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Supreme Court to resume hearing on SIR: LIVE
Election Commission of India, in separate affidavits in the Supreme Court, submitted that 95.65% of electors in Tamil Nadu and 99.77% in West Bengal have already been supplied with pre-filled enumeration forms
The West Bengal School Service Commission has extended the application deadline for 8,477 Group C and D non-teaching posts to December 8, 2025. This move aims to accommodate applicants facing portal issues. Key dates, eligibility, and application steps are detailed, with exams tentatively scheduled for January 2026. Interested candidates should apply online promptly.
When an Earthquake Stopped Play: Cricket's Rare Tremor Interruptions
Few days back, the play on the third day of Ireland's second Test in Dacca, Bangladesh, was suddenly stopped, during the second ball of the 56th over of Ireland's first innings. Reason: A 5.7 magnitude earthquake in Dhaka around 10.38am local time. The impact of the earthquake was felt in Kolkata, several parts of West Bengal, and Assams Guwahati also, where the second India- South Africa Test was scheduled to play after a few days. The moment the earthquake struck the visitors were at 165 for 5 when play was suddenly interrupted, leaving players and officials visibly startled. Play was stopped but players stayed on the field at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. All others related to the teams also came on the ground while spectators ran for the safety cover. Play resumed after approximately four minutes. For many it was a new experience but not for the Ireland head coach Heinrich Malan who said, I've been involved in a couple of earthquakes from my time living in New Zealand. The match was going on. I was in the press box. It was a terrifying situation. The press box collapsed - it was a terrible situation, Ariful Islam Roney, a Bangladesh sports journalist present in the press box, revealed. This is probably the first-time play stopped in a Test match due to an earthquake but not the first-time earthquake that has found mention in cricket. In 2016 the earthquake hit North India and Gujarat Lions IPL side was in a hotel at Mohali for their match against Kings XI Punjab. The players were evacuated from their hotel. The tremors were felt around 3:58 pm, measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale. The overseas players Dale Steyn, Aaron Finch and Andrew Tye shared their experience on social media. Tye spoke to Cricket Australia and revealed, I was sitting on the end of my bed fixing a cricket bat and it felt like the bed started to move. I was like what happened there and I looked around the room and certain things were shaking, so I thought it must be an earthquake. Christchurchs Hagley Oval is a permanent reminder of the earthquake that devastated Christchurch in 2011. The earthquake, which registered 6.3 on the Richter scale, resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people. Incidentally, the third day of the Test between New Zealand and Australia in 2016 (the second Test match played at this stadium), fell on the fifth anniversary of the earthquake and a minute's silence was observed during the lunch break at 12.51pm, the same time the earthquake struck. Another surprise is both the sides of the 2016 Test, also felt tremors on reaching Christchurch twice, before the start of the Test. The Hagley Oval became the city's major cricket venue only due to the damage to Lancaster Park, by earthquake. In 2022, an Under-19 World Cup clash between Zimbabwe and Ireland was briefly halted, due to a 5.2 magnitude earthquake at the Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain. The commentator Andrew Leonard shouted on the air, We are... I believe we are having an earthquake right now. In the box. We are indeed having an earthquake. It felt like not just a train going by behind us, but the whole Queen's Park Oval media centre rocked. Ireland spinner Matthew Humphreys was bowling the fifth bowl of the sixth over to Brian Bennett when the front-on camera showing the action began to shake furiously. Play was not interrupted, although the broadcaster's camera wobbled and the tremors were felt. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The best India earthquake story occurred during the first unofficial Test between Lord Tennyson's XI and India at Lahore in November 1937. On the second day of the four-day match, at the Bagh-e-Jinnah (Lawrence Gardens) ground, a tremor that lasted for approximately 90 seconds was felt. Its on record that a clock in the pavilion fell to the ground with a crash. Play was stopped for two minutes and after that match resumed. Lord Tennyson, standing in the slips, thought he had a sunstroke when the buildings around the ground started shaking.
2,208 booths in Bengal under scanner after no dead, duplicate voter found
Election Commission sources revealed 2,208 booths in West Bengal are under scrutiny. All enumeration forms were returned filled, showing no dead, duplicate, or untraceable voters. South 24 Parganas district has the highest number of such booths. The Election Commission has requested reports from officials. The revision process has been extended in several states and union territories.
SIR in Bengal: No single deceased or duplicate voter in 2,208 booths, says ECI
Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI), till Monday evening, has identified 2,208 polling booths in West Bengal which do not have a single deceased voter or duplicate voter having names in two places or any voter who has shifted elsewhere. An insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, said 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 .
Ananyaa to represent J&K in 51st National Women Chess Cship
Excelsior Sports Correspondent BHADERWAH, Dec 1: In a proud moment for Jammu & Kashmir, Ananyaa Kotwal, daughter of Prof. Arjun Kotwal from Bhalra Bhaderwah, has been selected to represent the Union Territory in the 51st National Women Chess Championship 2025. The prestigious championship is scheduled from December 3 to 13, 2025, at the Sidhu Kanu Indoor Stadium, Durgapur, West Bengal, organized by Sara Bangla Daba Sangstha on behalf of the All India Chess Federation (AICF). During the screening event, Ananyaa [] The post Ananyaa to represent J&K in 51st National Women Chess Cship appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Trinamool has no issue with SIR, only its execution: Abhishek Banerjee
Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee stated his party supports the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal but objects to its implementation. He called for a Lok Sabha debate on the SIR, asserting the Trinamool will win more seats in upcoming assembly polls despite the process.
Bengal CEO seeks report on 2,208 booths where no deaths, absentees or duplicate voters found
The Election Commission of India reported zero uncollectible enumeration forms in 2,208 West Bengal polling booths, prompting a 24-hour report request from district officials. Meanwhile, Trinamool-backed BLOs protested at the CEO's office, alleging irregularities and demanding a probe into IPAC's role in form digitisation, with claims of fake entries and illegal voters.
No dead or untraceable voters found in 2,208 polling booths in West Bengal, ECI expresses concern
KOLKATA: In a startling revelation, the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls could not find any dead, duplicate or untraceable voters in 2,208 polling booths across West Bengal. The Election Commission of India (ECI) came to know about the matter after verifying the enumeration forms that have already been digitised. In the SIR exercise, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) distribute enumeration forms among voters during their door-to-door visits and collect them once they are filled. All enumeration forms from 2,208 booths were filled up and returned, suggesting that there were no dead, duplicate or untraceable voters in these booths. Expressing serious concern over the irregularities, the ECI on Monday sought reports from district magistrates (DMs), who also function as district electoral officers (DEOs), by Tuesday. The national poll panel has decided to keep special watch in these booths in districts of South 24 Parganas, Purulia, Murshidabad, Malda, Nadia, Bankura, Howrah, East Midnapore, Birbhum, North 24 Parganas, Jalpaiguri, Hooghly, South Dinajpur, West Midnapore, North Dinajpur, East Bardhaman, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kolkata North, and West Bardhaman. The Commission sources said, South 24 Parganas district has the highest number, with 760 such booths without any dead, duplicate or untraceable voters. Purulia records the second-highest number at 228 such booths followed by Murshidabad with 226. Nearly 14 lakh SIR forms identified as 'uncollectable' so far in West Bengal The sources said that the Commission has asked DEOs to clarify whether the names of deceased voters still appear on the electoral rolls, as it is difficult to believe that not a single dead voter was reported from any of the 2,208 booths. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday asked officers, including bureaucrats and sub-divisional officers (SDO), not to panic. Dont get panicked with the exercise because I am with you. They (Commission) has appointed a retired IAS office who is disturbing you, she reportedly told senior officials during a virtual conference in connection with development works in the state. The ECI has appointed Subrata Gupta , a retired bureaucrat, as the special roll observer in Bengal to supervise the SIR process in the state. Besides Gupta, the commission has also appointed 12 other serving IAS officers of the Bengal cadre as roll observers in districts across the state. West Bengal SIR: Over 21 lakh dead voters recorded till December 1
SIR 2.0: Election Commission dismisses allegations of mass disenfranchisement
The poll body tells Supreme Court that 95.65% of electors in Tamil Nadu and 99.77% in West Bengal have already been supplied with pre-filled enumeration forms
EC in SC defends SIR in Bengal, Tamil Nadu; terms disenfranchisement claims exaggerated
NEW DELHI, Dec 1: The Election Commission has strongly defended in the Supreme Court its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, saying that allegations of mass deletion of genuine voters are highly exaggerated, speculative and politically motivated. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi on November 11 had sought separate responses from the poll panel on the pleas filed by the DMK, CPI(M), the West Bengal unit of [] The post EC in SC defends SIR in Bengal, Tamil Nadu; terms disenfranchisement claims exaggerated appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Government not averse to taking up discussion on SIR, electoral reforms: Kiren Rijiju
NEW DELHI: Union parliamentary affairs minister, Kiren Rijiju, on Monday stated in Rajya Sabha that the Government is not averse to holding a detailed discussion on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Clarifying the Governments stand on the Oppositions insistence, he said that their request for a debate on the issue is already under active consideration. However, Rijiju urged the Opposition members not to press for a strict timeline for conducting the discussion. Nobody is undermining any matter which was brought out by the Opposition party yesterday in the all-party meeting or Business Advisory Committee (BAC) today. What I am saying is, it is under the consideration of the governmentif you put a condition that it has to be taken up today itself, then it becomes difficult, because you have to give certain space, Rijiju said. The minister also said that certain parties raised matters other than the SIR and stressed the need to protect their rights as well. However, I am saying again, the matter is related to whatever you call it, special intensive revision or electoral reforms or whatever. I have stated before the beginning of the winter session that the Government is not averse to taking up discussion on anything, said Rijiju. As the Opposition continued insisting on a timeline referring to his remarks at the BAC that he would respond by Sunday 9 pm, the minister said, Please give us some time while there are other businesses, which are listed, that can be taken up. The demand, which you have put forward, has not been rejected. So, don't presume that the government is not ready to discuss any matter. Please do not put a condition on the timeline, the minister added. On this, Trinamool Congress (TMC) floor leader Derek O'Brien retorted sharply. Problem is not the timeline but the trust deficit, he shouted back. As the Upper House welcomed Radhakrishnan on his first day of conducting the House proceedings, O'Brien called for the start of a discussion on electoral reforms with immediate effect, while the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) MP John Brittas said the Parliamentary Affairs Minister should honour his words and the House should hold a discussion on electoral reforms. Earlier, Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded that the discussion should start immediately. He also asked the ruling party not to divide opposition parties. Don't divide us. If you try to divide us, we will be stronger, he said. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishnan disallowed the notices given by nine Opposition members on several issues, including a discussion on SIR under rule 267, leading to protests by them. The Chairman later asked members to raise their Zero Hour mentions. The Election Commission of India (ECI) had announced SIR in West Bengal, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, and Goa. Among these, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal will go to the polls in 2026. In Assam, where polls are also due in 2026, the revision of electoral rolls was announced separately.
