West Bengal elections: CPI(M), CPI announce candidates for Nandigram, Rejinagar bypolls
The CPI(M) and CPI have named their candidates for upcoming West Bengal by-elections. Advocate Sayeed Asad Ali will contest from Rejinagar for the CPI(M) party. Shanti Gopal Giri is the CPI's nominee for the Nandigram constituency. Voting is scheduled for October sixth, with results announced on October ninth. These bypolls were necessitated by recent resignations from the Assembly.
West Bengal professors oppose Govt.s inter-university transfer Bill, call it an attack on education
WBCUTA says arbitrary transfers will weaken universities already facing severe faculty shortages, vows to first write to the Governor, who is also the Cancellor of Universities, and make an appeal
Man Arrested for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting His 13-Year-Old Daughter in West Bengal
A man in Kolkata has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting his 13-year-old daughter, following a report by his elder daughter. Man Arrested for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting His 13-Year-Old Daughter in West Bengal
India to get another major DRDO missile testing range in Bengal
India is embarking on a pivotal project with the establishment of a new weapon and missile testing range in Junput, West Bengal. This state-of-the-art facility will complement the existing range in Chandipur, Odisha, marking the DRDO's third significant site. The initiative promises to not only bolster national defense capabilities but also promote substantial growth in West Bengal's infrastructure and economy.
CPI(M) and CPI announce candidates for West Bengal by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar
The News Mill
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Union ministers, CMs attend PM Modi's Brics gala dinner in New Delhi
Union ministers and chief ministers of several states on Saturday attended a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in honour of the leaders of BRICS and other participating countries and organisations. The Union ministers, including Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Kiren Rijiju travelled together in two buses from the Parliament House complex amidst tight security. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and chief ministers of various states -- Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), Suvendu Adhikari (West Bengal), Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), Pushkar Singh Dhami (Uttarakhand), and Rekha Gupta (Delhi) -- also travelled in the buses along with the Union ministers to the dinner venue Bharat Mandapam. The ministers were allotted different tables where delegates from different countries joined them during the dinner. Separate dinner tables were curated in a way so that the attendees .
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Bengal cash-for-school job scam: Accused businessman to turn approver before CBI
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 12 (IANS) Santu Gangopadhyay, a Kolkata-based businessman and an accused in the multi-crore cash-for-school-job case in West Bengal, on Saturday wrote a letter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with a plea to become an approver in the matter. Sources aware of the development said that in his letter to the CBI, Gangopadhay had claimed that despite being willing to divulge secrets in the school job scam much earlier, he was found to remain silent because of life threat during the previous Trinamool Congress government. Now, as the Kolkata-based businessman claimed in the letter to the CBI, with the change of government in West Bengal after the Assembly elections earlier this year, Gangopadhay had gained the confidence of revealing everything to the central probe agency and hence he had pleaded to become an approver in the matter. Named in the chargesheet of the CBI in case of recruitment of primary teachers in the state-run schools, Gangopadhyay was also arrested earlier in the matter. However, he is currently released on bail. He was known as an extremely close confidant of the former West Bengal Education Minister and the former Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee, who had also been lodged in jail for more than three years because of his involvement in the school job case. Chatterjee is also out on bail now. Sources said that in his letter to the CBI, Gangopadhyay said how he and Kuntal Ghosh, one of the accused in the recruitment corruption case, delivered the money to a top leader in Trinamool Congress. In the letter, Gangopadhyay also claimed that he and Kuntal Ghosh also faced the ire of that top Trinamool Congress leader for not being able to meet the target of collecting Rs 5 crore from candidates aspiring to be primary teachers in the state-run schools. Sources said that in his letter, Gangopadhay had claimed that even after the change of government in the state he had been getting threat calls from some people involved in the alleged school-job scam. He had also pleaded for the security of his family members.
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Bengal CM Adhikari joins 'Mach Bhog' at Kalighat Temple
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari ate Mach Bhog at Kalighat temple. This action sent a clear message regarding non-veg food near pandals. Dhirendra Shastri had appealed to avoid non-veg food during Navaratri. Opposition parties protested Shastri's appeal and his effigy was burned. BJP leaders stated food choices are personal matters for citizens.
