Eastern Railway Implements Advanced Safety System at Level Crossings in West Bengal
Following a tragic accident, Eastern Railway enhances safety at level crossings in West Bengal with a new automated system. Eastern Railway Implements Advanced Safety System at Level Crossings in West Bengal
Womans brother and boyfriend arrested for blackmailing her over intimate video
Kolkata set to witness 3-horse race among hospital majors
Deep depression hits coast, expect heavy rain in Kolkata today: Met
City students put analytical skills to test in science quiz contest
KMC deploys teams, pumps for rain response
Bengal govt employees salary with revised DA on Oct 15
After 3-week respite, onion price swings back to Rs 70/kg, makes citizens cry again
HC orders probe into egg violence at Baruipur court
Pandals, adverts must not cover CCTV cams: Cops
Mahalaya events at 7 more places
Bikers and cops in parking challan row
Beleghata cops investigate Rs 4.2 lakh digital arrest scam
Man ambushed & assaulted after refusing extortion demand
Calcutta High Court transfers Rs 2.7 crore digital arrest scam case to CBI
Land revenue officer held for bribery
ISF Chairman Questions Election Commission Over Voter Registration Issues in West Bengal
Naushad Siddiqui of ISF criticizes the Election Commission for voter exclusion during the special revision process in West Bengal. ISF Chairman Questions Election Commission Over Voter Registration Issues in West Bengal
BJP appoints new state in-charges; Nitin Nabin congratulates appointees
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Tuesday announced a fresh set of appointments of state in-charges and co-in-charges for various states and J&K. The appointments, detailed in an official press release from the partys central office, take effect immediately and cover organisational responsibilities across nearly all states and J&K. In a post on X, Nabin congratulated the newly appointed State Prabharis and Sah Prabharis. He said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, their efforts would strengthen the organisation and help realise the collective dream of Viksit Bharat 2047. Notable appointments include Smriti Irani as in-charge for both Chandigarh and Haryana, with Siddharth Shambhu as co-in-charge for Chandigarh and Bhola Singh for Haryana. Baijayant Jay Panda has been named state in-charge for Maharashtra, assisted by co-in-charges Amit Malviya, Sadanand Shet Tanavade and Kamaljeet Sahrawat. In Uttar Pradesh, Vinod Tawde will serve as state in-charge, with Jagadish Patel, Medha Kulkarni, Pradeep Verma and Anant Ojha as co-in-charges. Sunil Bansal has been assigned to both Telangana and West Bengal. For Telangana, Abhay Patil and Rekha Sharma are co-in-charges, while West Bengals co-in-charges are Lal Singh Arya, Rajendra Singh and Pinki Kushwaha. Other key assignments include Biplab Kumar Deb as in-charge for Madhya Pradesh, with Rekha Verma as co-in-charge; Ram Madhav for Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand; Harish Dwivedi for Bihar and Karnataka; and Satish Poonia for J&K and Punjab. Mangal Pandey has been named for Assam, while Arvind Bhadauria will head Andhra Pradesh with Vanathi Srinivasan as co-in-charge. Nabin has also appointed Ashish Usha Agrawal as convenor of the media department and Anil Baluni as co-ordinator of the communication department. The list further covers smaller states and J&K, including assignments for Andaman & Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry, Sikkim and Tripura. Several leaders hold dual or multiple responsibilities. The circular, issued by national office in-charge Tarun Chugh to all state presidents and organisational general secretaries, aims to strengthen the partys organisational network ahead of future electoral and organisational programmes.
The facility is expected to become West Bengals first major defence manufacturing unit, creating an industrial base for defence production while generating employment and opportunities for local businesses and ancillary industries.
