17 Going Together: Rebel TMC MP Claims Big BJP Switch To Beat Anti-Defection Law In Bengal
A major political realignment could be brewing in West Bengal as rebel TMC leader Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia claims 17 of 20 MPs may join the BJP before or after Durga Puja. Basunia says the collective move would cross the two-thirds threshold under the anti-defection law. Three MPs Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahaman and Yusuf Pathan may support the NDA from outside. The claim comes amid protests against Basunia and his wife in Sitai, while the TMC continues to face defections following its Bengal poll defeat.
Decision on Trinamool symbol, Bengal bypoll result will shape Mamata's future political path
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) Trinamool Congress founder and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to stay out of poll contest in next month's Assembly by-elections despite being urged and encouraged by colleagues both former and present renewing discussions over her larger political interests. Her 15 years of uninterrupted rule ended this year with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning convincingly, and her close aide-turned-bitter adversary Suvendu Adhikari anointed the Chief Minister. Since then, the 71-year-old leader has on occasions reiterated her intent to rebuild her organisation and simultaneously strengthen the Opposition INDIA platform, emphasising unity against the BJP juggernaut. Interestingly, she has now extended a hand of alliance towards arch-rival Communists, and the Congress from where she broke out in 1998. After the disintegration of Trinamool Congress, Mamata Banerjee-led faction is now involved in a bitter fight with the rival Trinamool group led by Ritabrata Banerjee to retain the original party name and its logo of twin florets, which she claims to have created herself. Political circles in West Bengal are aware of the influence the former Chief Minister enjoyed in grassroots that led to the fall of the Left Front government in 2011 after ruling uninterruptedly since 1977. But now, allegations of fraud, embezzlement, bribery, extortion, and smuggling rackets have plagued the Trinamool Congress even as rival groups clashed in quest for power. While she occasionally did exhibit an iron hand -- publicly chiding party members, dissolving and recreating leadership committees -- she was largely seen as watching helplessly while her nephew Abhishek Banerjee assumed control of the organisation. This has been voiced openly by party turncoats, and covertly by others still in her faction. She had also admitted that the responsibility of running the administration did perhaps cost the organisation somewhat, and promised to rebuild the party from grassroots. Simultaneously, Mamata Banerjee has linked her fight with the broader INDIA bloc, the acronym for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc her followers credit her with. Though parties like Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and M.K. Stalin's Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have since ended ties, some leaders believe that Mamata's personal relation may be convince them to return for 2029 Lok Sabha election. Many of the constituents, who stand against the Congress leading the platform, see in Mamata Banerjee an alternative who may perhaps be more involved in regional politics than for a strong pan-India footprint. But, some analysts say, Mamata's insistence on strengthening the INDIA bloc reflects her strategy to position herself as a national Opposition leader. Meanwhile, the upcoming West Bengal by-elections will be a crucial test of her faction's strength and her ability to rejuvenate the party or fulfil any national ambition. By-elections in West Bengal will be held on October 6 at Rejinagar and Nandigram Assembly constituencies after winners Humayun Kabir and incumbent Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari resigned from the respective seats. While the former chose to retain Naoda, Adhikari chose to represent Bhabanipur, where he defeated his predecessor and once-mentor Mamata Banerjee by more than 15,000 votes, against his victory margin of less than 10,000 votes over runner-up Pabitra Kar of Trinamool Congress. Kabir had extended an invitation to Mamata Banerjee to contest from Rejinagar, asserting that he can ensure her victory from the seat, and leaders of the Ritabrata-led faction insisted they would not field a candidate in Nandigram if Mamata chose to contest herself. Kabir, representing his Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), won Rejinagar by a margin of more than 58,000 votes, clinching 51.62 per cent of the mandate. In Naoda, the margin was of less than 28,000 votes, where the AJUP Chief got just about 39 per cent of the mandate. Interestingly, though both these seats are in Murshidabad district, where Muslims comprise an estimated 70 per cent of the total population, the BJP finished runners-up, pushing the Trinamool to the third spot, portraying the overall polarisation witnessed this time. Amid the change, Mamata-led Trinamool faction now links her fight for the party symbol and Opposition unity to the broader INDIA alliance, saying that Opposition solidarity is essential to counter the BJP's dominance once she asserts power over her own party.
Gangster Prince Khan's brother Bunty arrested at Kolkata Airport while trying to flee to Dubai
Digital Desk | Dhanbad, Sep 14 (IANS) Bunty Khan, brother of notorious gangster Prince Khan, was arrested by Dhanbad Police at Kolkata Airport with the assistance of West Bengal Police while attempting to flee to Dubai using forged documents, officials said on Monday. According to police, he was apprehended by a special team moments before boarding an international flight. Following his arrest, police on Monday paraded him through Dhanbad with a rope tied around his waist. Bunty Khan had been on the run for a long time and is wanted in more than a dozen serious criminal cases registered across different police stations in Dhanbad. The charges against him include murder, extortion, offences under the Arms Act, and criminal conspiracy. Police received intelligence inputs that Banti was hiding in Kolkata and was planning to escape to Dubai via an international flight. Acting on the information, Dhanbad police formed a special team and coordinated with West Bengal Police to monitor his movements in Kolkata. The joint operation culminated in his arrest at the airport before he could fly away. During the operation, police recovered a passport along with suspected forged passports, visa-related papers, and other travel documents from his possession. Investigators are now examining the seized documents to determine their authenticity and trace the network that helped him obtain the forged papers. Authorities are also trying to identify individuals who may have assisted Banti in planning his escape abroad. Police are gathering details about his associates, hideouts during his period of absconding, and his links to the Prince Khan gangs operations. Investigators consider the arrest a major breakthrough in the crackdown against the Prince Khan gang. A few months ago, police had arrested another alleged key operative of the syndicate, Major alias Saifi, at Kolkata Airport while he too was attempting to flee to Dubai. According to police officials, Bantis interrogation could provide crucial leads about the gangs extortion network, financial transactions, and activities allegedly being coordinated from abroad. Raids are also underway to trace and arrest other accused linked to the criminal syndicate. Meanwhile, Prince Khan has been absconding for a long time and is wanted in several serious criminal cases, including murder, extortion, firing, and criminal intimidation. A Red Corner Notice has already been issued against him. Earlier, he was believed to be hiding in Dubai, but intelligence agencies recently received inputs that Prince Khan was in Pakistan.