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Left, Cong name candidates for Rejinagar, Nandigram bypolls
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Bengal: Left Front announces candidates for Rejinagar, Nandigram bypolls
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 12 (IANS) The Left Front, led by CPI(M), on Saturday announced the names of the party candidates for the October 6 bypolls in Nandigram Assembly seat and Rejinagar Assembly Constituency of West Bengal. The West Bengal Left Front Committee issued a press statement announcing the names of the front candidates for the bypolls for these two constituencies. The CPI(M) candidate from the Rejinagar constituency is Sayeed Asad Ali, an advocate in personal life. On the other hand, the CPI candidate from the Nandigram is Shanti Gopal Giri. Left Fronts candidate announcement for the bypolls comes just a day after the Congress announced the names of their candidates on Friday for both Nandigram and Rejinagar. The bypolls for these two constituencies will be conducted on October 6 that is just before the forthcoming Durga Puja festival in the state. The counting of votes will be taken up on October 9. The date by which the elections will have to be concluded is October 11. In the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year, current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was elected from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur Assembly Constituencies in South Kolkata. At Bhabanipur, Adhikari defeated his predecessor and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by a margin of more than 15,000 votes. Adhikari retained the Bhabanipur constituency, thus necessitating bypolls for Nandigram. On the other hand, former Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir contested and was elected as an Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) candidate from both Naoda and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies, both in Murshidabad district. Later, Kabir decided to retain Naoda, thus necessitating bypolls for the Rejinagar seat. Kabirs son Golab Nabi Azad is the AJUP candidate for the Rejinagar bypolls this time. Since 2021, Nandigram, because of Suvendu Adhikari, has been a virtual fortress for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Therefore, political observers are not in two minds about the results of the by-elections there. However, political observers say that because of the demography of Rejinagar, this particular Assembly constituency will be quite tough to win for the BJP. On the other hand, Trinamool Congress, which is now divided into three factions, also does not seem to have much poll prospects from Rejinagar this time. Rather, CPI-M and Congress can view the opportunity for increasing their tally in the West Bengal Assembly constituency by one seat. The Rejinagar bypolls might also give some indication about where the minority votes in the state might shift to in the coming days, a Kolkata-based political observer said.
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Provat Das, a native of West Bengal, is accused of killing a 35-year-old woman and her four-year-old daughter
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NCW seeks report from Kerala Police over double murder in Attappadi
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of the reported gruesome murder of a woman and a child in Attappadi in Kerala's Palakkad district and sought a report from the state police within a week, an official said on Saturday. The severed and decomposed body parts of the victims were reportedly found stuffed in sacks and abandoned on the banks of the Bhavani river, as per a media report. NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has written to the Director General of Police, Kerala, seeking immediate apprehension of the suspect, identification of all possible accomplices, a thorough and impartial investigation, and preservation of forensic evidence, said an official statement. Necessary assistance and support to the victims families during the identification and legal process have also been sought, it said. The Commission has sought an Action Taken Report within seven days, underscoring that the life, dignity and safety of women and children must be protected without compromise. Meanwhile, a migrant worker from West Bengal has come under the police radar in connection with the gruesome killing of his wife and their five-year-old daughter, whose dismembered bodies were found stuffed into sacks and dumped on the banks of the river. Investigators suspect that the man, who had arrived in the area along with his wife and their young daughter around 25 days ago, could be behind their murders. Police have also learnt that the man had harboured suspicions about his wife, giving investigators a possible clue to the motive. The victims are suspected to be the man's wife and daughter. Police have also received information that the deceased were from West Bengal, strengthening the possibility that the case involves a migrant family. However, their identities are yet to be conclusively established. The investigation received a major breakthrough from one of the sacks used to dispose of the bodies. Police found indications from the writing on the sack that it had been brought from Coimbatore to a shop at Kottathara in Attappadi along with other goods. The batch and other markings on the sack are being examined to trace its exact source. The Puthur police have launched a detailed probe based on this lead and are checking wholesale and retail shops in Attappadi and along the Tamil Nadu border. CCTV footage is also being examined to establish who purchased or transported the sacks, the police said.
Mamata Banerjee Gets Rebel TMC Offer? Faction May Withdraw Nandigram Candidate To Back Her | Watch
The battle over the Trinamool Congress symbol has intensified as a five-member rebel TMC delegation led by West Bengal LoP Ritabrata Banerjee met officials at IIIDEM in Delhi. The faction said the meeting was fruitful and that it would submit documents sought by the panel. Meanwhile, a major Nandigram twist has emerged. The rebel faction says it may withdraw its candidate and support Mamata Banerjee if she contests the bypoll as an independent. The faction plans to decide before September 16, while Banerjee expressed 100% confidence about securing the TMC symbol.