After damning reports on CEC, Tejashwi Yadav seeks re-election in Bihar and West Bengal
He also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are misusing constitutional institutions and treating them like wings of the Bharatiya Janata Party
October salary, enhanced DA to be paid in advance to Bengal govt employees ahead of festive season
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 23 (IANS) The West Bengal government will be paying the October salary in advance to the state government employees along with the enhanced dearness allowance (DA) to them amid the forthcoming festive season starting with the Durga Puja next month. According to a notification issued by the State Finance department on Wednesday, the October salary along with the enhanced dearness allowance will be credited to the salary accounts of the government employees on October 15, that is a day before the beginning of the Durga Puja with Maha Shashthi on October 16. Incidentally, the polling for election for the Rajya Sabha seat vacated following the resignation of the former Trinamool Congress MP and the actress-turned-politician Koel Mallick in July this year will also be conducted on October 16. As per the notification issued by the State Finance department on Wednesday, the pension amount for the retired state government employees will also be credited to their accounts on October 15. The notification states that in addition to government salaries, salaries of grant-in-aid sectors, wages, remuneration, honorariums and stipends of various contractual employees will also be paid on October 15. State government employees usually get their salaries at the end of the month or at the beginning of the next month. As per an earlier memo issued by the state government, the dates for payment of salaries and pensions were fixed on a monthly basis. However, in the current guidelines, the state government has decided to pay this special advance salary only for the month of October 2026. In the notification issued on Wednesday, signed by the Additional Chief Secretary to the state Finance department, PK Mishra, special instructions have been given to the officials to make the work of the treasuries in the matter smooth. In the notification, it has also been claimed that the bills should be submitted in advance so that the money reaches everyone's account on the specified day of October 15. The notification, in addition, had directed that the drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs) and the deposit account administrators to submit bills or advice to the Treasury in advance and give mandate to the treasuries accordingly to avoid problems in distributing the advance salary money within the specified date.
Man trampled to death by elephant in Midnapore forest
HC returns TMC eviction appeal to trial court
Sunil Bansal retains BJP Telangana charge, gets two co-incharges
Hyderabad: Announcing some organisational changes on Wednesday, September 23, the BJP has retained Sunil Bansal as in-charge of party affairs in Telangana. Abhay Patil and Rekha Sharma have been appointed as co-incharges of state party affairs. Bansal has also been retained as the partys in-charge for West Bengal. , 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 .
SC to hear Mamata Banerjees plea against EC freezing Trinamool name, election symbol tomorrow
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Thursday Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjees plea challenging the Election Commission of Indias (ECI) decision to freeze the partys name and its reserved election symbol amid an ongoing dispute between rival factions. As per the Cause List published on the website of the apex court, a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana will hear the matter on September 24. The case is listed at serial number 26 before the CJI-led Bench as a fresh civil case for admission. Mamata Banerjee has filed the plea against the ECIs interim decision to freeze the name All India Trinamool Congress and its reserved Flowers and Grass election symbol amid the dispute between rival factions of the party. The petition names the Election Commission of India, its Secretary and rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee as respondents. On Monday, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mamata Banerjee, had sought urgent listing of the plea before CJI Surya Kant. They (ECI) issue a by-poll notification and in the middle of the notification, they freeze the symbol. We want urgent listing, he submitted. At this, the CJI observed 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, the CJI said. The plea was filed after the poll panel passed an interim order barring both factions from using the partys existing name and election symbol, observing that two rival groups were claiming to be the recognised political party. The ECI had said that the dispute required a substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, and directed both groups to submit alternative names and symbols for the upcoming by-elections. The poll panel subsequently allotted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the football player symbol, while the rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee was allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the envelope symbol. The interim arrangement applies to the October 6 by-elections in West Bengal for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction has challenged the freezing of the partys established name and symbol pending a final determination of the dispute, maintaining that it does not accept the ECIs interim order. The rival camp led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee has claimed control over the partys organisational and legislative structures. The dispute over the partys organisational control 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 Banerjee-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. It 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 Trinamool's Lok Sabha MPs and sought recognition as a separate parliamentary group. The organisational dispute subsequently reached the ECI, with both sides staking claim to the party name and symbol. The poll panels interim order stated that 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.