West Bengal bypolls: TMC MP urges EC to ensure no eligible voter denied voting right
Nearly 25 lakh appeals have been filed before SIR tribunals over deletion of names from the voter list
17 NCPI MPs to join BJP before or after Durga Puja, claims rebel TMC leader; saffron party denies
Seventeen of the twenty Lok Sabha members of the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) will join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before or after Durga Puja, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Cooch Behar MP, said on Monday. However, BJP's West Bengal unit chief Samik Bhattacharya has distanced himself from the statement and said the saffron party will not allow anyone to join it merely because they want it.
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 14 (IANS) The West Bengal BJP President and the partys Rajya Sabha member, Samik Bhattacharya, on Monday afternoon ruled out the possibility of any of the 20 Trinamool Congress-turned-Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) Lok Sabha members from the state, directly joining the BJP. He stated that he BJP they want to join may be the BJP from Mars. Bhattacharyas clarification came in response to a media comment earlier in the day by one of the prominent members in the Trinamool-turned-NCPI MPs camp, Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, where he claimed that as many as 17 out of 20 of his colleagues would directly join the BJP next month. We will never forget what happened to several BJP workers after the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections. So, there is no reason to think that if they want to join the BJP, we will accept them. The BJP they want to join may be the BJP from Mars, quipped Bhattacharya reacting to Basunias claims. The BJPs state president also clearly said that there is no possibility of anyone from any faction in the Trinamool Congress joining the party in the near or the far future. The people of West Bengal have not forgotten the rule of oppression during the Trinamool Congress regime from 2011 to 2026. Now, some Lok Sabha members have broken out from the Trinamool Congress and are supporting the National Democratic Alliance. They are welcome to do so. But that does not mean that they are joining the BJP, Bhattacharya clarified. He also said that joining the BJP might be Basunia's wish but there was no reason to believe that the BJP leadership would fulfil that wish. After May 2, 2021, as many as 56 BJP workers were killed in just 27 days by the Trinamool Congress-backed goons. Around 200 women BJP workers were gangraped. Houses of many BJP workers were demolished. Many were forced to leave their houses, he claimed. We have not forgotten this. So, there is no reason to think that all those sins would be erased so easily, Bhattacharya added. Earlier in the day, Basunia had also said that the three Lok Sabha members in his camp, namely Abu Taher Khan from Murshidabad Constituency, Yusuf Pathan from Baharampur Constituency and Khalilur Rahman from Jangipur Constituency, all in minority-dominated Murshidabad district of West Bengal, have problems in directly joining the BJP and hence they will not join the party directly, but will continue to be part of the NDA. Giving his reaction in the matter, Abu Taher Khan said that Basunia should only speak about himself instead of taking the responsibility for others. We have not given him any responsibility. This was his personal opinion. Our opinion has nothing to do with it. We are neither in the BJP nor with the NDA. We are thinking of working in our own areas, Khan said.
Rebel Trinamool MP Basunia claims 17 of 20 NCPI MPs to join BJP; fellow rebels, ruling party deny
The BJP sought to distance itself from the claim, with its West Bengal unit chief Samik Bhattacharya saying the party would not take in anyone merely because they want to join it
Rebel Trinamool MP Basunia claims 17 of 20 NCPI MPs to join BJP; fellow rebels, ruling party deny
The BJP sought to distance itself from the claim, with its West Bengal unit chief Samik Bhattacharya saying the party would not take in anyone merely because they want to join it
Rebel Trinamool MP Claims 17 NCPI MPs Will Join BJP, Ruling Party Denies
The BJP sought to distance itself from the claim, with its West Bengal unit chief Samik Bhattacharya saying the party would not take in anyone merely because they want to join it.
A group of five students has created an innovative AI system that uses smartphone cameras to detect oral cancer early. This groundbreaking tool is particularly designed to facilitate screening in rural areas where healthcare access is limited. By analyzing images of the mouth, the system identifies unusual tissue changes and draws attention to potential health issues.
West Bengal Dengue Surge: Cases More Than Double In Just One Month
West Bengal's dengue cases crossed 5,000, reaching 5,002 by September 11. Authorities launched intensive testing, door-to-door surveillance and mosquito-control measures, with the statewide campaign continuing through October 15.