CCTV Footage Unveils Digha Deal: Black SUV and Thar Traced in Odisha Orangutan Trafficking Case
The sensational recovery of five orangutans from the Badapahi forest in Bhograi has blown the lid off an international wildlife trafficking ring, with the Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police intensifying raids across Odisha and West Bengal. Investigators have placed a hotel businessman and his son under intense scrutiny, suspecting that the illicit wildlife [] The post CCTV Footage Unveils Digha Deal: Black SUV and Thar Traced in Odisha Orangutan Trafficking Case appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
Bengal CM Suvendu pitches business-friendly climate to industrialists
The West Bengal government on Saturday invited industrialists and business groups to invest in the state, asserting that the new government was working to create a conducive business environment through new policies and incentives. Speaking at a summit organised by a news channel, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the government would soon unveil new industrial and land policies and amendments to the land ceiling Act, along with a package of incentives for investors, though he did not give a timeline or further details. Adhikari said industrialisation would help generate employment in the state, where, he claimed, a large number of educated youths were without jobs. He also claimed that nearly one crore migrant labourers from the state were currently working outside. This is a truly patriotic government functioning properly. We are working on the industrial policy, the industrial land policy, the Land Ceiling Act, incentives and other investor-related measures. The roadmap is .
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 12 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday launched a scathing attack against the previous Left Front and Trinamool Congress governments in West Bengal and accused both the regimes of having a step-motherly attitude towards the Hindu religious rituals. Of the past 49 years, 34 years have been ruled by Communists who called religion the opium of masses. And in the next 15 years, the Trinamool Congress made an all-out effort to convert West Bengal into a Greater Bangladesh. The Chief Minister (Suvendu Adhikari) alleged that there had been a continuous attack on the traditions and culture of the Sanatani Hindu people in the state, the Chief Minister said at the inauguration of a Ganesh Puja at Kestopur in the northern outskirts of Kolkata. Attacking the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Chief Minister Adhikari added that the party's books stalls in front of the Puja Pandal every year during the four days of Durga Puja never displayed the books by Swami Vivekananda. In those book stalls, you could get foreign books by Karl Marx or by Lenin. But you could never get Indian books such as Hanuman Chalisa or Bhagwad Geeta. It was clearly written there that they did not believe in religion, and they considered religion as opium, the Chief Minister said. He targeted the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government and said that during the 15 years of their tenure in West Bengal from 2011 to 2026, every attempt was made by the previous ruling dispensation to convert West Bengal into a Greater Bangladesh. He specially attacked his predecessor Mamata Banerjee but without directly naming her. The former Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee), whom I defeated twice in Nandigram and Bhabanipur, said in the Puja coordination meeting at Netaji Indoor Stadium that because of Muharram there would be no idol immersion on Vijaya Dashami in a particular year, the Chief Minister noted. In 2021, Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram Assembly constituency in East Midnapore district by a margin of little less than 2,000 votes, In 2026, Suvendu Adhikari defeated the previous Chief Minister from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata by a margin of little over 15,000 votes.
Abhishek aide broke down during questioning in graft cases: Bengal CID
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 12 (IANS) Sumit Roy, the Personal Assistant of Trinamool Congress General Secretary and party's Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member Abhishek Benerjee started breaking down in face of sustained questioning and confessed of his involvement in a number of financial irregularities, insiders from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police claimed on Saturday. CID sleuths arrested Roy on Thursday afternoon in connection with a multi-crore illegal land grabbing case at Salboni in West Midnapore district and he was presented at a district court in West Midnapore on Friday, following which he was remanded to eight days of CID custody. Since Friday evening, a special team of CID comprising an Indian Police Service officer assisted by two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP)-ranking officers. In the face of sustained interrogation, Roy had started breaking down and has started revealing his involvements not only in the Salboni land grabbing case as well as other major scams in the state, a CID insider said requesting anonymity. Another state police insider said that the Investigating Officers have uncovered information about transactions worth crores of rupees in the Salboni land corruption case. The money allegedly reached multiple bank accounts. Investigators are trying to find out who, apart from Roy, were involved in those financial transactions and who benefited financially from that money, the police official said. The state police officials said that Roy's statement might be crucial in revealing the larger conspiracy behind these scams. The information obtained from him (Sumit Roy) is being compared with the documents, bank account information, land documents and other evidence already accessed by the investigating officers, the state police official said. The interrogating officials are trying to grill Roy about those persons or persons from whom he used to receive instructions in the matter. In the Salboni land scam case, the investigating officers have already received details of a particular bank account in the name of Sumit Roy, which had doubtful transactions worth Rs 15 crore. The investigating officials through Sumit Roy's questioning are trying to reach the source of the funds, the CID insider said.
Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh Criticizes TMC Amid Election Symbol Dispute
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh attacks TMC, claiming the party should cease to exist due to its negative impact on the state. Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh Criticizes TMC Amid Election Symbol Dispute
Narcotics, firearm seized by SSB close to India-Nepal border; five apprehended
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 12 (IANS) A significant quantity of narcotics and an illegal firearm were seized by troops of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) close to the India-Nepal border over the last two days, officials said on Saturday. Five persons have been apprehended in this connection. In the latest case, personnel of the 41 Bn SSB Ranidanga and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force of the Bihar Police carried out an intelligence-based operation in the Lakdi Depot area in Galgalia, Kishanganj, Bihar, around 7.10 a.m. on Saturday. The security personnel carried out a raid at the house of one Mohamad Hasim (57) and seized 507 grams of Brown Sugar, 814 grams of amphetamine, a country-made pistol, one round of live ammunition and a mobile phone. The house is barely 550 metres from the international border, officials said. The seized items were checked with a drug detection kit and tested positive for MDMA (Amphetamine) and Brown Sugar. Hasim and Ruksar Khatun (30) were taken into custody. The latter is from the Channu Tola village in Bhatgaon, Kishanganj. During preliminary interrogation, the apprehended persons disclosed that the Brown Sugar and Amphetamine were procured from an unidentified person at Galgalia Bazar. They, along with the seized items, were handed over to the Galgalia Police Station for further legal action, an official said. In another raid carried out during the evening of Friday, 410 grams of Brown Sugar were seized. Around 6.20 p.m., acting on reliable information, a special patrolling party of the Kadomanijote Company of the 41 Bn SSB, Ranidanga, proceeded towards Aambari Village in Ghoshpukur on National Highway 327C. Three suspects were searched, and the narcotics were seized from their possession, the official said. A drug detection kit declared the powdery substance to be Brown Sugar after a sniffer dog confirmed it to be drugs. The three persons apprehended in this connection have been identified as Akram Hossain (43), from Khagen Hat in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, Tapan Das (34), from Dakshin Palash, Matigara, Darjeeling, West Bengal, and Ebrahim Hoque (33), of Bhorkulagachh, Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal. During preliminary interrogation, the apprehended persons disclosed that the Brown Sugar was procured from an unidentified person at a shoe shop in Panjipara and was being taken to Ghoshpukur for delivery to a woman known only as Didi. They, along with the narcotics, have been handed over to the Phansidewa Police Station, the official added.
Left, TMC govts in Bengal tried to destroy cultural traditions of Bengali Hindus: CM
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari alleged past governments undermined Hindu traditions. He stated the current BJP government seeks to restore these heritage and traditions. Adhikari highlighted the plight of a Bangladeshi Hindu monk and Partition victims. He claimed past regimes pushed religious texts and festivals aside. The Chief Minister urged unity to preserve identity, religion, and heritage.