BJP challenges Oppns vote chori claim; cites Trinamool wins in seats with highest deletions
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) BJP national spokesperson and MP Sambit Patra on Wednesday launched a strong defence of the Election Commission of India (ECI), saying internal deliberations among Election Commissioners should not be portrayed as a sign of discord but as part of a functioning democratic institution. Reacting to the controversy surrounding the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Patra questioned the Opposition's repeated allegations against the poll panel and said the final authority in a democracy rests with the people. Patras press conference followed The Indian Express report of September 23 that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised 14 formal objections over 10 months to the Commission's decisions, including issues linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. At a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Patra said the Election Commissioners had held 14 rounds of official deliberations before reaching consensus on undertaking the SIR exercise. He questioned why the Opposition was objecting to discussions within the Commission, arguing that debate and consultation among constitutional functionaries signalled a vibrant democracy. Patra said the BJP had no intention of speaking on behalf of the Election Commission as the poll panel had already put out its own response. However, he sought to place the Opposition's allegations in what he described as a broader political context. He alleged that parties that had repeatedly lost elections were now targeting constitutional institutions after failing to secure electoral mandates. Referring particularly to the Congress, Patra alleged that attempts to undermine the Election Commission were part of a larger effort to discredit institutions when electoral outcomes did not favour the Opposition. On allegations of vote chori, Patra cited figures from West Bengal and said the Opposition's narrative did not correspond with the electoral results. He said that among the 20 constituencies witnessing the highest number of deleted names from electoral rolls, the Trinamool Congress won 13 while the BJP won six. If deletion of names from electoral rolls benefits the BJP, then how does the Opposition explain the TMC winning the majority of these constituencies? Patra asked, arguing that the electoral data needed to be examined before making sweeping allegations. He also pointed to the BJP-NDA's electoral record between 2014 and 2024, saying the alliance had won some elections and lost others, formed governments in some states and lost power in others. He said this record raised questions over the Opposition's claim that the Election Commission was being managed to favour the BJP. Patra also questioned the Congress over controversies surrounding the appointment of Election Commissioners during its tenure. Referring to former Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami's concerns about the appointment of Navin Chawla and allegations of his political proximity to the Congress, Patra asked the party to explain its position. He also referred to newspaper headlines from that period suggesting that Sonia Gandhi had appointed the Chief Election Commissioner and questioned what constitutional position she held at the time that empowered her to make such an appointment. Defending the current appointment process, Patra said transparency had been strengthened by including the Leader of the Opposition in the mechanism for appointing Election Commissioners. He urged political parties to respect the process upheld by the Supreme Court and the mandate voters delivered. Patra further questioned the Opposition's position on the Election Commission, SIR and EVMs, asking what electoral institutions it trusted if it had lost faith in all three. He said that from 2014 onwards, the BJP had faced both victories and defeats in different elections, adding that governments had changed through the electoral process. The ultimate verdict in a democracy, he said, comes from the people through their votes.
Bengal: ER installs modern safety system after death incident
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 23 (IANS) The level crossing gate in West Bengal, where an accident claimed five lives earlier this year, was made safer by Eastern Railway (ER) on Wednesday through the commissioning of the Non-Interlocked Level Crossing (NILC) Auto PN (Private Number) System. The system was also installed at two other level crossing gates between the Karnasubarna and Khagraghat Road stations in the presence of ER General Manager Gitika Pandey. On the morning of July 17 this year, the gateman at one of the upgraded level crossings failed to shut it down in time, allowing a school pool car to enter the path of a train. Four children, who were travelling in the car, were killed. A cyclist also died in the accident. Several other children and the pool car driver suffered serious injuries. Since then, the Ministry of Railways has urged ER to take remedial measures. During the day, Pandey reviewed the prescribed operating procedures at one of the level crossing gates and interacted with the gateman to assess his knowledge of safety rules, gate-working procedures, emergency response protocols, and maintenance of essential equipment. She emphasised strict adherence to laid-down safety procedures and alertness while performing safety-critical duties. She also inspected the interlocking panel at Karnasubarna station and interacted with the station master on duty. She reviewed the signalling panel's functioning, operational procedures, and safety provisions governing train operations. The newly commissioned NILC Auto PN System enables the station master to monitor the level crossing gate status in real time. It facilitates structured PN-based communication with the gateman in accordance with prescribed operating procedures. Under this system, the station manager can ensure that the level crossing is shut before giving a train clearance to pass, instead of relying solely on the gatemans word. The system incorporates several technology-based safety features, including verification of boom and lever locking, RKT-based physical authentication, LiDAR-based train approach and departure detection, real-time status indication, and an authenticated train-cancellation procedure, an official said. Importantly, the system functions as an additional safety aid and supplements the prescribed operating procedures, communication protocols, and physical verification carried out by railway operating staff. It is intended to improve situational awareness, strengthen communication between the station master and gateman, and reduce the possibility of procedural lapses during train operations, he added. The commissioning of the NILC Auto PN System at the three level crossing gates between Karnasubarna and Khagraghat Road marks another important step in ERs ongoing programme of technology-driven safety enhancement and modernisation of level crossing operations. The system will gradually be introduced at other non-interlocked level crossing gates, the official added.
Thackeray Demands Paper Ballot Re-Polls In Maharashtra
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has called for re-polling in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu using paper ballots.