SC asks Centre to consider allowing entry of pregnant woman pushed into Bangladesh
NEW DELHI : The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to consider allowing a pregnant woman and her child, who were pushed into Bangladesh earlier this year, to enter India on humanitarian ground while keeping her under surveillance. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek instruction on allowing the woman, who is in the advanced stage of pregnancy, to enter India through the Indo-Bangladesh border at Malda in West Bengal. Give us two days' time to seek instructions on the issue. We understand the court is asking us to consider the case on humanitarian ground. We will look into it, Mehta said while urging the court for some time. Senior advocate Sajay Hegde, appearing for Bhodu Sheikh, father of the woman, Sonali Khatun, said that they were waiting on the Bangladesh side to enter India. He said that their deportation to Bangladesh has been held illegal and they are Indian citizens. The bench said the Centre may consider allowing the pregnant woman and her child to enter India and keep her under surveillance in a hospital to avoid any further complications. Hegde said that if the Centre allows the pregnant woman, then her husband should also be allowed to enter India as he can't be left behind. The top court posted the matter for hearing on December 3 and asked Mehta to seek instructions on the issue. The bench was hearing a plea of the Centre challenging the September 26 order of the Calcutta High Court by which it had set aside the central government's decision to deport Sonali Khatun and others to Bangladesh and termed it as illegal. On September 26, the high court quashed the Centre's decision to deport Sonali Khatun and Sweety Bibi, residents of Birbhum district in West Bengal, along with their families to Bangladesh after terming them as illegal immigrants. The high court had directed the Centre to ensure that the six deported citizens are brought back to India within a month and rejected the government's appeal to grant temporary stay on the order. The high court had passed two orders in connection with a habeas corpus petition filed by Bhodu Sheikh who claimed that her daughter Sonali Khatun, who was in advance stage of pregnancy, along with her husband Danesh Sheikh and five-year-old son hailing from Murarai in Birbhum, were detained in Delhi and pushed to Bangladesh. Another petition from the same Birbhum neighbourhood by Amir Khan made a similar claim stating that his sister Sweety Bibi and her two children were detained by the Delhi Police from the same area and pushed to the neighbouring country. The petitioners alleged that the families, working as daily wage earners in Sector 26 of the Rohini area in Delhi for over two decades, were picked up by the AN Katju Marg police on June 18 on suspicion of being Bangladeshis and subsequently pushed across the border on June 27. The deportees were then reportedly arrested by the Bangladesh police. The high court had noted that the Centre stated in its affidavit that FRRO (Foreigner Regional Registration Office), Delhi being a civil authority, has been repatriating illegal migrants of Bangladesh as per instruction dated May 2, 2025 issued by the Union home ministry in a memo. Detailing the protocols to be followed for deportation, the memo states that in respect of Bangladesh/Myanmar nationals identified to be staying in an unauthorised manner in any particular state or Union territory, an inquiry will be conducted by the state government or UT concerned, following which the process of deportation would be taken up. In its order, the high court had observed that he proceeding for deportation was conducted in hot haste by the authorities and in violation of the provisions of the memo. The detainees have their relations residing in the State of West Bengal. The kind of overenthusiasm in deporting the detainees, as visible herein, is susceptible to misunderstanding and disturbs the judicial climate in the country, the order had stated.
Bangladeshi couple in West Bengal gets Indian citizenship after 35 years
KOLKATA: A Bangladeshi couple have finally received Indian citizenship after spending 35 years in Nadia district of West Bengal. Laturam Sikdar and his wife Padma Sikdar have been staying at Kamgachhi Joypur under Nadias Taherpur police station area for the past 35 years. Laturam used to stay at Sanatanpur in Bangladesh while Padma was a resident of Panditpur, before coming to India. The couple had managed to get Aadhaar cards a few years after entering India, but could not include their names to voters list in the last Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 2002 in the state. The couple is relieved after becoming citizens of India on Monday. We were in tremendous tension soon after dates of the SIR exercise were announced during the end of October. Sensing trouble we applied for citizenship at a CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) camp on 10 October and got the certificates on 19 November, said Padma. We are very happy because we can cast our votes from now. We were born in Bangladesh but brought up in Nadia district. With launching of the SIR process in the state, we became panicked because our names were not listed in the 2002 SIR of electoral rolls. Following the Government of Indias previous announcement in connection with CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC) guidelines we visited CAA camps and applied for citizenships, Laturam said. Minorities in Bangaladesh are brutally tortured by the Muslim fundamentalists in the country. It was unbearable to us and we left for India, he added. Partha Sarathi Chattyerjee, local BJP MLA from Ranaghat Uttar Paschim assembly constituency, told media, We had been assuring the couple not to get panicked. Finally, they got the citizenship cards and others can also get citizenship if they apply to the concerned authority seeking CAA cards following proper methods. BJP trying to implement CAA through SIR in border areas, alleges West Bengal CM at Bongaon rally
Mass Voter Deletion Allegations In Bengal False: Poll Body To Supreme Court
Allegations of large-scale voter deletion in West Bengal are false and fabricated and an attempt to further vested political interests, the Election Commission has told the Supreme Court in an affidavit.
West Bengal SIR: Over 21 lakh dead voters recorded till December 1
KOLKATA: West Bengal has recorded more than 21 lakh dead voters so far till Monday afternoon, according to sources in the Election Commission of India (ECI). In North 24 Parganas district alone, more than 2.75 lakh dead voters have been identified in the state by the ECI. West Bardhaman and South 24 Parganas hold second and third positions respectively in term of dead voters identified by the Commission during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls so far in the state. West Bardhaman district has 1.57 lakh dead voters while it is 1.39 lakh so far till today, the Commission sources said. Sources requesting anonymity said that the more than 90 per cent digitalisation of enumeration forms have already been completed. The total number of dead voters in the state would be figured out after the complete digitalisation of uncollected enumeration forms is done by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across the state. Uncollected forms include voters who are absent, permanently shifted, dead and duplicate. Many BLOs are yet to upload these forms, delaying the process of identifying dead voters, sources said. Following 'instructions' of local administrations, BLOs in several districts are seen reluctant to upload these forms, sources added. Considering the seriousness of the issue, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal and special observer of electoral rolls Subrata Gupta have already held meetings with the district magistrates (DMs) functioning as district election observers (DEO) to streamline the process. Large number of BLOs are not marking enumeration forms (EFs) as ASDD (absent, shifted, dead and duplicate) voters, despite lapse of considerable period. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has come to know about the irregularities in connection with alleged reluctance of many BLOs, who are not regularly marking EFs as ASDD even after they identify cases like absent, shifted, dead and duplicate voters, during their door-to-door visits for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the state. The Commission has also noted that the EFs identified as ASDD cases are being collected somewhere else without being marked/digitalised in the BLO App. The CEO office area at B B D Bag in the city today virtually turned into a war zone between agitating BLOs backed by the ruling party Trinamool Congress and rival BJP. The agitating BLOs and Trinamool Congress workers were seen shouting slogans like Suvendu Adhikari go back in front of the CEO office building since this afternoon. A BJP delegation led by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly, met Agarwal and submitted charter of demands to him. Suvendu alleged that I-PAC, Trinamool Congress poll strategic agency, along with BDOs has been forcing a section of BLOs to manipulate enumeration forms so that dead, shifted voters, Bangladeshi infiltrators can figure in the electoral rolls. His pre-scheduled visit to the CEO triggered loud protests by members of the agitating BLOs who have been demonstrating there over alleged excessive workload during the ongoing SIR exercise.