Essential to have one law for one country: BJP leaders on HM Shah's UCC announcement
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday welcomed Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement regarding the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in all states governed by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), describing the move as necessary for ensuring uniformity in laws and addressing various social issues. Speaking to IANS, BJP MP Naresh Bansal said that Uttarakhand, his home state, had taken the lead in implementing the UCC and that other states were now gradually moving in the same direction. I come from the state where the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) was implemented first. Uttarakhand was the first state to frame and enact legislation on the UCC. Now, gradually, other states are moving in the same direction. This is a very necessary law for the entire country. To ensure that the demographic balance of the nation is safeguarded, this law is essential and will be implemented, Bansal said. BJP West Bengal President, Samik Bhattacharya, also backed the Home Minister's announcement and said that implementing a UCC had consistently been part of the BJP's stated position. What the Home Minister said is correct. It has always been the BJP's declared stand that there should be a Uniform Civil Code, and we will implement it across the country. This is not our hidden agenda or a secret issue. We have always spoken about it, Bhattacharya told IANS. The BJP-led West Bengal government is also moving ahead with a UCC Bill. Bhattacharya said support for a UCC was not limited to the BJP and claimed that people from different professional and social backgrounds were also in favour of having a common set of laws. There should be one law in one country. Society has been divided in the name of religion and faith for a long time, and the country has suffered because of it. The country should be freed from this, he added. BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, while speaking to IANS, said the announcement was in line with the constitutional provision that calls upon the government to work towards a UCC. Amit Shah has reiterated the constitutional commitment. Article 44 of the Constitution directs the government to move towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code. After Prime Minister Modi came to power, the country was prepared in this direction, and our state governments have also moved forward. The Uniform Civil Code is about reforming the social system. Those making communal attacks against it are trying to create an imaginary communal misconception about the UCC, Naqvi said. Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav also welcomed the announcement, calling the move necessary and expressing confidence that the UCC would be implemented in BJP-ruled states within the timeframe announced by the Home Minister. The Home Minister has made a good decision. A UCC is necessary, and within the next three years, before 2029, it will be implemented across all states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party. This will help resolve several issues, Yadav told IANS. Earlier on Sunday, the Home Minister had announced that the UCC would be implemented in all 21 states governed by the BJP-NDA before 2029. Shah said the implementation would be undertaken through necessary measures and efforts in a phased manner. The Home Minister noted that the UCC has already been implemented in several states, while work is underway in others. He said the next step would be to ensure that the remaining states also adopt the common civil code.
Enemies Beware! India Widens Missile Testing Infra
Specialised range taking shape in Andhra Pradesh, while West Bengal clears way for DRDO's new testing facility.
Rebellion in Bengal Left Front as RSP fields candidate against CPI(M) for Rejinagar bypoll
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 14 (IANS) Rebellion had surfaced within the CPI(M)-led Left Front in West Bengal as Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) had now decided to field its own candidate for the bypoll for Rejinagar Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district of West Bengal next month. The development came despite the name of a CPI(M) nominee having been announced last week as the official Left Front candidate for the Rejinagar bypoll. On September 12, the CPI(M)s Sayeed Asad Ali, an advocate in personal life, was announced as the official Left Front candidate for the Rejinagar bypolls. The announcement attracted ire from the RSP leadership, who claimed that Alis name was not a unanimous choice of the Left Front but a forceful imposition of its own candidate by the CPI(M) leadership on the front. Now, directly rebelling against the CPI(M) leadership, the RSP on Monday fielded its own candidate, Bikash Chandra Mishra, as the party candidate. For a long time, the Rejinagar Assembly Constituency had been allotted to RSP. In the 2021 Assembly polls, we had sacrificed our claim for Rejinagar, because of the seat sharing arrangement with the Congress. Even in 2026, we sacrificed our claim for Rejinagar in support of the West Socialist Party candidate. But this we are not ready to sacrifice again. So, for the Rejinagar bypolls we have fielded Mishra, who is the son of the soil in the true sense, said a state RSP leader. In the recently-concluded West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year, former Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir contested and was elected as an Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) candidate from Naoda and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies, both in Murshidabad district. Later, Humayun Kabir decided to retain Naoda, thus necessitating bypolls for the Rejinagar seat. Kabirs son Gulam Nabi Azad is the AJUP candidate for the Rejinagar Assembly bye-election. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction in the Trinamool Congress and the Congress also have their candidates for the Rejinagar bypolls. The BJP and the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel faction of the Trinamool Congress are also expected to announce their candidates on Monday. Rejinagar, along with Nandigram Assembly Constituency in East Midnapore district, is scheduled to go for bypolls on October 6 and the results will be declared on October 9. The last date for filing nominations for both the constituencies is September 16.