Two passengers from West Bengal arrested with 13.800 kg of ganja in train
Ahead of Dussehra, Centre despatches onion to West Bengal to cool prices
The Kanda Express carrying onions from the PSF buffer stock is scheduled to reach Kolkata on September 24, the department said.
West Bengal plans own edible oil brand, starting with mustard oil
West Bengal is preparing to launch its own mustard oil brand as part of a self-sufficiency initiative. The state government aims to boost oilseed production and reduce reliance on external suppliers. NDDB will assist in establishing the brand and support procurement processes based on their expertise. Farmers will be encouraged to grow mustard, diversifying from excessive potato cultivation.
SIR and the dissent debate: A Constitutional process, not an institutional breakdown
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rejected the suggestion that differences among its three members amount to an institutional upture, saying internal objections and written notes are an established part of the functioning of a multi-member constitutional body and do not, by themselves, establish illegality or dysfunction. The response followed The Indian Express report of September 23 that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised 14 formal objections over 10 months on decisions of the Commission, including issues linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. While the objections are on record, the ECI has said that the report does not adequately explain the legal framework, safeguards and judicial scrutiny surrounding SIR. The ECI has functioned as a multi-member body since 1993, with differences resolved through majority decisions as provided by law. During a nationwide exercise involving crores of voters, 14 objections over 10 months cannot by themselves establish an institutional crisis, analysts say. The Commission has witnessed sharper disagreements in the past also. In 2009, Chief election Commissioner (CEC) N. Gopalaswami recommended the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla over alleged partisan conduct; the government rejected the recommendation and Chawla later became CEC, experts said. Between 1993 and 1995, CEC T.N. Seshan even challenged the creation of the multi-member Commission in court, leading to an open legal battle with Commissioners M.S. Gill and G.V.G. Krishnamurthy, they noted. Gill later joined the Congress and became a Union Cabinet Minister after his tenure, they said. In a press note issued on Wednesday, the ECI said internal notes and checks are routine mechanisms intended to ensure transparency and legal compliance. It added that all official decisions carry legal sanction under the 2023 law governing the Commission's conduct of business and that every officer can offer suggestions for electoral reforms. The Commission said around 40 new initiatives introduced in the past year were unanimously approved by the full Commission and that elections were successfully conducted in Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam and West Bengal. It also said ECINet and other digital platforms have strict data-security, IT audit and access-control mechanisms. On Form 6, the ECI disputed the suggestion that the statutory voter-registration form was illegally altered. It said its May 2026 SIR order had already provided for a separate Declaration Form to accompany Form 6, containing questions on whether a voter or relative appeared in the previous SIR roll. Legal observers said that changing a statutory form and adding a linked declaration are distinct legal actions. Concerns over centralization of electoral data also remain a matter of scrutiny rather than established wrongdoing, analysts said. The Commissioners sought an audit of database access, but seeking an audit is not evidence of tampering. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) continue to decide inclusion and exclusion of names, while the ECI has reiterated that ECINet operates with security and audit controls. The reported figure of 13 crore deletions has also been described as misleading by the ECI. The figure relates to names not carried forward into the draft roll, not final deletions. SIR provides for claims, objections, hearings and a final roll. Reasons such as Absent, Shifted, Death and Duplicate are listed so genuine voters can seek correction. The report raises a fair question on who filed these appeals, but it does not establish that the ECI itself filed them. Implying that it did, is a leap the evidence does not support, observers said. More than 1.26 lakh appeals have been resolved and 1.14 lakh voters restored, the Commission said. In Goa, 97 voters were found eligible after hearings, but software lacked a facility to reverse earlier deletions. The Chief Electoral Officer wrote eight times seeking a solution before the final-roll deadline. Observers said this points to a technical shortcoming requiring correction, not proof of an intent to disenfranchise voters. The legal backdrop is the Supreme Court's May 27, 2026, judgment which upheld the ECI's power to conduct SIR under Article 324 of the Constitution read with Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The apex court examined the procedure and did not find the exercise disproportionate or contrary to law. The Supreme Court's judgment also recognised the Commission's responsibility to maintain accurate electoral rolls. Analysts also noted that SIR is not a first-time exercise. India has conducted 10 such revisions since Independence, eight under Congress-led governments. SIR also incorporates multiple safeguards -- Booth Level Officers, supervisors, Assistant EROs, EROs, draft publication, claims and objections, hearings and final-roll publication -- besides monitoring by political parties through Booth Level Agents, experts said. Analysts said the documented disagreements merit scrutiny, particularly on transparency and decision-making, but stressed that internal dissent and institutional wrongdoing are separate questions. The ECI's position is that a multi-member body debating and recording objections, while ultimately taking decisions through the prescribed process, is evidence of institutional checks rather than necessarily a crisis, an analyst noted.