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Bengal govt focuses on credit management reforms in cooperative banks to tackle bad loans
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 12 (IANS) The BJP-led West Bengal government has initiated a series of reforms in the credit management system of cooperative banks across the state to address the longstanding problem of bad loans and recover dues from wilful defaulters. State Cooperation Minister Ashok Kirtaniya has personally reviewed the financial health of several cooperative banks and directed departmental officials to prepare a comprehensive strategy aimed at strengthening credit discipline and improving loan recovery mechanisms. The Minister has directed the departmental bureaucrats to frame a blueprint for a comprehensive strategy to address the chronic issue of wilful defaulters. According to sources in the cooperative department, the proposed blueprint for urban cooperative banks will focus on three key areas. The first is the introduction of a robust due diligence mechanism to properly assess the creditworthiness of loan applicants and identify potential risks before loans are sanctioned. The second component involves identifying wilful defaulters and initiating recovery proceedings, including the attachment of properties where necessary. The third seeks to fix accountability for lapses in loan sanctioning and disbursal, with action proposed against credit officers found to have deliberately ignored borrowers' lack of creditworthiness. Minister Ashok Kirtaniya said property attachment proceedings would be carried out irrespective of the political affiliations of defaulters. He also warned that responsibility for unrecovered loans would be examined and that, if required, recoveries could be made from the pensions of retired officials or the salaries of serving officers found responsible for irregularities. If the money is not recovered, the responsibility of the credit officers concerned will also be investigated. If necessary, the money may be deducted from the pension of retired officers and the salaries of working officers, the Minister said. Department officials alleged that during the previous Trinamool Congress regime, due diligence norms in cooperative banks were often ignored, with loan sanctions influenced by recommendations from local ruling party leaders. They claimed that while some credit officers were complicit, many also faced pressure to approve loans without adequate scrutiny. The proposed reforms are expected to strengthen financial discipline in cooperative banks, curb the accumulation of bad loans, and improve accountability in the credit approval process.
TMC faction war reaches ECI as Ritabrata Banerjee-led delegation arrives in Delhi
A rebel Trinamool Congress faction met the Election Commission regarding party leadership. The delegation, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, sought recognition as the legitimate party leadership. This meeting precedes nominations for upcoming West Bengal by-elections. The Election Commission scheduled the meeting for September 12, 2026. The by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar will occur on October 6.
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Congress questions timing of raids after Harish Rawat quits party posts following ED action on aide
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawats decision to step down from two Congress posts following Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on his aide, has drawn a sharp reaction from Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat, who questioned the timing and alleged that the central agency was being used as a tool for political revenge. Speaking to IANS, Bhagat said Rawats decision reflected the Congress leaders political ethos and his commitment to ensuring that his actions did not weaken the partys ongoing political fight. Certainly, I believe this reflects the core values of the Congress party and Harish Rawat jis own political ethos. He has willingly tendered his resignation from multiple posts in the past. The law will take its own course, that much is certain, Bhagat said. However, he questioned the timing of the ED action and alleged that the agencys functioning had repeatedly come under suspicion. However, the timing chosen by the BJP and the modus operandi of the Enforcement Directorate have consistently remained under suspicion. They work with a spirit of revenge and work as a tool for them. So, their activities are always under suspicion, the Congress MP said. The remarks came a day after Rawat resigned as a member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee and as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee at the national level. Rawats decision followed ED raids on his personal assistant, Chandan Singh Jeena, in a money laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities in a 2016 state recruitment examination. The ED said in a statement on Friday evening that it had conducted searches at Jeenas premises on Thursday and seized cash worth Rs 32 lakh along with a dozen luxury wristwatches. He further reacted to the BJP criticising Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi after the Karnataka Congress unit announced a list of newly nominated district presidents consisting entirely of men and said, Rahul ji has spoken about their identity, their importance, and the fact that they have an identity of their own. And I believe that when he spoke about the nearly half of our population, he was talking about self-reliance, confidence, self-respect and self-assurance. He made these remarks in that context. As far as Karnataka is concerned, you must have seen that whether it is about the Cabinet or many other such things, today you cannot say that it is only about responsibilities. Many times, when we bring things forward organisationally, if we find a better candidate, we give them the responsibility. We do not indulge in pick and choose. Despite this, we can say that when it comes to reservation for women or bringing women forward, the Congress took the initiative first, he told IANS. Bhagat also reacted to a controversy surrounding West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari eating fish at Kalighat Temple. He said dietary choices were not among the countrys most pressing concerns. I believe that what someone chooses to wear or eat is not an issue confronting the country today. There are far more pressing issues--unemployment and inflation, he said.