Bengal horror: Two arrested for alleged sexual assault on 14-year-old in Habra
Bengal horror: Two arrested for alleged sexual assault on 14-year-old in Habra Kolkata: The West Bengal police have arrested two youths for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl in North 24 Parganas districts Habra area after making her consume intoxicants, police officials said on Monday. According to police, the girl had come to visit her uncles [] The post Bengal horror: Two arrested for alleged sexual assault on 14-year-old in Habra appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
West Bengal governmentissues closure notice to 252 unaided and unrecognised madrasas
The Madrasah Education system in Bengal has a history of almost 250 years and it grew and flourished with the foundation of the Calcutta Madrasah in 1780 by the British East India Company
29 municipalities, 278 panchayats identified as dengue hotspots in Bengal
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 14 (IANS) With the number of dengue-affected people in West Bengal climbing to over 5,000 this year so far, the state health department has identified 29 municipalities, 85 community development blocks and 278 village panchayats as the hotspots. An insider from the State Health Department said its workers are focusing on more intensive and random blood sample tests in these municipalities, blocks and panchayats, considering that the maximum number of dengue-positive cases in the last month have been reported from these hotspots. According to him, the department was following a particular formula for identifying such hotspots. A village panchayat having 10 or more dengue patients is identified as a hotspot panchayat. Similarly, if more than 30 people in a community block have dengue, it is identified as a hotspot block. A municipality is identified as a hotspot if the majority of wards there have five or more dengue-affected persons, an official said. At the same time, he added, the department is also focusing on extensive awareness drives at these hotspots, asking people with dengue symptoms, such as continuous fever for two or more days, to voluntarily coming forward for blood tests. What has kept us especially worried is that in many of these hotspots, people having fever for two or more days are often resorting to self-medication instead of consulting any medical practitioner. This is aggravating the crisis. So, we are conducting massive awareness drives urging people to refrain from self-medication in cases of continuing fever for two or more days and instead reach the nearest health centres for blood tests or consult a nearest medical practitioner, said the official. At the same time, the health department staff are conducting door-to-door surveillance to prevent dengue. The health workers are asking people to keep the water tanks and cisterns of the house covered. If a cover cannot be provided, they should be covered with mosquito nets or nets. Awareness is being raised about preventing water from accumulating in flowerpots and abandoned containers on the roof, the state health department official said. The health department is also conducting surveillance in ponds, drains, pools, dry canals, unused wells, and factories. Larvicides are also used according to the guidelines. On Sunday, the health department published its latest dengue bulletin, showing 5,002 affected people till September 11. However, the alarming factor is that the total number of dengue-affected people till the same date in August was less than 2,500. This means that over the last month, 2,500 additional individuals have been affected by dengue. According to the latest statistics provided by the department, the maximum number of affected people so far has been from the Murshidabad district at 1,072, followed by Kolkata at 500 and North 24 Parganas at 450.
Activist and local resident of Panihati, Debasish Dutta has written scores on the previous Trinamool Congress regime and now the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government but no action has been taken to address the situation
UCC essential for unity, integrity, security of nation: Bengal Minister backs implementation
Digital Desk | Newtown, Sep 14 (IANS) West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh on Monday backed the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across the country, saying the process should begin in the state and subsequently extend to others. Speaking to reporters, Ghosh said the UCC was necessary to strengthen the nation's unity, integrity and security. Absolutely, the Uniform Civil Code should be implemented in the country, starting with Bengal, our state, and then in other states. It is essential for the unity, integrity, and security of the nation, he said. His remarks came a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the UCC would be implemented in all 21 states governed by the BJP-led NDA before 2029. We introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in several states. I am confident that we will implement the UCC in all 21 states governed by the BJP-led NDA before 2029, HM Shah said at a press conference in Mumbai. The UCC seeks to establish a common framework of personal laws governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption, irrespective of religious affiliation. Ghosh also commented on the West Bengal governments action against madrasas, saying institutions operating without the required permissions should not be allowed to function. Anything illegal, whether madrasas or restaurants, cannot operate outside the law without government permission. The government is scrutinising everything, and any unauthorised establishment will be closed. To operate, they must get government permission, he said. The remarks came after the state government issued closure notices to 252 madrasas as part of a review of Islamic educational institutions. Show-cause notices have also reportedly been issued to around 100 other madrasas during the first phase of the verification exercise. Reports suggest that most of the 252 institutions facing closure are associated with the Khariji sect. Among them, 44 are located in Malda, 37 in Uttar Dinajpur, 32 in South 24 Parganas, and 25 each in Nadia and Murshidabad. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had ordered a statewide survey in June to ascertain the number of recognised and unrecognised madrasas operating in West Bengal. Ghosh praised Indias hosting of the BRICS Summit and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership for elevating the countrys role on the global stage. The BRICS summit held in India reached a high level under Prime Minister Modis leadership. Indias hospitality charmed everyone, paving the way for a new world order in business and global politics, he said. Ghosh added that issues such as human security and financial security should remain among the key priorities.
West Bengal Minister Claims Terrorists Take Shelter in Madrasas Amid Government Crackdown
West Bengals Dilip Ghosh supports government action against illegal madrasas, citing concerns over terrorism and calls for a Uniform Civil Code. West Bengal Minister Claims Terrorists Take Shelter in Madrasas Amid Government Crackdown
West Bengal orders closure of 252 unauthorised madrasas, insists on legal compliance
The News Mill
West Bengal tourist missing near Kupwara LoC amid fake Aadhaar probe
Srinagar: A tourist from West Bengal went missing from the Teetwal area near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district, prompting a manhunt after his Aadhaar card was allegedly found to be fake, officials said here on Sunday. They said 38-year-old Sanjay Sardar, a resident of Kolkata, went missing on Saturday after leaving behind []
Dengue Cases Surge in West Bengal, Exceeding 5,000 Infections
Dengue infections in West Bengal surpass 5,000, with urgent measures being implemented to combat the outbreak. Dengue Cases Surge in West Bengal, Exceeding 5,000 Infections
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Mamata camp names bypoll nominees amid fight for symbol
The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress faction has announced Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury as its candidates for the upcoming Nandigram and Rejinagar assembly by-elections in West Bengal. This announcement comes amidst a significant split within the TMC, with a rival faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee also vying for control of the party's name and symbol. The Election Commission is currently deliberating on the claims of both factions, a decision that will critically impact the by-polls scheduled for October 6.