Siddaramaiah seeks removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Sep 23 (IANS) Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday called for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, citing reported differences within the Election Commission and alleging that two Election Commissioners had recorded written objections to decisions taken by the poll panel. In a media statement, Siddaramaiah said developments emerging from within the Election Commission were deeply alarming and claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded written objections at least 14 times in the last 10 months to decisions and actions of the three-member Commission headed by Gyanesh Kumar. According to Siddaramaiah, the reported objections relate to issues including the registration of new voters, the addition and deletion of names from electoral rolls, control over the electoral-roll database, and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. He referred to an investigative report published by an English newspaper that, he said, reported that one of the Election Commissioners objected to inserting a new question in Form 6, used for registering new voters, without the required legal amendment. The change was reportedly described as unauthorised and illegal. Siddaramaiah also raised concerns over what he described as the gradual centralisation of the electoral-roll database and alleged restrictions on access for local election officials who are legally authorised to manage electoral rolls. He questioned who controls the electoral-roll system, under whose authority changes are being made and why state-level officials do not have complete access to the database. The former Chief Minister also referred to the SIR process in West Bengal and questioned the filing of nearly 16 lakh appeals seeking deletion of voters after judicial officers had ordered their inclusion in electoral rolls. He asked who filed the appeals and under whose authority. Siddaramaiah claimed that Sandhu had raised questions about the process with officials and that neither he, the other Election Commissioner, nor the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal had been informed of its basis. He further alleged that the two Election Commissioners had objected to communications being issued and decisions being taken in the name of the Commission without their approval. Siddaramaiah said the Election Commission must function institutionally and in accordance with the Constitution and law, and should not be seen as acting in favour of any political party or government. He said public confidence in the electoral process could be affected if Commission members repeatedly raised objections to its functioning. He also called for complete transparency and a public explanation regarding the SIR process, changes to electoral rolls and reported disagreements within the Commission. Describing the issue as one concerning the protection of citizens voting rights, Siddaramaiah urged President Droupadi Murmu to remove Gyanesh Kumar from the post of CEC and direct the Union Government to investigate him. He said free, fair and transparent elections were essential to democracy and asserted that the Election Commission must remain autonomous and accountable.
Mamata Banerjee demands arrest of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 23 (IANS) Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday demanded that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar be impeached and arrested immediately, alleging that he conducted assembly polls in several states after deleting names of genuine voters through the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise. Banerjee went live on Facebook in the afternoon and demanded the CEC's arrest. Referring to reported differences within the top brass of the Election Commission of India (ECI), she claimed the ill-deeds of the CEC had now been exposed. According to her, by resorting to electronic voting machine (EVM) hijacking, voter list manipulation, and administrative interference, the CEC helped the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win assembly elections in several states, including West Bengal earlier this year. Now, I demand that fresh voting should be conducted according to the old voter lists. Gyanesh Kumar has been exposed, Banerjee said in her social media message. She further alleged that the CEC first helped the BJP grab power at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and later win assembly elections in several states. The current CEC was solely responsible for bringing back the BJP to power in 2024. He is not fit for this chair. He is solely responsible for the ultimate dictatorship that the BJP is running. Gyanesh Kumar has misused the police and central forces in elections after election. As long as he is in the chair, the movement against him will continue. Even though an impeachment was brought against him, the Speaker did not allow it to be presented in the Lok Sabha. He should not be just impeached. He should be arrested also, Banerjee said. She also launched a scathing attack against the current BJP-ruled state government in West Bengal. In the last four months, around 65 people have been killed. The state police are operating as an extended arm of the BJP. But I want to caution the police. The BJP will not be in power forever. But they will have to stay in the state with their families, the former Chief Minister said.