'Different ways of worship: Dilip Ghosh defends Suvendu Adhikaris fish Bhog at temple
Digital Desk | Newtown, Sep 12 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, visited the Kalighat Temple on the occasion of Kaushiki Amavasya and partook of the traditional bhog offered at the temple, which included sweets, basanti pulao and fish. Reacting to this, West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh on Saturday said that different people follow different methods of worship and ways of life, and that personal religious preferences should not become a subject of controversy. Speaking to reporters, Ghosh said, In many places, fish is offered as prasad in temples. There are different methods of worship, ways of life and personal preferences. So, this should not be a subject of discussion. Everyone should make their own decisions and be left to decide for themselves. His remarks came days after Dhirendra Krishna Garg, 30, chief priest of Bageshwar Dham, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba, visited West Bengal to attend the three-day Hanumant Katha programme at Liluah in Howrah district. On Saturday, he was hosted by Adhikari for dinner. Addressing devotees at Liluah, Bageshwar Baba had said, Please don't mind, but there is something I don't like about West Bengal. During Navratri and Durga Puja, non-vegetarian food is consumed near the pandals. All sorts of dirty food is prepared. I want every Hindu to wake up during the coming Navratri and expel those people. They are not pious. They are sacrilegious, he had added. Responding indirectly to the religious leader's remarks, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya had said, How can Bengalis not eat fish and meat? He dismissed Bageshwar Baba's comments as his personal opinion. Ghosh also commented on the ongoing row over the Trinamool Congress' name and election symbol. He said, Whether the twin flowers on grass symbol will actually remain or not, all this discussion will continue until the Election Commission's decision arrives. Reacting to Trinamool Congress representatives travelling to Delhi to meet the Election Commission, Ghosh said, Many people go to Delhi; they have also gone. Wait and watch. The Speaker and the Election Commission will think about what Trinamool Congress' future is in this matter. The decision will come from there only. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India is expected to take a decision on the dispute concerning the Trinamool Congress' party name, election symbol and funds, with claims being made by both the Mamata Banerjee camp and the faction led by MLA Ritabrata Banerjee. The ECI has called representatives of both sides for separate meetings in New Delhi on Saturday over their competing claims to the party's organisational control, name, assets and election symbol.
Odisha Orangutan Case: STF Questions Over 40, Black SUV Under Scanner
The Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch has questioned more than 40 people from Odisha and West Bengal as part of its investigation into the alleged smuggling of five infant orangutans rescued from a protected area in Balasore district. Investigators are particularly focusing on a black Thar SUV spotted near Bichitrapur forest [] The post Odisha Orangutan Case: STF Questions Over 40, Black SUV Under Scanner appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
Suvendu eats fish offering at Kalighat temple amidst Bageshwar Baba row
On the sacred occasion of Kaushiki Amavasya, Chief Minister Shri @SuvenduWB offered prayers to Maa Kali at Kalighat and, following the temples traditional customs, partook of the sacred bhog of pulao and fish, the West Bengal BJP said on social media, sharing the video
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West Bengal, Japan explore new trade, air connectivity and cultural partnerships
Kolkata will host an Indo-Japan cultural festival and exchange in 2027 as India and Japan mark 75 years of friendship. A Japanese delegation led by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ayano Kunimitsu also discussed trade, direct air connectivity, renewable energy and a business-friendly environment with West Bengal officials during its Kolkata visit.
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Congress Announces Candidates for West Bengal By-Elections
Congress has named its candidates for the 2026 West Bengal by-elections, focusing on key constituencies like Rejendranagar and Nandigram. Congress Announces Candidates for West Bengal By-Elections
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Ganesh Puja gains ground across Kol and beyond, idolmakers see 15% rise in orders
UAPA, terror-case prisoners kin appeal for phone access
Bengal: Congress announces candidates for Rejinagar, Nandigram bypolls
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 11 (IANS) All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Friday announced the names of the party candidates for the forthcoming bypolls for Nandigram Assembly Constituency in East Midnapore district and Rejinagar Assembly Constituency in Murshidabad district of West Bengal next month. AICC issued a press statement on Friday night claiming that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge approved the proposals for the candidature of Mohd Abdullahil Kafi from Rejinagar and Milan Pradhan from Nandigram for the upcoming by-elections for these two constituencies next month. The bypolls for these two constituencies will be conducted on October 6 that is just before the forthcoming Durga Puja festival in the state. The counting of votes and poll results will be declared on October 9. The date before which the elections will have to be concluded is October 11. In the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year, current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was elected from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur Assembly Constituencies in South Kolkata. At Bhabanipur, Adhikari defeated his predecessor and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by a margin of more than 15,000 votes. Adhikari retained the Bhabanipur constituency, thus necessitating bypolls for Nandigram. On the other hand, former Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir contested and was elected as an Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) candidate from both Naoda and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies, both in Murshidabad district. Later, Kabir decided to retain Naoda, thus necessitating bypolls for the Rejinagar seat. Since 2021, Nandigram, because of Suvendu Adhikari, has been a virtual fortress for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Therefore, political observers are not in two minds about the results of the by-elections there. However, political observers say that because of the demography of Rejinagar, this particular Assembly constituency will be quite tough to win for the BJP. On the other hand, Trinamool Congress, which is now divided into three factions, also does not seem to have much poll prospects from Rejinagar this time. Rather, CPI-M and Congress can view the opportunity for increasing their tally in the West Bengal Assembly constituency by one seat. The Rejinagar bypolls might also give some indication about where the minority votes in the state might shift to in the coming days, a Kolkata-based political observer said.