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Vice-principals spl classes plan deepens law college stand-off
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 13 (IANS) Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers engaged in a fight in front of Bhowanipur police station in Kolkata on Sunday. Two Congress leaders Ashutosh Chatterjee and Pradeep Prasad were summoned to the police station in connection with the incident of burning photos of rationally popular religious guru Dhirendra Shastri for his recent comments over the food habits of Bengalis. As soon as they appeared at the police station, Congress workers and supporters started making a ruckus outside for the high-handedness of the police. In turn, BJP supporters also appeared there. An argument started between the two sides. Later, it escalated into a scuffle where the BJP accused the Congress of hurting religious sentiments of Hindus. Congress, in turn, alleged that all this was a conspiracy against them. It may be noted that Dhirendra Shastri recently made objectionable comments about Bengalis eating non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja. According to his comments, those who eat non-vegetarian food during the puja are not religious. There was a strong protest in various quarters against this remark made by Dhirendra Shastri. In protest, Congress workers and supporters burned his photo in Kolkata, following which West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari warned that legal action will be taken against those who burned the photo of the religious guru after which a Congress worker named Atanu Das was arrested. Along with this, two Congress leaders Ashutosh Chatterjee and Pradeep Prasad were summoned on Sunday. Earlier on Saturday night, Pradeep Prasad was removed as the South Kolkata District Congress due to a reshuffle in the West Bengal Pradesh Congress which enraged a section of the Congress. As soon as they appeared at the Bhabanipur police station on Sunday, their followers started protesting outside. BJP also went there in return and raised its voice against the insult of the religious guru. According to a local BJP leader, They have insulted Bengalis before. Our Chief Minister (Suvendu Adhikari) has explained by eating fish that Puja has nothing to do with eating non-vegetarian food. Still, they insulted the religious guru. In response, Ashutosh Chatterjee said, This is a complete conspiracy. Remember, he insulted Bengalis by coming to Bengal. We will show you on the road how to protest against this. It may be noted that West Bengal Congress on Tuesday lodged a written complaint against the religious guru following his controversial statement that non-vegetarian food should be kept away from Durga puja mandaps and during Navratri. The complaint was filed at Bhowanipur Police Station in south Kolkata against the religious guru for his comments on the eating habits of Bengalis and for using several controversial words including 'ganda ganda cooking' and 'pakhandi'.
West Bengal Shuts Down 252 Madrasas After Review, Sends Show-Cause Notice To 100 More
The West Bengal government has issued closure notices to 252 madrasas and show-cause notices to another 100 as part of a statewide verification drive. Minority Affairs Minister Khudiram Tudu said the institutions facing notices must produce valid authorisation or face closure. The survey, ordered in June, examined madrasa management, student enrolment, funding sources and registration status across Kolkata and 22 districts. Officials said 2,132 madrasas currently have valid approval, while 2,396 are unapproved. The action has triggered a political row, with BJP state chief Samik Bhattacharya and BJP leader Agnimitra Paul defending the move, citing concerns over radicalisation and alleged anti-national activities. TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh opposed the remarks, saying madrasas are an education system and should not be linked to terrorist allegations.
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BJP's Samik Bhattacharya welcomes Bengal govt's notice for closure of 252 madrasahs
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 13 (IANS) West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Rajya Sabha member, Samik Bhattacharya, on Sunday welcomed the decision of the state government for closure notices to 252 madrasahs in the state, most 'kharijis' (unrecognised). The state government had at the same time slapped show-cause notices to 100 more madrasahs in the state asking them to cite reasons why similar closure notices will not be served to them. The closure and show-cause notices were served to these entities, after the state minorities affairs and madrasah education department conducted a review of the functional aspects of different madrassas in the state, including their management systems, number of teachers, student attendance, infrastructure, syllabus and source of funding. Speaking to the media persons on Sunday afternoon, Bhattacharya referred to late Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the last Chief Minister of the previous Left Front government, while advocating in favours of such khariji (unrecognised) madrassas. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee also said once that militants are being bred in such khariji madrasas. As soon as a controversy arose over his comments, he had to bow to pressure from his party. If the Left Front government had listened to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee that day, this situation would not have arisen in the border districts, the State BJP President said. He also added that while Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had to succumb to the pressure from his own party in the matter for some reasons, the current BJP government in West Bengal will not succumb to any such pressure. Education is not a medium of any religious control or rituals and practices. Education should be the path to building knowledge, rationality, scientific temperament, and humane values. Keeping pace with time, we must make our education system more modern, technology-driven, employment-oriented, and progressive, Bhattacharya said. According to the State BJP President, since education is the backbone of the nation it should not get trapped in the web of superstitions and narrow-mindedness. If that happens, then the nation's progress is obstructed. Our goal is to achieve such an education system where no child's future is determined based on their religion or identity, Samik Bhattacharya said. The BJP wants a superstition-free, scientific, modern, and progressive education system where there will be equal opportunities for all. Our goal is one nation, one education system, he added.
Post-poll killing: Sandeshkhali BJP workers body exhumed after 5 years
Mamata bloc names candidates for Nandigram & Rejinagar bypolls
West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee's TMC announces candidates for Nandigram, Rejinagar bypolls
The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has announced its candidates for the upcoming Nandigram and Rejinagar bye-elections. The AITC named Sanchita Pradhan as its candidate for Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury for Rejinagar bypolls. The bypoll in West Bengal along with other assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and a Parliamentary seat in Assam would be held on October 6, while the results would be declared on October 9.