Smriti Irani appointed BJP in-charge for Haryana and Chhattisgarh, Vinod Tawde to look after UP
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party National President Nitin Nabin on Tuesday announced a fresh set of appointments of state in-charges and co-in-charges for various states and union territories. The appointments, detailed in an official press release issued from the partys central office, take effect immediately. According to the circular, the party has assigned organisational responsibilities covering nearly all states and UTs. Notable appointments include Smriti Irani as in-charge for both Chhattisgarh and Haryana, with Siddharth Shambhu as co-in-charge for Chhattisgarh and Dr Bhola Singh as co-in-charge for Haryana. Baijayant Jay Panda has been named state in-charge for Maharashtra, assisted by co-in-charges Amit Malviya, Sadanand Shet Tanavade and Kamaljeet Sahrawat. In Uttar Pradesh, Vinod Tawde has been appointed state in-charge, with Jagadish Patel, Medha Kulkarni, Dr Pradeep Verma and Anant Ojha as co-in-charges. Sunil Bansal will serve as state in-charge for both Telangana and West Bengal. For Telangana, Abhay Patil and Rekha Sharma are co-in-charges, while West Bengals co-in-charges include Lal Singh Arya, Rajendra Singh and Pinki Kushwaha. Other key assignments feature Biplab Kumar Deb as in-charge for Madhya Pradesh with Rekha Verma as co-in-charge, Ram Madhav as state in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand, Harish Dwivedi as state in-charge for Bihar and Karnataka, and Dr Satish Poonia as state in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. Mangal Pandey has been named state in-charge for Assam, while Dr Arvind Bhadauria will head Andhra Pradesh with Vanathi Srinivasan as co-in-charge. Meanwhile, BJP national president Nitin Nabin has appointed Ashish Usha Agrawal as convenor of the media department and Anil Baluni as co-ordinator of the communication department. The list also covers smaller states and UTs: Jay Prakash (Andaman and Nicobar), Dr Devesh Kumar (Arunachal Pradesh), Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe (Delhi), Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar (Goa), Tarun Chugh (Gujarat), Shrikant Sharma (Himachal Pradesh), Gajendra Patel (Jharkhand), Prof M Nagaraja (Kerala), Rajkumar Bhatia (Ladakh), George Kurian (Lakshadweep), Dr Rajdeep Roy (Manipur), Kanad Purkayastha (Meghalaya), Dr Bhagwat Karad (Mizoram), Anil Antony (Nagaland and Goa Sah Prabhari), D Purandeswari (Odisha), K Surendran (Puducherry), Raju Bista (Sikkim) and Mriganka Deb Barman (Tripura). Several leaders hold dual or multiple responsibilities under the partys organisational restructuring. The circular has been issued by national office in-charge Tarun Chugh to all state presidents and organisational general secretaries for information and necessary action. The appointments aim to strengthen the partys organisational network ahead of future electoral and organisational programmes.
'Bihar, Maha, Delhi, Haryana & Bengal': Oppn seeks repolls after EC 'dissent' report
Tejashwi Yadav has accused the Election Commission of being under BJP's influence to achieve electoral victories across various states. He also expressed his worries regarding the modifications to the voting records' retention period. Additionally, DMK chief MK Stalin has joined the call for the ousting of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing election discrepancies, while former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the Commissions management of voting lists.
Calcutta HC seeks ECI report on envelope symbol allotment
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 23 (IANS) A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday sought a report from the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding its decision earlier this month to allot the envelope symbol to the rebel but majority faction in the Trinamool Congress led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee. Earlier this week, the All India Secular Front (AISF), with Nawsad Siddique as its lone representative in the West Bengal Assembly, approached the bench of Justice Krishna Rao challenging the ECIs decision to allot the envelope symbol to the Ritabrata-led faction. Besides allotting the envelope symbol, the Commission also allotted the name Democratic Trinamool Congress to the Ritabrata-led faction. AISF, instead, was allotted the Almirah symbol. The decision irked the AISF leadership, especially Siddique, who contested and was elected twice from the Bhangar Assembly Constituency in South 24 Parganas district, first in 2021 and then in 2026, with the envelope symbol. He first raised objections with the ECI and subsequently moved the Calcutta High Court. The matter came up for hearing at Justice Raos bench on Wednesday, and at the end of the hearing the court sought a report from the ECI. The matter will be heard again on Thursday. AISF was not the only political party from West Bengal allotted a new symbol by the ECI last week. Humayun Kabir-founded Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) was given the symbol table, replacing its earlier whistle. Kabir had contested and won simultaneously from Naoda and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies in Murshidabad district with the whistle symbol earlier this year. However, Kabir did not raise any objection about the allotment of the new symbol. While AJUP is contesting the Rejinagar bypoll, AISF is contesting from Nandigram in East Midnapore district next month. The bypolls for both constituencies will be held on October 6, and the results will be declared on October 9.