SC Entrusts CBI with Pan-India Probe into Digital Arrest Cases
The court asked the States, including opposition ruled West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana, to accord assent to CBI for probing digital arrest cases in their jurisdiction
West Bengal BJP Writes To Election Commission, Alleges Serious Irregularities In SIR Exercise
The BJP alleged serious irregularities in the process of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal and demanded immediate corrective measures.
Significant Changes Made To BLO App After EC Appoints Special Observer For Bengal SIR
The Election Commission of India updates the BLO app in West Bengal, allowing EROs to edit submitted forms amid SIR controversy and TMC allegations.
Supreme Court entrusts CBI with pan-India probe into digital arrest cases
The Bench asked the States, including Opposition ruled West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana, to accord assent to CBI for probing digital arrest cases
West Bengal govt issues fresh tender for development of mega Tajpur deep sea port
The West Bengal Cabinet decided to issue a fresh tender for the development of the mega greenfield deep-sea port, effectively ending its four-year association with the Adani Group for the project
Tensions outside West Bengal CEO's office amid BLOs' protest
Tensions flared outside the CEO's office in West Bengal as the BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee organized a fervent protest. With BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and fellow MLAs arriving for an important discussion, committee members attempted to push past police lines, advocating for better treatment of Booth Level Officers.
Marandi claims Dhanbad coal mafia switching to Apple FaceTime to evade ED surveillance
RANCHI: Making a sensational revelation, State BJP Chief and Leader of the Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly, Babulal Marandi, has claimed that fearing the possibility of normal phone calls being traced, the police and the coal mafia in Dhanbad are now preparing to operate a coal theft syndicate using Apples FaceTime. According to Marandi, this indicates a new strategy in which elements within the police and the coal mafia may be shifting to FaceTime, considered more difficult to intercept due to its advanced security features. FaceTime is regarded as safe and secure because it uses end-to-end encryption, meaning only the sender and receiver can access the audio and video content. Apple states that it does not store the content of FaceTime calls and regularly updates its software to address vulnerabilities. Marandi further stated that following the Enforcement Directorates (ED) crackdown and sustained pressure on the coal mafia, which exposed widespread coal theft, there has been an undeclared partial pause in the illegal coal trade in Dhanbad. This, he said, has instilled fear among the mafia, leading to a slight reduction in the ongoing plunder. However, he claimed his reliable sources have informed him that coal thieves are becoming active again and have changed their communication methods to evade the law. The most shocking information is that a shopkeeper at Bank More in Dhanbad recently ordered about 55 iPhones. The motive is clear: fearing that normal calls can be traced, the police and the mafia are now preparing to run a coal theft syndicate through FaceTime, Marandi told media persons at the State BJP headquarters in Ranchi on Friday. He reiterated that this reflects a new strategy by those involved, including some within the police, to exploit FaceTimes reputation for being harder to intercept. Marandi urged central investigative agencies to closely monitor the iPhones that have recently become active in Dhanbad, as well as their buyers and users, both known and unknown. He asserted that no matter what technology the thieves adopt, he will continue to expose them to stop the plunder of the states natural resources. Police officials, however, expressed ignorance of these claims. I have no idea about it, said Dhanbad Senior Superintendent of Police, Prabhat Kumar. Marandis remarks gain significance in light of the Enforcement Directorates recent raids at 44 locations across Jharkhand and West Bengal on 21 November, during which cash and jewellery worth over 14 crore were recovered, along with a substantial amount of incriminating evidence. According to an official communiqu issued by the ED, the action, carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 , was linked to a sprawling illegal coal mining, theft, transportation, and sale racket allegedly operating across the two states for years. Officials also recovered various property deeds tied to the coal syndicate, agreements related to land transactions, digital devices, and books of accounts belonging to entities allegedly controlled by the accused. The ED reported that raids were conducted at 20 locations across Dhanbad and Dumka in Jharkhand. These locations are linked to individuals including Lal Bahadur Singh, Anil Goyal, Sanjay Khemka, Amar Mondal, and several others associated with their companies and entities operating in Dhanbad.
Mamata Banerjee to scale up anti-SIR campaign with rallies in Malda, Murshidabad, Cooch Behar
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intensifies her campaign against the Election Commission's electoral roll revision. She will hold rallies in Malda and Murshidabad this week, followed by a major event in Cooch Behar next week. The Trinamool Congress positions these rallies as a counter to the BJP's narrative.
Three lanes of Magadi-Mysuru road link likely to open in January
BENGALURU: Work on the six-lane Major Arterial Road (MAR) linking Magadi Road to Mysuru Road has gained momentum, with three lanes likely to be opened to the public in January, according to Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) officials. The underpass connecting Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout, being constructed using box-push technology, has also progressed as steel girder installation moves forward. Officials said the project advanced after railway authorities cleared the installation of steel girders, which required temporarily suspending train movement on the track. With the girder in place under one of the two tracks that run between Bengaluru and Mysuru, trains can now run safely above, while excavation and construction continue below. Once steel girders are installed on both the tracks, the BDA will begin the box-pushing process, pushing precast concrete boxes beneath the railway line to create the underpass for vehicle movement on the MAR. A project official said if girder installation and box-pushing continue at the current pace, the first three lanes will likely be opened to the public in January. However, another official noted that progress also depends largely on timely approvals from the Railways for installing the girders required to push the second box and complete the other three lanes. Officials said that once the underpass is completed, a cloverleaf interchange will be built to make the corridor signal-free. This portion will be taken up by National Highways Authority of India. Once complete, this road is expected to bring down travel time between South and West Bengaluru to 10 minutes from 60 minutes. The project was originally slated for completion by November 2025.
After Delhi blast connection, Nuh linked to MP cybercrimes
BHOPAL: Haryanas Nuh district, which is under glare as an operational base of the white-collar terror module linked to 10/11 Delhi blast case, has also come out as the nucleus of Madhya Pradeshs biggest-ever inter-state cybercrime ring. MP polices cybercrime unit has traced masterminds of the racket to Nuh. The cyber fraud ring involved over 1000 bank accounts of people in Vindhya and Mahakoshal region of MP, being used as mule accounts to park and circulate fraud money. More than 25 people from MP, Haryana and Bihar have been arrested and charge-sheeted. As the investigations progress, its becoming clear that operatives based in Nuh are the masterminds of the racket. They sourced SIM cards and mule accounts mostly from MP and used them for their inter-state racket, said a MP police involved in the probe. The men in Nuh operated an illegal call centre at a flat in Gurugram, which was used to make calls to people for duping them. The SIM cards, sourced by operatives in MP and other states, reached the kingpins through middlemen based in Patna. The mule bank accounts served as the pipeline through which more than Rs 3,000 crore was routed. The funds were actually proceeds of cybercrimes committed in various parts of the country, religious charity money as well as money from unknown sources suspected to have been used possibly for terror funding. Large sum of money was routed through mule accounts to the Middle East, the officer added. The fraudsters also operated shell companies in Hyderabad and parts of Maharashtra. The 25-plus men arrested over the last 11 months have been charge-sheeted. Now we are going to zero in on the racket masterminds in Nuh, he said. Years back it was Jamtara in Jharkhand, but crackdown saw newer hotspots in West Bengal. Over last couple of years Nuh and adjoining Rajasthan districts have emerged as the cybercrime hub, SP (cybercrime cell) Pranay Nagwanshi said.
West Bengal government directs digitisation of waqf properties on UMEED portal
Existing Registered Waqf Properties are to be uploaded by the respective mutawallis within six months from the date of launch of the UMEED portal, the State government has said
BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya urged CEC Gyanesh Kumar to visit Bengal's bordering districts to assess the ground situation and the alleged compromise of BLOs due to Trinamool Congress pressure. Trinamool Congress dismissed these claims as a 'nervous breakdown' by the BJP, stating they failed to replicate their Bihar strategy of voter deletion in West Bengal.
Suvendu Adhikari Snubs Lokayukta Meeting Chaired By Mamata Banerjee: 'Mockery Of Human Rights'
Adhikari wrote a letter to the West Bengal Chief Secretary, conveying that he will not attend the annual Lokayukta committee meeting to be chaired by Mamata Banerjee.
West Bengal BLOs continue protest despite 99% EF digitisation, demand 2-month extension
West Bengal's BLOs, demanding a two-month deadline extension for Enumeration Form digitization and a glitch-free app, have declared their protests will continue despite a seven-day extension from the ECI. Trinamool leaders criticized the ECI's planning and demanded an apology. Meanwhile, a Special Rolls Officer investigated alleged voter surge complaints in South 24 Parganas.