BJP has zero tolerance for extortion, violence, Samik tells workers
West Bengal: BSF Saves 10 Bangladeshis From Drowning In Padma River
The BSF jawans reached the survivors in a speed boat and rescued them: Reports
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Bengal mulls madrasa law tweak to make registration mandatory
Kolkata Census House-listing Phase Ends; Missed Homes to Be Covered in Phase 2
Ayodhya Saints Criticize Rahul Gandhis Comments on Vegetarianism and Support Action Against Madrasas
Ayodhya saints respond to Rahul Gandhis remarks on vegetarianism and express support for recent actions against madrasas in West Bengal. Ayodhya Saints Criticize Rahul Gandhis Comments on Vegetarianism and Support Action Against Madrasas
Number of dengue affected in West Bengal this year crosses 5,000
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 13 (IANS) The number of dengue-affected people in West Bengal during the current calendar year has crossed the 5,000 mark, according to the latest statistics provided by the state Health Department. As per the most recent bulletin issued by the Health Department on Sunday, the number of dengue-affected people in the state, as of September 11, is 5,002. However, the alarming factor is that the total number of dengue-affected people till the same date in August was less than 2,500. This means that over the last month, over 2,500 additional individuals have been freshly affected by dengue, a senior Health Department official said. As per the latest statistics provided by the department, the maximum number of affected people so far has been from the Murshidabad district at 1,072, followed by Kolkata at 500 and North 24 Parganas at 450. This is as per the trend every year, since in almost all the last few years these three districts have witnessed the maximum number of dengue-affected people, the official said. However, even amid the massive rise in the number of newly affected persons over the last month, the Health Department officials are finding a silver lining. On September 2, the Health Department issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on monitoring and prevention of dengue cases in West Bengal, where the main focus was on door-to-door monitoring and immediate blood tests of people identified as having dengue symptoms. The sudden rise in the number of newly affected people proves that the SOP guidelines have been followed diligently, the official said. At the same time, the official stressed that the figures also prove that this year, at least, there had not been incidents of underreporting of affected figures by showing dengue as unknown disease, as was rampant during the last few years. The Health Department has directed all the district authorities to start a massive campaign till October 15 to get people with dengue symptoms tested. At the same time, the district authorities have been advised to keep the department regularly informed with reports on how many people with fever have been found each day and how many people have been tested for dengue.
UCC In All 21 NDA-Ruled States By 2029: Amit Shahs BIG Announcement On Uniform Civil Code
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has expressed confidence that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in all 21 BJP and NDA-led states before 2029. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Shah said several states have already introduced the UCC. Madhya Pradesh recently approved the code in a special cabinet meeting, while Uttarakhand became the first state to pass a UCC law in February 2024. Gujarat and Assam have also passed UCC legislation, though they are awaiting presidential assent and notification. Uttarakhand has been enforcing the code since January 2025. Maharashtra, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have formed drafting committees. Shah also highlighted the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, saying conviction rates rose in several states. He further claimed the NDA government had ended five decades of Naxalism and signed over 14 peace agreements in the Northeast.
Cong netas grilled over Baba protest, fresh FIR filed
Young Woman Murdered in West Bengal Over Suspected Love Affair
A 19-year-old woman was murdered in Purulia, West Bengal, allegedly by a man over suspicions of her love life. Young Woman Murdered in West Bengal Over Suspected Love Affair
New amphibian species discovered in Western Ghats
India set to expand missile-testing infra with new facilities in AP, Bengal
New facilities planned in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal will add testing capacity as India expands its portfolio of missiles, interceptors and ballistic-missile defence systems
Something fishy at KAP battalion HQ pond: Fish stolen, poisoned; 2 held
5-year-old drowns, Malda flood toll now 3
TMC ex-councillor turns up at BJP office to complain against its workers
West Bengal TET 2026: In-Service Primary Teachers Must Qualify By August 31, 2028
West Bengal directs authorities to prepare for TET for eligible in-service primary teachers. Know the Supreme Court deadline, and exam frequency.
Youth arrested for raping mentally challenged woman in Bengal's Baruipur
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 13 (IANS) The police have arrested a youth for allegedly raping a mentally challenged woman in Baruipur of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. A senior officer of Baruipur Police District said on Sunday that a case has been registered against the youth based on a complaint lodged by the family of the woman. According to the police, the victim is mentally challenged. She was alone at home in the afternoon on Saturday. Allegedly, a local youth entered the house and attacked the woman using that opportunity. It is alleged that she was raped. The woman was also threatened that she would be killed if she opened her mouth. Later, when other family members returned home, the woman narrated the entire incident. Meanwhile, tension spread in the area as soon as the woman's complaint became public. On receiving the news, the police from Bakultala police station reached the spot. Based on the complaint of the victim's family, the accused youth was arrested and taken to the police station on Sunday morning. On receiving the news, locals gathered in front of the police station. Many also sat and protested in front of the police station. They demanded that the police should not just arrest the accused but ensure that the accused gets strict punishment. High-ranking police officers came and spoke to the protesters. They assured them of strict action. After receiving the assurance from the police, the protesters cleared the road in front of the police station. The police have registered a case under specific sections and started an investigation. The arrested person is also being interrogated, said the police officer. It may be noted that a man was arrested for sexually assaulting his 13-year-old daughter in the same Baruipur area on Friday. According to the police, the elder daughter had filed a complaint against the father with the local police. The girl claimed that she left home due to sexual assault, which she was subjected to by her father. The elder daughter alleged that the father is doing the same to her younger sister. Based on that complaint, officers of Baruipur Women Police Station have arrested the accused.
West Bengal Orders Closure Of 252 Madrassas After Statewide Survey
Around 100 Others Get Show-Cause Notices Over Approval, Infrastructure Issues
Bengal orders closure of 252 madrasas, serves notices to 100
Kolkata: The West Bengal government has ordered the closure of 252 madrasas and sent show-cause notices to about 100 others after a statewide survey found that several institutions lacked required approvals and basic infrastructure, officials said on Sunday, September 13. Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department Minister Kshudiram Tudu said madrasas that have requisite approvals 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 .