Tejashwi Yadav demands fresh Bihar, West Bengal polls, criticises EC
The News Mill
Gyanesh Kumar should be jailed; hold repolls in Maharashtra, WB and TN with ballot papers: Uddhav
Mumbai, Sep 23 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar be jailed, citing reports of differences emerging within the Election Commission. Addressing a news conference, Thackeray also demanded that the last elections in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu be nullified and repolls be held in these states using ballot papers. Gyanesh Kumar should be immediately sacked and jailed, the former Maharashtra chief minister said. I thank Election Commissioners (ECs) Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi for exposing Gyanesh Kumar, Thackeray said. He also said that the court should take cognisance
Mamata Banerjee demands repolling in Bengal in staunch attack on CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has demanded repolling in Bengal amid the recent row on CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
SIR, Form 6, Voter Rolls: EC Responds After Report Flags Objections By 2 Election Commissioners
The Election Commission has rejected reports of differences among its members over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying all decisions were taken unanimously. The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several issues, including voter registration, deletion and restoration of names, electoral data access and the handling of appeals. The report also highlighted concerns over changes to Form 6, access to the ERO Net database, pending appeals in West Bengal and a software-related issue involving 97 voters in Goa. The EC acknowledged that the two Commissioners had raised concerns over certain aspects of the exercise but said these did not amount to disagreement with final decisions. It maintained that all SIR-related decisions had the approval of all three Commissioners.
Baby Elephant Rescued from Teesta River
A baby elephant swept away by the Teesta River was rescued by forest officials with the help of local fishermen in West Bengals Baikunthapur Forest Division. The rescue effort brought the distressed calf to safety.
The party said the writ petition seeks judicial scrutiny of the alleged discrepancies and the Election Commission's action or inaction in the matter
The BJP has strategically appointed Sanjay Bhatia as the in-charge for Rajasthan, supported by co-in-charges Kavita Patidar and Kuljeet Chahal. For Maharashtra, Baijayant Jay Panda leads the charge alongside a team of co-in-charges. Sunil Bansal will manage Telangana and West Bengal, with carefully appointed co-in-charges. Vinod Tawde has been assigned the Uttar Pradesh in-charge role, and Smriti Irani is set to oversee the strategies in Chhattisgarh and Haryana.
Apartment registrations fall 23% in Aug on high base, launch freeze
Kejriwal demands re-election in Delhi, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal amid rift within EC over SIR
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday demanded re-election in Delhi, Haryana, Bihar and West Bengal amid rift within the Election Commission over SIR exercise.
No place for dictatorship: Ritabrata Banerjee on ECs TMC symbol freeze
The Election Commission has temporarily frozen the All India Trinamool Congress name and Flowers and Grass symbol ahead of the West Bengal bypolls. Reacting to the order, Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee said, Democracy has no place for dictatorship. Both rival factions have been asked to submit alternative names and symbols.
West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh criticises Congress culture amid Indore mimicry controversy
The News Mill
Weather today September 23: IMD issues red alert; check which states are likely to see heavy rain
IMD has issued an extreme rain warning for Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and Chhattisgarh as a Deep Depression over the Bay of Bengal moves towards the coast. Several other states, including West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Vidarbha, are also likely to receive heavy to very heavy rain. Check the state-wise weather forecast for September 23.
PM Modi lauds rhino conservation efforts on World Rhino Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lauded the rhino conservation efforts in the country and said the Project Rhino has been initiated for financial and technical support to the range states for protection, habitat management, and understanding population dynamics of the endangered species. On the occasion of World Rhino Day, Modi said the country celebrates the magnificent greater one-horned rhinoceros and lauds all those at the forefront of its protection. Assam now holds nearly 80 per cent of the worlds rhino population and Kazirangas efforts to end rhino poaching have been extensively appreciated, he said in a post on X. The prime minister said on one hand, rhinos have either returned or are well protected in parts of Bihar and West Bengal, on the other hand, success of reintroduction of rhinos in Dudhwa (Uttar Pradesh) is creating history. This shows the sustained commitment of our people towards animal protection and active wildlife management in the range states, he said. Taking species conservation in the country forward, Modi said he was happy to share that Project Rhino has been initiated for financial and technical support to the range states for protection, habitat management, genetic improvement and understanding population dynamics. World Rhino Day is a day of awareness for all five rhino species and the work being done to save them. Since 2011, World Rhino Day has been celebrated internationally on September 22 by rhino experts and advocates around the world. The day is especially important to raise awareness of the plight of rhinos because they are regularly poached for their horns which are sold illegally and used in traditional medicine despite no scientific proof that these remedies work.