Opposition parties say Election Commission extending schedule shows SIR planned in haste
Opposition parties on Sunday slammed the Election Commissions decision to extend the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by a week, saying the move only confirmed that the exercise had been launched in haste and without adequate preparation. The Congress, Trinamool Congress, CPI(M) and Samajwadi Party accused the poll body of pushing ahead with impractical timelines that were causing distress to voters and placing an excessive burden on Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said the EC had finally realised that the revision could not be completed within the earlier deadline. He urged the poll panel to follow the more extensive schedule used during the 2003 revision and warned that bypassing discussions on SIR suggested the government was unwilling to let Parliament function. The Trinamool Congress said the ECs decision validated its stance that the SIR was ill-conceived and rolled out without proper groundwork. Senior TMC leader Joyprakash Majumdar claimed that at least 40 people, including BLOs, had died due to stress linked to the revision drive in West Bengal, calling the entire process hasty and politically driven. In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the SIR had become a major trouble for voters and BLOs, arguing that verifying nearly 16 crore voters in a month was impossible. Accusing the EC of acting at the behest of the BJP, he warned that lakhs could be struck off the rolls, as allegedly seen in Bihar. Yadav reiterated his demand for a three-month extension and claimed several BLOs in the state had died due to extreme stress. Despite the criticism, the EC has maintained that the extension, applicable across nine states and three Union Territories was based on internal assessments with state election officials. Under the revised schedule, enumeration forms will be distributed until December 11, draft rolls published on December 16, and final lists released on February 14, 2026. (With inputs from PTI)
Haryanas Nuh emerges as key operational base in white-collar terror module
BHOPAL:The Nuh district of Haryana has emerged as an alleged hideout, operational base for sourcing materials and recruitment ground for the white collar modules operatives. This comes against the investigations' progress into the white-collar terror module and the 10/11 Delhi blast case. The same southeastern Haryana district has also turned out to be the nucleus of Madhya Pradeshs biggest-ever inter-state cyber crime ring, which was busted by the police in early 2025. As the MP polices cyber crime unit accelerates its probe into the inter-state racket, men operating from Nuh (Haryana) have emerged as the kingpins and masterminds, which is believed to be worth more than Rs 3000 crore. Anatomy of a white collar terror module The cyber fraud ring involved more than 1000 bank accounts of people in the Vindhya and Mahakoshal region of MP, being used as mule accounts to park and circulate fraud money and hundreds of SIM cards sourced from MP were used by cyber fraudsters for committing crimes across the country. More than 25 persons, hailing from MP, Haryana and Bihar, have so far been arrested and charge-sheeted in the court in MP. The men in Nuh (mostly school dropouts) operated an illegal call centre at a flat in Gurugram, which was used to make calls to people for duping them via various kinds of cyber-crimes, including job offers, gaming and cryptocurrency investment frauds, etc. The SIM cards, which were sourced by the rackets kingpins from their operatives in MP and other states, reached through middlemen based in the Bihar capital Patna. Cybercrime police bust ATM card cloning racket, nab onefrom Haryana The bank accounts, which were used as mule accounts (around 70 per cent of them were originally held by low-income people in MPs Vindhya and Mahakoshal regions), served as the pipeline through which more than Rs 3,000 crore was routed to various destinations. The funds which were rotated through these accounts were actually proceeds of cybercrime committed in various parts of the country, religious charity money, as well as money from unknown sources suspected to have been used possibly for terror funding. A large sum of money was actually routed through the mule accounts to the Middle East, a MP police officer added. The men operating from Nuh even operated shell companies/firms in Hyderabad and parts of Maharashtra. These shell firms/companies were particularly used for cyber fraud and the transfer of illicit money. The 25-plus men who have been arrested in the case over the last 11 months have already been charge-sheeted in the court. Now we are going to zero in upon the real kingpins/masterminds of the racket in Nuh, the officer maintained. As per MP police sources, its not the first time that Nuhs name has cropped up in a major cybercrime case. Nuh has gradually emerged as a prime cybercrime hotspot in the country. Years back, it was Jamtara in Jharkhand, but a sustained crackdown witnessed newer hotspots emerge in West Bengal, adjoining parts of Odisha and later some parts of western UP. But over the last couple of years, Nuh in Haryana and adjoining districts of Rajasthan have come out as the prime cyber-crime hub of India, Madhya Pradesh polices SP (state cyber crime cell) Pranay Nagwanshi said. Children are linked to cybercrime in at least three of every 3,000 cases, say experts
ECI's decision to extend SIR schedules by one week is a move to satisfy BJP: TMC
KOLKATA: The Election Commission of Indias decision to extend the schedules of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states, including West Bengal, has prompted ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition CPI-M and Congress to come together to criticise the Commission for its move. Coming down heavily on the Commission, the Bengal leadership of Trinamool Congress, CPI-M and Congress said that it should have considered the situation earlier because the SIR exercise was not at all possible within such a short timeline. But the BJPs Bengal unit has welcomed the national poll panels decision to extend the SIR timeline by one week. The ruling party in the state alleged that the BJP government at the Centre was instrumental in the decision. The Election Commission of India (ECI) extended the SIR schedules so that BJP can get some political advantages ahead of the assembly polls next year. The party has fixed a target number of voters from the electoral rolls during the ongoing exercise in the state. With the extension of schedules, the commission proved again that it works for BJP. But people of Bengal will again vote Trinamool Congress to power, Arup Chakraborty, spokesperson of the ruling party in the state, said. The saffron camp in the state has been claiming that more than one crore dead and bogus, including Bangladeshi infiltrators, will be deleted from the voters list following the SIR process. The Election Commission has no idea about the ground reality in Bengal because its run by bureaucracy. Todays notification issued by the national poll body once again proved that it has neither any planning nor the eligibility to conduct such a drive in the state, said Md Salim, CPI-M secretary, West Bengal. The Commission should have understood the situation in Bengal much earlier because the SIR exercise is not possible in such a short period of only three months in the state, which is vulnerable in terms of demography and population. The poll body is a paper tiger only, said Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress leader and the partys former MP for five times from Behrampore in Murshidabad district. Welcoming the decision the Sukanta Majumder, union minister of state for education and a BJP MP from Balurghat, said, We have nothing to say against the move because its the prerogative of the Commission. It has extended the deadline considering the situation. It can also extend the timeline again after the Mamata Banerjee governments term ends next year. In that case, SIR will go on under the President Rule. With several deaths of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) due to work pressure and stress triggered by the SIR-related rigorous jobs, a section of BLOs backed by Trinamool Congress staged protests in front of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officers chamber, demanding extension of the SIR timeline and compensation to the family members of their deceased colleagues. Today, the ECI has extended the schedule of the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls for 12 States and Union Territories by one week. Under the revised plan, the enumeration drive and polling-station rationalisationearlier expected to wrap up by 4 December will now continue until 11 December. The preparation of the control table and the draft roll will run from 12 to 15 December, with the draft roll to be published on 16 December. The old schedule had placed draft publication around 9th December across states. The period for filing claims and objections has also been aligned with the new dates. Instead of closing on 8th January, as originally planned, the window will now remain open until 15 January.
SIR row: ECI raps Bengal's TMC govt for not paying BLOs increased honorarium; calls it very strange
The Election Commission of India has criticized the West Bengal government for delaying increased honorariums for booth level officers (BLOs) and payments for the special intensive revision of electoral rolls. This comes as the TMC delegation accused the ECI of having lood on their hands over the revision process.
Elephant Killed, Calf Injured In Train Collision In West Bengal
An elephant was killed in the early hours of Sunday after being hit by a train in Dhupguri in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district. This is the first incident of a wild elephant's death in a train collision in the Dhupguri area in recent times.
Election Commission extends SIR deadline in 12 states/UTs by...; check new date here
This revised date follows the EC's rollout of the second phase of the SIR exercise to update the electoral roll or voters list in several states, including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, among others.
West Bengal: 60-70 socket bombs recovered in Murshidabad, CID team at spot
Authorities in Murshidabad, West Bengal, have stumbled upon a cache of danger hidden in plain sightthree plastic containers filled with roughly 60-70 live socket bombs buried in a jackfruit orchard. Responding to a trusted lead, police executed a search operation, with a vigilant security guard overseeing the scene.
Return of Bangladeshis from West Bengal sharpens infiltration narrative months before assembly polls
A steady trickle of illegal immigrants returning to Bangladesh from West Bengal's Hakimpur border has become a political flashpoint. Both BJP and TMC are weaponizing these visuals, with the BJP claiming it proves their infiltration narrative and the TMC alleging an orchestrated exercise to legitimize the SIR.
CPI(M)s Bangla Bachao Yatra begins in West Bengal
CPI(M) State Secretary Mohammad Salim accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of enabling the entry of RSSBJP (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Bharatiya Janata Party) in the state
Tejashwi Yadav named leader of 'Mahagathbandhan' in Bihar assembly
PATNA: Lawmakers of the opposition 'Mahagathbandhan' in Bihar on Saturday unanimously elected Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD as the coalition's leader in the state legislature. The decision was taken at a meeting hosted by Yadav here ahead of the five-day session of the legislature, beginning on Monday, during which all the newly elected members of the 243-strong assembly will be sworn in. Talking to reporters after the meeting, RJD MLA Bhai Virendra said, Tejashwi Yadav has been elected leader of the 'Mahagathbandhan' in the state legislature. Of course, he will also be leader of our party in the assembly. Congress MLC Samir Kumar Singh, who is also a working president of the party's state unit, said he decision on Tejashwi Yadav was unanimous. We have sufficient numbers, and he shall be the leader of the opposition as well. The 'Mahagathbandhan' was decimated in the recent assembly polls, which saw the ruling NDA retaining power by bagging 202 seats. At the meeting, members of both Houses of the legislature voiced concern over the manner in which the elections were held. These were anything but free and fair. SIR, which was first held in Bihar, remains a questionable exercise. No wonder, there is so much of political friction in a state like West Bengal, Singh said. The Congress leader added: We will continue to raise our voice inside the House on all issues concerning the people. We will confront the BJP-led coalition if it tries to backtrack on promises made during the elections. Power of Six! How the NDA succeeded in hitting the MGB out of the park in Bihar polls
Kolkata To Expand Birth, Death Certificate Services As SIR Nears End
Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will expand its facilities for issuing birth and death certificates from next week, as West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll enters its final stage.