Rain to reduce in south Bengal, north to receive more heavy showers
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 13 (IANS) In a relief to south Bengal, the Met Office on Sunday said that there is no forecast of heavy rain in the region for the next few days, but scattered light to moderate showers, along with thunderstorms, may continue in the area, including Kolkata. A Met Department said that the current low-pressure area is located in south Chhattisgarh, and it has no further impact on West Bengal. The monsoon axis extends from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan to Gopalpur in Odisha and extends to the east-central Bay of Bengal. Light to moderate rain with thundershowers is likely in Kolkata. Gusty winds may blow at a speed of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour. The amount of rain will further decrease from tomorrow. The relative humidity in the air today is 77 to 95 per cent, the official said. The rain will further decrease in south Bengal in the next five days. Meanwhile, districts in north Bengal will continue to receive rain. There is a Yellow Alert for heavy rain in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar districts on Monday, and the possibility of scattered rain in all the remaining districts. There is a Yellow Alert for heavy rain in Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri districts on Tuesday, and for heavy rain in the Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar districts on Wednesday. There is also a Yellow Alert for heavy rain with thundershowers at one or two places in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts on Thursday. After that, the amount of rain will also decrease in north Bengal, unless a new system appears in the Bay of Bengal in the meantime. The maximum temperature in Kolkata and its surrounding areas on Saturday was 31.02 degrees Celsius, which is 1.03 degrees below normal. The minimum temperature was 27.01 degrees Celsius, which is 00.07 degrees Celsius above normal. The relative humidity was a maximum of 95 and a minimum of 77 per cent.
Fire breaks out at CESC office at Bengal's Panihati
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 13 (IANS) A devastating fire had broken out at the distribution office of private power-generation-cum-distribution company, CESC Limited, at Panihati in North 24 Paragans district of West Bengal on Sunday. Although no casualties had been reported at the time the report was filed, the intensity of the fire had been quite massive. The fire had started spreading and a couple of shanties in the adjacent areas have come under the grip of fire. The intensity of the fire was so massive that the initial fire-fighting attempts by the local people failed completely. The state fire services department was immediately informed, and four fire-tenders initially reached the spot and started the first fighting exercise on a war-footing. In due course, five more fire tenders arrived at the spot and joined the firefighting exercise. At the time the report was filed a total of nine fire-tenders were engaged in the fire-fighting exercise. The intensity of the fire is quite massive. So, we have asked for requisition of more fire tenders. They are expected soon. Right now, our attempts are to restrict the fire within that building and prevent it from spreading to the nearby shanties and constructions, a state fire services department present at the spot said. There is a residential area behind this building. The firefighters are keeping an eye on it to ensure that the fire does not spread there. Residents of the slum have been made aware of that by the state fire services department. Besides water, the firefighters are also using foam to extinguish the fire. Fire officials are hopeful that they will be able to bring the fire under control at the earliest. On the other hand, since the building is on busy Barrackpore Trunk Road BT Road, traffic was disrupted on Sunday afternoon because of the fire. The police are also keeping an eye on the situation in the area. It is not yet clear how the fire broke out. However, the initial assumption of the fire department is that a transformer in the CESC building exploded somehow, which caused the fire.
Night Guard Shot During Robbery Attempt in Asansol, West Bengal
A night guard in Asansol was shot while resisting robbers, leaving him seriously injured. Police are investigating the incident. Night Guard Shot During Robbery Attempt in Asansol, West Bengal
School guard shot while foiling robbery attempt in West Bengal's Asansol
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 13 (IANS) A night guard at a school in West Bengal's Asansol sustained serious injuries when he was shot by robbers as he fought back against them, police said on Sunday. The robbers intercepted the motorcycle-riding guard, identified as Haridas Layek, on a deserted road under the cover of darkness last night. However, he resisted their attempts, leading to a brief scuffle. Unable to overpower him, the robbers fired multiple shots at him before fleeing the scene. Layek has been admitted to a hospital, and his condition is said to be stable. According to the police, Layek works as a night guard at Srihari Global School in Asansol in West Burdwan district. He hails from Dhaguri village under the Alladi Panchayat in Salanpur area and comes to work on a motorcycle every night. He had set out from home as usual on Saturday night, and while he was travelling along National Highway 19, a group of masked robbers intercepted him. After forcing him to stop, the robbers brandished weapons and attempted to take away his valuables. When he resisted, they fired two rounds in quick succession, hitting him in the leg. Despite the injury, the young man continued to fight back against the attackers. Eventually, the robbers abandoned Haridas on the road and fled. Upon receiving the news, officers from Salanpur Police Station arrived at the scene. The guard was rescued in a bloodied state and taken to Asansol District Hospital, where doctors performed surgery on his leg that same night. On Sunday morning, the police recovered an empty cartridge casing from the scene. A search operation is underway to locate the miscreants, and 'naka' checks are being conducted in the area. CCTV footage from the vicinity is also being examined to nab the miscreants. Senior police officials, including Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissioner Pranab Kumar, DC (West) Sana Akhtar, and DC (Central) Dhruba Das, visited the scene. The attempted robbery on a deserted road at night has sparked panic in the area. --IANS
'TMC Govt Did Not Respond': DRDO's New Missile Testing Range In Bengal Gets Suvendu's 'Okay'
India is set to get another major weapon and missile testing range at Junput in West Bengals Purba Medinipur district. The project, proposed by DRDO in April 2024, will complement the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said he has approved the project and called it a major development initiative for West Bengal. A DRDO source also confirmed the missile testing project to TOI. The Junput facility will become a key DRDO testing hub alongside Chandipur and the proposed centre in Andhra Pradesh. Located around 70 km from Chandipur along the Bay of Bengal, it will help share the workload of the Odisha testing range.