Congress names candidates for Nandigram, Rejinagar assembly bypolls
Promoters complaint leads to netas arrest
Decomposed body found in Sarsuna Jheel
Kolkata to host Indo-Japan cultural festival in 2027, boosting bilateral trade and air connectivity
A joint cultural exchange between Japan and Bengal is planned for 2027. Discussions focused on bilateral trade and direct air connectivity. Japanese companies seek a hassle-free business environment in West Bengal. The state government assured a conducive atmosphere for investors. Both nations will celebrate 75 years of friendship with cultural programs.
Baruipur blast sparks bomb storage claims
Durga Puja bookstalls are branded as ones selling Marxist, progressive books: CPM
EC hearing on TMC name-symbol today, to meet both camps back-to-back
India repatriates 47 Bangladeshis via Petrapole border
DRDO defence project in East Midnapore on track: CM
1,100 from Bengal to embark on Somnath pilgrimage
State asks school recruitment bodies to arrange for in-service teachers TET
HC pulls up KMC over 42 illegal constructions, orders CBI probe
West Bengal forms panel for naming and renaming public places
The West Bengal government has formed a state-level advisory committee to examine proposals for naming and renaming roads, streets, bridges and public places. Headed by Swami Pradiptananda, also known as Kartik Maharaj, the panel will assess historical, cultural, heritage and public considerations before recommending proposed name changes.
Calcutta High Court Reduces Life Term to 11 Years in 2012 Assault Case
CM announces plans to take Gangasagar Mela international
Suvendu Adhikari announces proposed DRDO project at Bengal's Junput
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 11 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Friday that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the premium agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development in the Ministry of Defence, is all set to set up a mega project in the state. Speaking to media persons, the Chief Minister added that Junput in his native East Midnapore district had been identified as the venue for the DRDO project. However, Chief Minister Adhikari refused to divulge further details of the project. All I can say right now is that a mega DRDO project is coming up at Junput soon. I will speak in detail in the matter at a later stage, the Chief Minister said at the sidelines of the inauguration of the outlet of a clothing store chain at Salt Lake in the northern outskirts of Kolkata. During the previous Left Front and Trinamool Congress governments, mega investment proposals in East Midnapore district could not be fructified because of the politically backed local opposition. During the late Budhhadeb Bhattacharjee-led Left Front government, the proposed nuclear power project could not be fructified because of the local resistance, which was orchestrated by Trinamool Congress, as the then principal opposition party in the state. Again in 2024, during the Trinamool Congress government, an ongoing DRDO project at Junput had to be stopped midway because of the combined opposition from Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress -- the Trinamool Congress' trade union wing, and an association of the local fishermen. Meanwhile, speaking at the inauguration of the clothing store, CM Adhikari also said that although the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government is keen about attracting big ticket investments for improving the state's economy as well as to ensure higher employment generation, the backgrounds of the interested investors will be checked first before they are allowed to make investments in the state. We will undergo a background credibility check of the interest investors, specially whether they had in prior involvement in money laundering activities and whether there are pending cases registered by the central investigating agencies against them. The bank guarantee factor will also be checked, the Chief Minister added.
Dhruv Singh, Subha Mita Karmakar Lead West Bengal Charge
West Bengal's Dhruv Singh, Anish Halder, Subha Mita Karmakar, and other young talents have advanced in the All India Sub-Junior (Under-13) Ranking Badminton Tournament held in Kolkata, showcasing strong performances against competitors from across 28 states and five union territories. The tournament features a significant prize purse, encouraging young badminton players.