West Bengal becomes first State in the country to rename Raj Bhavan as Lok Bhavan
KOLKATA: Implementing a Central Government notification, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Saturday renamed the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata to 'Lok Bhavan'. The governor's office claimed that West Bengal is the first State in the country to change the name of the Raj Bhavan into Lok Bhavan. In a video posted by the office on X, Bose is seen replacing three letters L, O and K with R, A and J before Bhavan. The Union Home Ministry had issued a directive on the renaming of Raj Bhavan on November 25. On 27 March 2023, at the request of the Hon'ble Governor Dr C. V. Ananda Bose, the Hon'ble President Droupadi Murmu handed over the symbolic key of the then Raj Bhavan to the Hon'ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. It was in this historic moment that a new chapter began for Raj Bhavan Jan Raj Bhavan. , . . . , - Lok Bhavan, Kolkata, Social Media (@BengalGovernor) November 29, 2025 In pursuance of the communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs dated 25.11.2025, it is hereby notified that the name of the holdings of 'Raj Bhavan' in Kolkata, Flagstaff House and Darjeeling, has been modified and renamed as 'Lok Bhavan', a notification said. This notification comes into force with immediate effect, it also said. In a post on X, Bose said, The concept of the 'Jana Raj Bhavan' by the then Raj Bhavan, Kolkata, was prompted by the urge to make the establishment alive to the needs of the people, their aspirations, hopes, their problems and challenges. Simultaneously, the move was to shed its aura of 'awe and fear' and be open to people from all walks of life. The Raj Bhavan, now renamed as Lok Bhavan, serves as the governor's official residence and also houses his office. During the last three years, Raj Bhavan has initiated several constructive people-centric programmes. A key element of the Jana Raj Bhavan initiative was its proactive role in the service of people -- to be with them in their need. Whenever there was a situation of exigency -- be it violence, natural calamity, or even complaints of atrocities, in any corner of West Bengal, Jana Raj Bhavan reached out to people in need, he said. In tune with the transformational and inspirational leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has ensured the participation of people across all segments of society in the spectacular march towards Viksit Bharat, the Raj Bhavan and Raj Niwas across the country were uniformly decided to be renamed as Lok Bhavan and Lok Niwas respectively, as per a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 25 November, 2025, Bose added.
KOLKATA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has expressed serious concern over the alleged reluctance of many BLOs in West Bengal to mark cases such as absent, shifted, dead and duplicate in enumeration forms during their door-to-door visits for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal and senior officials held a virtual conference with district magistrates (DMs), who also serve as district electoral officers (DROs), and electoral registration officers (EROs), seeking reports on forms without such markings. Subrata Gupta, retired IAS officer and newly appointed state special observer for electoral rolls revision, held a meeting with 12 other serving IAS officers assigned as observers in districts by the national poll body. Sources said the ECI has received numerous complaints against a section of BLOs. The poll body also noted that forms of voters identified as 'absent', 'shifted', 'dead' or 'duplicate' are being collected elsewhere without being marked or digitalised in the BLO App. DEOs and EROs have been directed to maintain strict vigilance and take appropriate action against the BLOs responsible. In the virtual conference, the CEO focused on data related to the assembly-wise number of forms collected by BLOs without 'absent', 'shifted', 'dead' or 'duplicate' markings and digitalisation. Meanwhile, a section of BLOs, backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress, staged a demonstration in front of the CEO office protesting the deaths of several colleagues, which they attributed to the unbearable workload, stress, and strain caused by ongoing SIR-related duties. They demanded compensation for the families of the deceased BLOs. The agitating BLOs, along with relatives of the deceased, attempted to meet Agarwal, but police prevented them from entering the CEO building at BBD Bagh in the heart of the city, resulting in a scuffle with deployed officers. On 26 November, expressing concern over the safety and security of Agarwal, other officers, and staff at the office, ECI secretary Surjeet Kumar Mishra wrote a strong letter to the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, seeking an action-taken report (ATR) on the BLO protest inside the CEO chamber. A section of BLOs under the banner of BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee, backed by the ruling party, organised a march from Sealdah to the CEO office on Monday to protest against the excessive work pressure caused by the SIR duty. On Monday night, the group gheraoed the CEOs chamber and refused to leave. The following morning, the standoff continued. Additional CEO Dibyendu Das spoke with the 10-member representative team, asking them to wait in his chamber, but they declined, stating they would remain outside the CEOs office.
ECI directs Kolkata Police to relocate West Bengal CEO office following security breach
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a fresh directive to Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma on Friday night, instructing him to ensure the immediate relocation of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) office to a secure ...
KOLKATA: The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal has directed district magistrates (DMs) across the state to upload details of Waqf properties to the Central Governments Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) portal. The state minority affairs and madrasa education department has sent the directive to the DMs at a time when some officials in the department felt that the exercise was a time-bound compliance requirement set by the Centre. The Centre has asked states to upload information on all undisputed Waqf properties by 6 December, prompting the state administration to begin the data-entry process immediately, according to officials. The directive sent to DMs lists four primary issues. They have been asked to convene meetings with imams, muezzins (those who give the call to prayer) and madrasa teachers to explain the uploading procedure, one of the officials said. The DMs have been told that only uncontested properties are to be entered in the portal, he added. All districts have been asked to set up facilitation centres wherever technical support is necessary, the official added. Earlier this year, the Central Government amended several provisions of the Waqf Act, 1995. While some of these amendments remain under consideration before the Supreme Court, a senior state government official pointed out that there is no stay on the implementation of the Centres proposed changes. The state is obliged to follow the directive within the given timeframe, he said. Under the amended rules, mutawallis (caretakers of a waqf) of 8,063 Waqf estates in Bengal must register complete property details on the UMEED portal by 6 December, he elaborated. The Bengal governments order to upload details of the states waqf properties onto the UMEED portal has triggered a political controversy, as the state had earlier said it would not implement the amended Waqf Act that came into force in April. Senior BJP leaders in the state held the chief minister responsible for the April communal violence in Samserganj, Murshidabad, which arose from a protest against the amendment. Will Mamata Banerjee apologise to Hindus in Mothabari (Malda) where 68 shops belonging to them were vandalised? Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said on Friday. Haragobinda Das and Chandan Das (father and son slain in Samserganj) were killed because Mamata Banerjee instigated people against the Waqf Amendment Act. Can you compensate those families? he alleged. Bengal is home to around 82,000 waqf properties under nearly 8,000 waqf estates. Suvendu used the issue to appeal to Muslim voters. I want to tell the Muslim community that if you are really against the (amended) Waqf Act, boycott Mamata Banerjee. If you dont, it will be proved that your movement was never against the Waqf Amendment Act, it was against those poor Hindus. The BJP wants to sell off waqf properties to its crony private players like Adani and Ambani. Our stance against the (amended) Waqf Act has not changed, a senior ruling party leader said.
ECI writes to West Bengal DGP directing police to ensure BLO safety
In the letter, the ECI directed the police to ensure that there is no perceptible atmosphere of fear, threat, and undue influence on these field functionaries (BLOs) and that no untoward incident occurs at any place
5 Visits In 30 Days: Why BJPs Bhupendra Yadav Is Quietly Camping In Bengal
The BJPs backroom strategist has visited poll-bound West Bengal at least five times in the last one month to firm up poll strategy
Appointment Of West Bengals Top Police OfficerFaces Legal Battle | Exclusive
Dr Rajesh Kumar, a 1990-batch IPS officer, has challenged UPSCs decision to exclude him and two other senior-most officers from the panel for appointment as DGP
EC Asks Bengal DGP to Ensure Safety of Poll Officials During SIR Exercise
This is EC's second letter to the state government in three days, expressing concern over the security of poll officials in West Bengal
EC appoints retired bureaucrat Subrata Gupta as 'Special Roll Observer' for SIR in West Bengal
KOLKATA: The Election Commission appointed retired IAS officer Subrata Gupta as the 'Special Roll Observer' for the SIR exercise in West Bengal, an official said. The EC also appointed 12 IAS officers as 'Electoral Roll Observers' to oversee the key aspects of preparation of the electoral rolls following the SIR and help the district election officers (DEOs) and electoral registration officers (EROs) in taking corrective measures, he said. Gupta, a 1990-batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, will be overseeing that the process of special intensive revision or SIR was carried out as per the directions of the EC, and ensure that no eligible person is left out of the electoral rolls and no ineligible elector is included in it, the official said on Friday. Meanwhile, Smita Pandey was appointed the Electoral Roll Observer for Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Bardhaman and Birbhum districts, Tanmay Chakraborty for Murshidabad and Malda, Randhir Kumar for North 24 Parganas and Kolkata Uttar, C Murugan for South 24 Parganas and Kolkata Dakshin, R Arjun for Coochbehar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts, he said. Rajeev Kumar was named the Electoral Roll Observer for Howrah, Neelam Meena for Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram districts, Ashwini Kumar Yadav for Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur, Niranjan Kumar for Darjeeling and Kalimpong, Devi Prasad Karanam for Purulia and Bankura, Rachna Bhagat for Nadia and Vishwanath for Hooghly district, he added.