Hows this for a chair? Botanic Gardens invites visitors to sit on giant water lily leaves
RSS grows from 5,000 to 10,000 shakhas in Bengal since May, to get new office in New Town
Freezing democracy: On the Election Commission of India and West Bengal
The Election Commission of India is functioning as a tool of the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal
Birds return as KMDA stops Sarobar clean-up after alarm raised by birders
No Ferris wheel sans KMC nod at Durga Puja grounds
From Rashmoni palace to Anushilan Samiti: KP museum to trace Durga Pujas evolution
Deep depression heads to coast, Kol may get rain for next 3 days
Butter vanishes from shelves ahead of Durga Puja season
Durga Puja organisers take cover to minimise rain damage
Suvendu targeting Opposition like Mamata did, says Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has accused BJP Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of targeting the Opposition similarly to Mamata Banerjee. He stated that Adhikari is using state power against Opposition parties, mirroring Banerjee's tactics. Chowdhury pointed out the inconsistency of TMC candidates in the ongoing byelections for West Bengal assembly. He emphasized that only Congress remains as a consistent force opposing the BJP's actions.
Milan Pradhan can contest Nandigram bypoll, Calcutta HC observes
The Calcutta High Court recorded the West Bengal government's submission that five of the six cases challenged by Congress' Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan had been closed. The court verbally observed that Pradhan should contest the polls. Pradhan's lawyer said the court had granted protection until October 12, while Congress leaders urged Nandigram voters to support the jailed candidate.
Police file FIR for sales of aquatic animals at Galiff Street Sunday market
Party nuisance: Tenant thrashes owners
Free School Street fire: Law firm gets safety list
3 passengers assault app cab driver over Rs 700 fare
Penalty waiver, 10% property tax rebate likely in Howrah
Kolkata Police buys detectors worth Rs 4 crore to track trackers
Old cybercrime tricks return to haunt Kolkata ahead of Durga Puja
Rani Shiromani temple in W Midnapore to get into Bengals heritage tourism map
Undertrial dies in judicial custody
Cannot alter degree of disability in ID for MBBS admission: HC to IPGMER
Bldgs, labs & hostels cry for repairs, JU writes to higher edu dept
Covid fin irregularity: Plaints to be filed against 64 govt health units
Ex-MLA Humayun injured in TMC-BJP clash in S Kolkata
Fire guts Batasia police outpost, tourists unaffected
Sittong homestay sealed after honeymoon fire incident
All industrialists are ready to invest in West Bengal, says Suvendu Adhikari
All industrialists are ready to invest in West Bengal, says Suvendu Adhikari
Gurung writes to CM for probe into 280 water projects by GTA
Ensure less politics, propagation of national interests on college campuses: BJP to governing bodies
NIA Summons TMC MLA Sabina Yasmin Over Attack on Judicial Officials in West Bengal
The NIA has summoned TMC MLA Sabina Yasmin for questioning regarding an attack on judicial officials during an inquiry process in Malda, West Bengal. NIA Summons TMC MLA Sabina Yasmin Over Attack on Judicial Officials in West Bengal
Four arrested as Bhangar remains tense after clashes
Bengal wont tolerate any wildlife crime: CM on World Rhino Day
A 12-Year Wait to Vote? West Bengal SIR Backlog Raises Questions for CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Imagine being told that your name has been removed from the electoral roll and that you have the right to challenge the decision. You file your appeal, submit your documents and wait. Then comes the shocking part: the system hearing your
Army jawan arrested for helping Bdeshi duo cross into India illegally
Rajya Sabha polls in 12 seats on October 16
With BSP MP Ramji Gautam vacating his seat, party to be left without any MPs for first time since 1989; SP or allies may gain this seat in U.P., while BJP likely to gain a seat in West Bengal bypoll after TMC MPs resignation
Fresh FIR against TMC strongman Naskar, police lens on promoters
No relief in HC for Nandigram Cong candidate
Centre studying plan for 4 new airports in West Bengal
Centre studying plan for 4 new airports in West Bengal
