Considers PPP Model for 4,133 Government Schools with No Students
The West Bengal government is exploring a PPP model for 4,133 empty government schools amid ongoing teacher placements. West Bengal Considers PPP Model for 4,133 Government Schools with No Students
Before tigers return, Buxa steps up dog vaccination drive
Cases against Kurmis slapped by TMC government to be withdrawn: Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari
The West Bengal government will withdraw all cases slapped against Kurmis during their stir by the then TMC government. Attending a Karam festival programme in Purulia district,Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari alleged that previous dispensation did nothing for the Kurmis other than creating divisions within the community.
Mamata backs Congress in Nandigram, hints at Bengal opposition reset
Kolkata: Former West Bengal chief ministers support to the Congress candidate in the Nandigram assembly bypoll is a striking reversal of decades of political rivalry, observers feel, signalling a possible recalibration of opposition politics in the state at a time when the TMC is battling its deepest organisational crisis. Banerjees decision to back Milan Pradhan 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 .
West Bengal to withdraw TMC govt cases against Kurmis over 2025 stir: Suvendu Adhikari
Missing eight-month-old from Nashik found safe by officials after three days
Digital Desk | Nashik, Sep 20 (IANS) An eight-month-old baby girl who went missing in Maharashtra's Nashik district three days back was found safe on Sunday, police said. The infant, who had gone missing from the Manyad police outpost region in Nandgaon taluka of Nashik on September 17, was found abandoned near the Vaibothi village in neighbouring Yeola taluka. Yeola taluka police reached the spot and took her into their custody. Subsequently, the infant was taken to the Yeola Sub-District Hospital for a medical examination after being identified by her mother and the Nandgaon police. Her safe recovery brought relief to the family and the police. However, the circumstances under which the baby reached Vaibothi, who brought her there, and why she was abandoned at the spot remain unclear. Police are investigating the matter to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the infants disappearance and subsequent recovery. In Odisha, Operation Anweshan, conducted by the state's Crime Against Women and Children Wing (CAW & CW) Department, along with the state police, rescued 101 missing children. The children included 54 boys and 47 girls. The teams conducted field-level searches, verified the leads, and coordinated with local authorities, along with various child care institutions during the operation. As part of the operation, as many as 17 specialised teams were deployed to several states and Union Territories where Odia children are frequently found. The youngest among those rescued was a three-month-old infant found institutionalised alongside her minor mother. Another child who was found was institutionalised for the longest duration and had spent more than five years away from home. The states in which the children were found include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
West Bengal Government launches portal to foster grassroots innovation in eastern region
The Seva First Innovation Challenge-Eastern Zone invites solution-oriented proposals on healthcare access, agricultural losses, water shortage and waste management
In a notable political shift, a former West Bengal chief minister endorses a Congress candidate for the Nandigram bypoll, suggesting a realignment of opposition politics within the state. Amidst unrest, the Election Commission has suspended the use of the Trinamool Congress's name and symbol. The former chief minister emphasizes Congress as a vital ally in safeguarding the country's interests, as TMC faces its most serious internal crisis to date.
Dilip Ghosh Claims BJPs Strong Support Ahead of By-elections in West Bengal
Dilip Ghosh asserts BJPs backing in upcoming by-elections, criticizing opposition for lack of candidates and coherence. Dilip Ghosh Claims BJPs Strong Support Ahead of By-elections in West Bengal
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh confident BJP will secure support in October bypolls
The News Mill
Assam Seeks Bengal's Support To Revamp Historic Madhupur Satra In Cooch Behar
Himanta Biswa Sarma also proposed that a delegation from West Bengal visit Batadrava Than in Assam
After Nandigram, Rejinagar bypoll candidate arrested in Bengal
Kolkata: An Independent candidate for the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll in West Bengal was arrested on Saturday, September 19, in a five-year-old case of a clash between two groups during the 2021 state elections, police said. The arrest of Saiful Islam, who is associated with the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) led by Humayun Kabir, came 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 .
Motorcyclist killed, pillion rider injured in Sopore road mishap
Sopore, Sep 19:A motorcyclist was killed while another sustained injuries after their motorcycle collided with a Tata Matador Video Coach at Botingoo area of Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Mohinoor Mir Ali, a resident of West Bengal, who was reportedly working as a goldsmith in Srinagar. The injured motorcyclist has been identified as Minhaj Mir Ali. According to officials, the motorcycle bearing registration number JK01BC-6080 collided with a Tata Bus Video Coach number (JK05N-9576), which was reportedly travelling towards Sopore from Bandipora. Following the accident, a team from Police Station Warpora rushed to the spot and shifted both persons to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Sopore for medical treatment. However, doctors declared Mohinoor Mir Ali brought dead upon arrival, while the injured rider was admitted for treatment. Meanwhile, police have taken cognisance of the incident and initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the accident.
Rejinagar after Nandigram: Mamatas bypoll candidate withdraws under pressure, then decides to stay
Low-pressure forms in Bay, no prediction on cyclone yet
Man dies as car hits motorcycle on Basanti Highway
New Market traders, hawkers face off over encroachment of roads, parking
Late spike takes dengue cases beyond 5k in Bengal
4.5 lakh women in Kolkata cleared for Annapurna Yojana aid
KIFF website still down, many directors yet to submit films
Students Showcase Talent And Creativity At Schools Junior Fest
JU Professors & Deans Oppose Panels On IoE Tag And PM-USHA
13-storey complex, revamped subway to transform Howrah stn transit hub
Jolted by new UPI rule, restos set to discourage digital mode of payment
4 weekends to Puja, shopping hubs across Kolkata feel festive rush
Kolkata Police issues new SOP for civic volunteers
Lake clean-up destroys nesting sites, birders raise green alarm
A Month After Free School St Fire, Bangla Patient Number Continues To Dip
ASI commando found hanging at PTS bathroom
Woman threatens sister to withdraw Pocso case against husband
After HC order, CBI starts probe into illegal constructions
West Bengal MLA Humayun Kabir Summoned by Police Over Audio Clip Controversy
West Bengal MLA Humayun Kabir faces police summons regarding a controversial audio clip. He is set to appear for questioning on September 21. West Bengal MLA Humayun Kabir Summoned by Police Over Audio Clip Controversy
West Bengal Minister Orders Special Audit for GTA and Hill Panchayats Amid Corruption Allegations
West Bengals minister announces a special audit for GTA and hill panchayats to combat corruption and ensure transparency in governance. West Bengal Minister Orders Special Audit for GTA and Hill Panchayats Amid Corruption Allegations
Woman held for fake rape threat against doc
76-yr-old loses Rs 3.5 lakh to KYC fraud
Drunks molest woman, thrash friend after protest over Jessore Rd blockade