West Bengal: CEC under fire as TMC alleges blood on his hands over SIR deaths
The 10-member delegation, led by TMC Rajya Sabha leader Derek OBrien, met the EC officials amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Speaking to reporters, OBrien said the party raised five questions, but CEC Gyanesh Kumar did not give any answers
Around 15 lakh dead voters identified in Bengalso far
Meanwhile, 12 electoral roll observers and one special electoral roll observer have been appointed for the scrutiny of the SIR process in West Bengal
TMC delegation meets EC, alleges 40 death-related to SIR till now in WB
A Trinamool Congress delegation accused the Election Commission of lood on their hands over 40 deaths, including BLOs, during West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The party alleged an unplanned and heartless execution, questioning the EC's focus on Bengal as a border state and its alleged bias against the state.
ECI shifts West Bengal CEO office; AITC team meets CEC
The commission directed the Kolkata police commissioner to ensure security to the existing and the new offices, ECI sources said.
ECI rejects AITCs allegations on SIR as baseless, urges party to avoid misinformation
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday said that during its meeting with an All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) delegation, the full panel gave a point-wise rebuttal to all apprehensions and termed each baseless allegation made by the party as unfounded. A senior ECI official, while speaking to TNIE , said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, also requested the AITC delegation to give claims and objections after December 9, when the draft list is shared with them. Till then, they should not interfere with the independent functioning of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and District Election Officers (DEOs), who are State government employees on deputation to election-related work, the official said. The Commission also told the AITC delegation not to influence or fallethreaten BLOs regarding dead, shifted and duplicate voters, he said. The delegation was informed that only Indian citizens are entitled to vote as per Article 326 of the Constitution of India and that foreigners cannot be allowed to vote. According to the official, the Commission clearly asserted during the meeting that the preparation of electoral rolls, as well as the conduct of elections in India, are carried out strictly as per the Constitution and electoral law, and that the AITC should abide by the same. As the AITC is the ruling party in West Bengal, the official said the delegation was told that it was very strange that the enhanced honorarium approved by ECI has not yet been disbursed by the State government and this should be done without any further delay. While noting that political rhetoric was the partys prerogative, the ECI urged the delegation that its leaders should refrain from spreading misinformation relating to election procedures, the official said. Meanwhile, the ECI has written to the West Bengal Director General of Police and the Kolkata Police Commissioner to ensure that BLOs are not pressurised or threatened by political party workers. The official added that even though the AITC opposed the move, the ECI has directed all DEOs to ensure new polling stations in slums, high-rise buildings and gated residential colonies as is being done across India based on the instructions. Based on recent incidents relating to the breach of security at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, the ECI has issued directions to shift the office to a security-appropriate location and directed the Kolkata Police Commissioner to ensure complete security of the existing as well as the new office of the CEO, the official said.
ECI asks West Bengal DEOs to complete polling station rationalisation by Dec 2025
The Election Commission of India is directing officials in West Bengal to finalize polling station changes by December 2025. The focus is on urban areas, including group housing societies and slum clusters. This exercise aims to ensure adequate facilities for voters. A former IAS officer has been appointed as a Special Rolls Observer to oversee the voter list revision process.
Trinamool MLAs Babri Masjid construction claim triggers political row in West Bengal
BJP alleges attempt to turn West Bengal into West Bangladesh as Murshidabad remarks spark controversy ahead of elections
Trinamool Leader Shot Dead In West Bengal, Aide Critically Injured
A Trinamool gram panchayat member was shot dead and his associate critically injured after unidentified assailants opened fire at them in West Bengal's Howrah late on Thursday night, police said
Not In Touch With Him: Trinamool Congress On MLA's 'Babri Masjid' Plan
A major controversy erupted in poll-bound West Bengal after TMC MLA Humayun Kabir announced he would lay the foundation stone of a mosque modelled on Babri Masjid in Murshidabad district on December 6.
2 Dead As Trinamool Groups Clash At Kangaroo Court Meet In Bengal's Malda
Sticks and swords flew in West Bengal's Malda as two Trinamool Congress factions clashed at a kangaroo court meeting on Thursday, leading to the death of one party worker.
Gardener Gets RI for Life for Violating Minor Girl in Secunderabad
The court held the accused Gowtham Rajbangshi, a resident of Karkhana and native of Murshidabad district in West Bengal, guilty in the case registered in 2024 under Section 65(2) of BNS, and Section 5(n) read with 6 of POCSO Act and sentenced him to imprisonment for the remaining of his natural life
What is West Bengals student credit card scheme that crossed a milestone of one lakh cards?
The student credit card scheme is aimed at supporting higher education, allows students to avail themselves of loans up to 10 lakh at a nominal interest rate, and the entire interest subsidy is borne by the state government
TMC claims 40 SIR-related deaths in West Bengal; says CEC has blood on his hands
The delegation consisted of Lok Sabha MPs Mahua Moitra, Satabdi Roy, Kalyan Banerjee, Pratima Mondal, Sajda Ahmed, and Rajya Sabha MPs Dola Sen, Mamata Thakur, Saket Gokhale, and Prakash Chik Barik
Fourth death of BLO reported in Bengal during SIR, incident triggers political row
KOLKATA: A booth-level officer (BLO) engaged in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls died of cardiac arrest in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, with his family alleging that mounting work pressure pushed him to the brink. This is the fourth such death reported in the state since the exercise began on November 4, sparking a political blame game. Officials identified the deceased as Zakir Hossain, a teacher at a state-run primary school who had been deployed as a BLO. He collapsed on Thursday afternoon after complaining of severe chest pain and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died later that night, family members said. Relatives claimed Hossain had been under remendous pressure juggling SIR duties and regular teaching work. The strain increased, they alleged, because the primary school authorities refused to relieve him despite repeated requests, forcing him to manage both responsibilities simultaneously. With Hossain's death, the number of BLO fatalities linked to alleged SIR-related stress has climbed to four. Hasty SIR implementation reminiscent of demonetisation and Covid lockdown, says Congress on BLO deaths Earlier, a BLO in Purba Bardhaman district died of a heart attack, while two others -- one in Nadia's Chapra and another in Jalpaiguri's Malbazar -- allegedly took their own lives, reportedly unable to cope with the workload. The deaths have fuelled sharp political exchanges. Trinamool Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have accused the Election Commission (EC) of burdening BLOs with an inhumane and unplanned workload. Addressing a rally in Bongaon earlier this week, Banerjee claimed that at least 10 BLOs deployed for SIR had been hospitalised and three had already died. In Murshidabad, one more BLO has died due to the pressure put by the EC in connection with SIR. The total number of deaths is four, and nearly 14 others are undergoing medical treatment, a senior TMC leader said on Friday. The BJP, however, rejected the allegation, contending that the stress felt by BLOs stemmed not from the Election Commission's directives but from political and administrative pressure exerted by the ruling party in the state. Tension flares as BJP workers reach BLO workers protest site outside Bengal CEO's office
Demolition of Bidhan Bhavan: Meghalaya High Court orders status quo
Bidhan Bhavan was constructed before 1923 by Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, who later became West Bengal CM, and it served as a summer retreat for his family
The Staff Selection Commission has announced 7,948 vacancies for MTS and Havaldar posts in 2025. With 6,810 MTS positions and 1,138 for Havaldars, Delhi, Maharashtra, and West Bengal show the highest openings. Candidates should prepare for the Computer-Based Test and, for Havaldars, physical tests. Exam dates are expected soon.
Rs 1.02 Crore Gold Hidden In Bicycle Tyre Seized At India-Bangladesh Border
The Border Security Force (BSF) has seized gold worth nearly Rs 1.02 crore along the India-Bangladesh border in the Malda district of West Bengal, officials said on Thursday.
Pushing the panic button in West Bengal
With the start of SIR in West Bengal, all the major political parties in the State have taken a stand on the revision of electoral rolls. Except the BJP, all parties, including the ruling Trinamool Congress, are opposing the exercise, though they are participating in the process. Among the electorate, confusion and apprehension prevail, The Hindu reports
West Bengal BLOs claim facing technical glitches
Block-level officers in West Bengal are experiencing significant technical issues with the BLO app. This is hindering the crucial digitisation of enumeration forms. The Election Commission of India is addressing server problems. BLOs report work pressure and app malfunctions, leading to delays. Digitisation continues until December 4, with draft rolls to be published on December 9.
Indian Woman Found In Bangladesh 20 Years After Going Missing At Bengal Fair
A woman from Madhya Pradesh, presumed missing at the Gangasagar Mela in West Bengal nearly 20 years ago, has been traced to Bangladesh. Efforts are now underway to bring her back to India and reunite her with her family.
West Bengal Govt Transfers 10 SPs Ahead Of Assembly Polls, More Police Reshuffles Expected
The districts affected by the transfers include Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Raiganj, Jhargram, Baruipur, Bankura, East Medinipur, West Medinipur, and Purulia
Trinamool Worker Hacked To Death During Kangaroo Court Meeting
A TMC worker was hacked to death and five others were injured after a meeting of a 'salishi sabha', a kangaroo court, turned violent in West Bengal's Malda district on Thursday.
West Bengal School Service Commission releases full details of 1,806 tainted teacher recruits
Calcutta High Court also directs SSC to publish in the public domain answersheets of candidates who took the recently held selection test
WB school jobs scam: SSC updates list of tainted teachers but their school names remain a mystery
The West Bengal School Service Commission has republished a comprehensive list of 1,806 tainted candidates today from the 2016 SLST, after the Calcutta High Courts order. But while names, parents names, roll numbers and subjects are out, the schools they taught in remain hidden. The op-ed tracks nine years of rot in Bengals teacher recruitment scam, from SLST to Supreme Court.
Exercise to identify illegal foreign nationals to be launched in UP
LUCKNOW: Tightening the noose around the illegal immigrants living in the state, the Uttar Pradesh authorities are set to launch a major exercise to identify them. The campaign will commence from western UP, the Rohilkhand region of Terai, comprising Bareilly, Badaun, Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur districts falling under Bareilly division. As per the senior officials, the divisional commissioner Bhupendra S Chaudhary has issued directives to all the DMs concerned of Bareilly Division, to set up temporary detention facilities where identified illegal immigrants would be housed until the verification is complete, and, if necessary, they are deported to their native countries as per procedure. The move has come after UP CM Yogi Adityanath had recently directed the respective district administrations to identify, detain and deport illegal immigrants residing across Uttar Pradesh. As per Chaudhary, several Bangladesh nationals are suspected to be engaged in factories, brick kilns and other establishments in the Rohilkhand region. Posing as residents of Assam or West Bengal, they are even in possession of Indian identity documents. However, their language and mannerisms had raised suspicion, said the officer. The sources claimed that Bareilly district officials and police had begun ground-level checks to identify illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, the divisional commissioner said that the administration would call linguistic experts from Tripura if needed to aid the identification process. Local Bengali-speaking residents will also assist in the verification process, he added. According to Bareilly Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anurag Arya, any person found with fake Aadhaar, voter ID, or other forged documents would face criminal proceedings. Cross-checking of suspicious individuals, identified during a special verification drive earlier this year, would also be undertaken. It may be recalled that Bareilly police had set up special police station-wise teams for the campaign under the supervision of Additional Superintendents of Police and Circle Officers. The team of officials, who were part of the drive, had identified several suspected individuals living in slums and nomadic settlements during a two-month-long operation in June this year. At the end of the drive, over a dozen Bangladesh nationals were confirmed to be residing in the district, illegally. In August this year, three Bangladesh-origin sisters were arrested from the Premnagar area for allegedly residing with forged documents for years. All three sisters were booked on charges of cheating, impersonation, forgery, and provisions of the Foreigners Act, Passport Act, and Aadhaar Act. In another instance, a Bangladeshi national living under a fake identity was arrested.
7.64 crore enumeration forms distributed in Bengal during SIR exercise so far: EC official
KOLKATA: An estimated 7.64 crore enumeration forms have been distributed among voters till November 27, the 24th day of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, an Election Commission official said on Thursday. The exercise, for updating electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 assembly polls in the state, began on November []
'Why is ECI hiding details?': TMC slams poll body over use of 'mysterious' AI app for SIR in Bengal
NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale on Thursday questioned the mysterious AI application that the Election Commission has said it will use for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal. In a post on X, the TMC MP said no details about the app and its functionality are available. The ECI's mysterious 'AI app'... Now, the Election Commission says they will use an 'AI app' during the SIR exercise in Bengal. As is typical, there are zero details of who made this app and its functionality, Gokhale said. According to officials of the Election Commission, the poll panel is set to introduce AI-based verification systems during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in West Bengal to prevent the inclusion of fake or deceased voters. By analysing facial similarities across photographs in the voter database, the AI system will help identify individuals registered at multiple locations. Gokhale sought to inquire about the details of the vendor and the developer of the app and whether the app was audited for artificial intelligence (AI) bias. Why is AI required for searching duplicate entries when existing PDF software can do it easily? he questioned. In 2019, I had exposed how the ECI had hired an agency associated with the BJP IT cell in Maharashtra, he said. Gokhale mentioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's letter to the ECI raising concerns over the hiring of 1,000 data-entry operators and 50 software developers from outside. Why is the ECI hiding details of this 'AI app'? What is the guarantee that this mystery app has not been developed by someone with BJP links?' he said. Gokhale alleged that there is zero transparency in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise which he said is being rushed in a very suspicious manner. Why is the ECI not coming clean? he said.
WBSSC releases fresh list of 1,806 tainted teachers after Calcutta HC directive
KOLKATA: After being pulled up by the Calcutta High Court (HC), the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) on Thursday released a fresh comprehensive list of 1,806 tainted teachers who had been recruited earlier through the State Level Selection Test (SLST) conducted in 2016. The WBSSC, which recruits assistant teachers for these schools through SLST, uploaded the list containing the names of the tainted candidates and their parents, the subjects they taught, their SLST roll numbers, and dates of birth, as directed by the High Court. However, the updated list did not specify the schools where these tainted teachers had worked for nearly a decade. The court had instructed the Commission to republish the names of the undeserving teachers along with detailed identification information. When asked if these candidates were among those who appeared for the fresh recruitment test held on 7 and 14 September 2025, some WBSSC officials denied the possibility. We had earlier uploaded the same list of tainted teachers. But this time, as directed by the High Court, we have included the additional details to ensure full transparency, one of the officials said, requesting anonymity. The development comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Courts earlier order invalidating the appointments of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff selected through the 2016 SLST, ruling that the entire recruitment exercise was tainted and vitiated beyond redemption. Giving a clean chit to the WBSSC, state education minister Bratya Basu told reporters, The School Service Commission has done the job with transparency and impartiality. Our target is to complete the fresh recruitment process by 31 December, the deadline set by the apex court. Coming down heavily on the opposition BJP, CPI(M) and Congress, the minister said it was the oppositions duty to stop the recruitment initiatives taken by the Mamata Banerjee government, but our duty is to recruit teachers. On 17 April, the Supreme Court allowed the sacked but untainted teachers to continue in their posts till 31 December, by which time the fresh recruitment must be completed, offering relief to both the teachers and the Bengal government. Earlier, on 3 April, the apex court had cancelled en masse the appointments of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching school staff recruited through the 2016 SLST, saying the entire process had been vitiated. The teachers, all appointed as assistant teachers for Classes IX to XII, were among those affected.
62.50% of groundwater samples from Punjab have uranium levels above safety threshold limit: Report
CHANDIGARH: A staggering 62.50 per cent of groundwater samples from Punjab have uranium levels above the safety threshold limit, the highest contamination intensity ever recorded in the country, followed by Haryana, Delhi, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. This fact was revealed in the latest Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2025 by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Meanwhile, across the country, nitrate contamination was the most widespread, followed by fluoride and salinity. As per the report, the highest intensity of uranium contamination was recorded in the state, as 53.04 per cent of samples exceeded the permissible limit before the monsoon and 62.50 per cent afterwards. It highlighted that uranium concentrations exceeding the safe limit of 30 ppb were detected sporadically in Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Rajasthan. A total of 3,754 groundwater samples were tested across India during Pre- and Post-Monsoon 2024 to check uranium concentration. Samples with uranium levels above the safe limit of 30 ppb were found in 6.71 per cent during the Pre-Monsoon and 7.91 per cent during the post-monsoon, showing a slight increase after rainfall. The highest uranium contamination was observed in Punjab, where over half of the samples (53.04 per cent pre-monsoon and 62.50 per cent post-monsoon) exceeded the limit, it read. Meanwhile, Haryana also reported significant levels, with 15 per cent of pre-monsoon and 23.75 per cent of post-monsoon samples above the limit, followed by Delhi, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. High levels were also found in Haryana (1523.75 per cent), Delhi (1315.66 per cent), Karnataka (68 per cent), and Uttar Pradesh (56 per cent). Moderate contamination occurred in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while most other states showed uranium levels within safe limits, it stated. The report further stated, Spatially, northwestern India (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) emerged as the main hotspot of uranium contamination, likely due to geogenic factors, groundwater depletion, and aquifer characteristics. In contrast, eastern and southern India recorded minimal contamination. Overall, the study shows that while most groundwater in India is safe, certain regions face rising uranium levels, emphasising the need for regular monitoring and local mitigation measures to protect drinking water quality and health. Meanwhile, fluoride levels exceeding 1.5 mg/L were detected in 11.24 per cent of samples in Punjab, while the national exceedance was at 8.05 per cent. Interestingly, Rajasthan topped this category with 41.06 per cent, followed by Haryana with 21.82 per cent. High fluoride occurrences are prominently observed in the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and parts of Odhisa. Excessive fluoride in groundwater used for drinking poses a significant health concern, as prolonged consumption can lead to waterborne fluorosis, manifesting in dental and skeletal disorders, it stated. It adds that nitrate in drinking water is a serious health concern. It mainly comes from excessive use of fertilisers, animal waste, and sewage seeping into groundwater. In India, nearly 20.71 per cent of groundwater samples have been reported to exceed the permissible limit of 45 mg/L, as prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (IS 10500) for drinking water quality, report states. In the pre-monsoon, Nitrate ranges from BDL to 2070 mg/L with a mean value of 32 mg/L. High nitrate concentrations are prominently observed in northwestern and central India, particularly in the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, extending further into parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. These areas correspond largely to alluvial and hard-rock aquifers, where intensive agricultural practices, excessive fertiliser application, and improper disposal of domestic and animal wastes contribute to nitrate enrichment. Elevated nitrate remained one of the most widespread contaminants. The highest levels in Rajasthan 50.54 per cent followed by Karnataka 45.47 per cent, and Tamil Nadu 36.27 per cent, Punjab 14.6 per cent and Haryana 14.18 per cent as the national exceedance was 20.71 per cent. Elevated nitrate levels in the Indo-Gangetic plains (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal) indicate impacts of shallow groundwater vulnerability due to unlined sanitation systems and leaching from agriculture fields. During the pre-monsoon period, about 73.53 per cent of samples were within the permissible limit, while 26.47 per cent exceeded it. In the post-monsoon period, compliance remained nearly similar, with 72.95 per cent of samples meeting the standard and 27.05 per cent exceeding it. Meanwhile, the Arsenic contamination in groundwater has been reported in several Indian states, including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. But it continued to pose a serious health hazard in the Indo-Gangetic alluvial belt, with major contributions from West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Assam. Punjab reported 9.1 per cent pre-monsoon and 9.5 per cent post-monsoon exceedance, placing it among the significant contributors despite wide variations between districts. Due to high Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) irrigation water could lead to alkalinity buildup, soil degradation, and declining crop yields if left unmanaged. As this index determines whether irrigation water can damage soil structure and long-term land productivity, as 11.27 per cent of groundwater samples nationally exceeded the permissible limit of 2.5 meq/L, indicating sodicity hazards in several areas. The highest in Delhi at 51.11 per cent followed by Uttarakhand 41.94 per cent, Andhra Pradesh 26.87 per cent, Punjab 24.60 per cent and Rajasthan 24.42 per cent. The other parameter was Electrical Conductivity, which is a marker of water salinity, and topped the list with 47.12 per cent, followed by Delhi 33.33 per cent, Haryana 0.59 per cent and Gujarat 18.28 per cent recorded the highest percentages of samples above the BIS permissible limit of 3000 S/cm. Meanwhile, Punjab recorded 7.01 per cent of samples above the limit. Due to excessive saline water, agricultural productivity is affected. The report concluded that the Central Groundwater Board has undertaken an extensive assessment of groundwater quality across India during the Pre-Monsoon and Post-Monsoon periods of 2024, covering approximately 5368 monitoring wells. About 71.67 per cent of samples complied with BIS standards, while 28.32 per cent exceeded permissible limits for one or more parameters.
Nepal Rastra Bank issues Rs 100 bank notes with map of Nepal comprising disputed areas with India
KATHMANDU: Nepal's central bank on Thursday issued new Rs 100 denomination bank notes that have a revised map of the country, including the controversial Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura territories, termed as artificial enlargement by India. The new note from the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) bears the signature of previous Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari. The date of issuance of the bank note is mentioned as 2081 BS, which denotes the previous year, 2024. During the Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli-led government, Nepal had updated the map, comprising Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura territories, through a Parliament endorsement in May 2020. Clarifying the matter regarding the updated version of map, an NRB spokesperson said that the map is already there in the old Rs 100 bank note and it has been revised as per the government's decision. Among various denominations of bank notes such as Rs 10, Rs 50, Rs 500, and Rs 1,000, only the bank note with Rs 100 denomination bears the map of Nepal, others do not, he clarified. India maintains that Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura belong to it. India had in 2020 reacted sharply, calling Nepal's revised map a unilateral act and cautioned Kathmandu that such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be acceptable to it. Nepal's new Rs 100 bank note has Mt Everest on its left side while there is a water mark of Rhododendron, the national flower of Nepal, on the right. There is a faint green colour map of Nepal printed in the background at the centre of the bank note. The Ashok Pillar is also printed near the map with the text Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha. On the back side of the bank note, there is a picture of one horned rhino. The bank note also has a security thread and an embossed black dot, which helps blind people to recognize it. Nepal shares a border of over 1850 km with five Indian states - Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
I Cant Do This Anymore: Indias SIR Turns Into Graveyard For BLOs/Teachers
From consuming poison in Uttar Pradesh to hanging in West Bengal, the Deadly Deadline of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) triggers a suicide wave among teachers and Anganwadi workers, employees unions cry 'institutional murder' while families mourn loved ones broken by state pressure.
SIR in West Bengal: Reform or a Tool For Exclusion?
With charges of systemic flaws by people and political parties, the onus is on ECI to ensure a transparent process to restore voters trust.
BJP asks its leaders to be ready for West Bengal after Bihar assembly results
NEW DELHI: In a show of collective appreciation and organisational discipline, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday evening hosted a grand dinner in New Delhi to felicitate more than 45 leaders and workers who played significant roles in securing the NDAs historic mandate in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections . The event, held at the official residence of outgoing BJP national president J P Nadda, brought together senior party heavyweights, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh and several MPs and MLAs mobilised from other states during the Bihar campaign. Addressing the gathering, Shah -- widely credited as the chief architect of the BJPs electoral strategies praised the teamwork that powered the victory and underlined the partys core principle of collective performance. What you all have achieved in Bihar is a matter of pride. This is the hour to keep the organisation blooming for a Viksit Bharat , he reportedly said. Be ready to conquer Bengal after conquering Bihar. Shah cautioned against individual credit-taking, saying no leader should assume victory was achieved because of him. This leads to pride. Our role is: where there is less, there we are, he added, reiterating that every BJP worker bears responsibility for strengthening the organisation wherever gaps exist. Be prepared for the battle of Bengal. Any one of us can be assigned anywhere in the state. Party sources said the dinner served both as a gesture of gratitude and as a reminder of the BJPs emphasis on discipline, unity and readiness for upcoming electoral battles. The party often holds such gatherings to build camaraderie and acknowledge those who deliver on the ground. BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde, among the strategists behind the Bihar campaign, posted that the banquet was organised to honour dedicated workers whose efforts ensured the NDAs sweeping victory. Appreciating its dutiful workers and boosting their morale is the biggest identity of BJP, he wrote, noting that Shah conveyed his gratitude to all present. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, who was also felicitated, said he received guidance and encouragement from the top leadership. Gratitude was expressed to all conscientious and dedicated workers whose hard work led to the NDAs landslide win, Sinha posted. He added that the leaderships blessings would inspire further efforts to strengthen organisational unity and advance the goal of making Bihar a developed state. With the celebrations concluding, Shahs message was clear: the Bihar victory is only a milestone, and the BJPs organisational machinery must now shift its focus to West Bengalidentified as the next major political battleground.
Could defer date of post-SIR draft roll in TN, WB: SC
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would not hesitate to extend the deadline for the publication of the draft electoral rolls in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu if the petitioners make a strong case, while the Election Commission of India (ECI) claimed that some political parties were trying to create a scare about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made the oral observation while hearing petitions challenging the SIR exercise in the two states. The remark about extending the deadline for publication of the draft rolls came after the parties appearing in the SIR for West Bengal raised concerns about the court fixing the next date of hearing to December 9, which they claimed was the date for publication of the draft roll as per the SIR schedule. So what? If you make out a case, then we can direct them to extend the date. Can that date (publication of draft roll) be a ground for the court to say we dont have any power now? Court can always say, the CJI said. For its part, the ECI told the court that some political parties are creating a scare about the SIR being undertaken Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala. Political parties are creating unnecessary scare, the poll panel said. Advocate Prashant Bhushan said the SIR was being conducted in a great hurry. The bench asked the ECI to file its counter-affidavit to the petitions relating to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal by December 4 and December 9, respectively. The bench also posted the pleas seeking deferment of the Kerala SIR to December 2, while asking the ECI and State Election Commission to file their responses by December 1. SIR in Tamil Nadu has been challenged by DMK, CPI(M), and actor Vijays TVK. The AlADMK, on the other hand, has filed an application supporting the SIR. During the hearing, the bench observed that the EC has inherent power to determine correctness of entry in Form 6. The hearing will continue on Thursday. Reason to challenge not good enough That the SIR was never conducted before is not a ground to challenge the Election Commissions decision to carry out this exercise in several states, the SC said
Amid Bengal SIR, Kolkatas Sonagachi sex workers fear loss of rights
Three welfare organisations from one of Asias largest red light areas have written to the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal seeking special considerations and assistance during SIR for the sex worker community
EC seeks report in 48 hours on breach at Bengal CEO office
The Election Commission of India has demanded an action taken report from Kolkata's Police Commissioner regarding a serious security breach during BLO protests on November 24. Three senior EC officials from New Delhi have been appointed to assist the West Bengal CEO in overseeing the ongoing SIR work, marking their first deployment in the state.
Court can extend draft voter roll date if a fit case is made out, says Supreme Court
The oral observation came from a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi during the resumed hearing of pleas challenging the SIR in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The West Bengal government's counsel flagged concerns over the matter being posted for December 9 - the date scheduled for publication of the draft roll.
Kyun Nahi Bolenge? Mamata Banerjee Slams Rajya Sabha's Slogan Guidelines
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed strong views on the Rajya Sabha bulletin's guidelines on slogans in Parliament, emphasising the significance of Jai Hind and Vande Mataram as national slogans.
'Will Cancel Bail': Judge To Trinamool Leader After Court No-Show
A special CBI judge on Wednesday warned former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee that his bail in the primary teachers recruitment corruption case would be cancelled after he did not appear in person for the hearing in the court.
Dont resort to suicide, Mamata urges BLOs
CMs appeal comes after two booth level officers in West Bengal died by suicide during the ongoing SIR process