West Bengal Hotel Owner Linked to Odisha Orangutan Rescue Case
The bizarre and high-profile rescue of five young orangutans from the Bichitrapur casuarina forest in Odishas Baleshwar district has taken a dramatic turn, with investigators pointing to a West Bengal hotel owner as a key suspect in the wildlife mystery. The investigation, spearheaded by a joint team comprising the Odisha Forest Department, the Special Task [] The post West Bengal Hotel Owner Linked to Odisha Orangutan Rescue Case appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
Absconding Trinamool leader arrested in Chennai for attacking Bengal businessman
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 13 (IANS) Trinamool Congress leader and deputy head of Bishpur Panchayat in Hingalganj in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, Shahidul Sheikh, who was absconding in a criminal case involving a businessman, was arrested in Chennai, police said on Sunday. Sheikh was accused of being involved in the incident of attacking a local businessman and setting his shop on fire. The police said that Sheikh, who had been absconding since the incident, was finally arrested in Chennai on Saturday night. According to a senior police officer of the Basirhat Police District, the Trinamool leader will be brought to Hasnabad on Sunday evening. The police will produce him in the Basirhat Sub-division Court on Monday. They will likely seek the accused's custody from the court. According to the police, on May 18, Trinamool leader Sheikh and his team were accused of beating up Nitai Das, a businessman from Bailani Bazar in Hingalganj. Allegedly, Nitai's shop was burnt down that night. As a result, Das suffered a loss of several lakhs of rupees. After investigating the incident, the Hasnabad police station started searching for Sheikh. Not only this incident, but a case was also filed earlier against him at the police station on multiple charges, including embezzling money from the panchayat, extorting money in the name of providing houses under the Awas Yojana, bombing and issuing threats. The police had been searching for him after the latest case was filed. After receiving information from a source, officers from Hasnabad police station went to Chennai. They arrested Sheikh in a joint operation with the Special Operation Group (SOG). The phone's tower location was tracked. Finally, the police came to know that he was hiding in Chennai. After that, a team from Hasnabad police station left for Chennai to arrest him. He was arrested on Saturday night. The arrested person will be produced before a court in Chennai today, Sunday, to seek his transit remand. After that, he will be brought to Hasnabad police station. The police are investigating his role in the incident. A search is on for others who were also involved in the incident, said the police officer.
West Bengal Medical Council faces probe demands over fake degrees
Mamata Banerjee Set to Contest Again from Nandigram Amid TMC Factional Dispute
Mamata Banerjee may return to the West Bengal Assembly from Nandigram as TMC factions vie for recognition ahead of upcoming by-elections. Mamata Banerjee Set to Contest Again from Nandigram Amid TMC Factional Dispute
DRDO to set up new missile testing range in West Bengals Junput
India's DRDO plans a new weapons and missile testing range at Junput in West Bengal. This facility will supplement the existing Integrated Test Range in Odisha's Chandipur. The proposed range aims to expand India's defense testing capacity along the eastern coast. Officials confirm the project is moving forward after a previous delay. The Junput range will become another major hub for DRDO's development efforts.
Uncertainty continues over decision on Trinamool name, symbol ahead of Bengal bypolls
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 13 (IANS) Even after separate meetings of the Election Commission of India with the two rival factions in the Trinamool Congress, where the arguments of both the factions on their claims over party name and symbol were heard, uncertainties continue over any decision of the ECI before the last day of nominations for the forthcoming bypolls for Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies in West Bengal. After Friday's meeting with the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel-majority faction, the Commission sought fresh clarification and documents from the faction in support of its claims on Saturday. Sources said that the Ritabrata-led faction had submitted the clarifications and documents by Saturday evening. An insider from the ECI said that based on the clarifications and documents submitted by the rebel, the Commission, on Saturday night, forwarded a communique to the original-minority faction led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking their views in the matter. Meanwhile, sources said, a communique has also gone from the Mamata Banerjee-led faction to ECI seeking details of the documents submitted by the Ritabrata-led faction in support of their claims. Following the fresh evolving development, political observers feel the issue of finalisation on the fate of Trinamool Congress name and symbol before the last date of nominations for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies has become uncertain. The last date for submission of nominations for the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls is September 16. So, with just three days left for that, a decision of the Commission on the fate of name and symbol before that appears highly inconceivable. In that case, both the factions will have to field candidates for Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls either with free symbols or with symbols allotted to them by the Commission, explained a city-based political observer. The bypolls to Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly seats will be on October 6, and the results will be declared on October 9. Already, the CPI(M)-led Left Front and Congress have announced the names of the candidates for both these Assembly constituencies. Even Humayun Kabir-floated Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) has also announced its candidate from Rejinagar. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to declare names of its candidates within a day or two, it is still uncertain when the two factions in Trinamool Congress will announce the names of their candidates.
Manipal Hospitals scouts for acquisitions in Andhra, Keralam, Delhi-NCR
Manipal Health Enterprises Ltd is setting its sights on expansion in various states, including Telangana, Keralam, and Delhi-NCR, while pivoting towards a physical plus digital healthcare model driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The healthcare major is actively evaluating strategic opportunities in Telangana, Keralam, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh to selectively deepen its presence in identified markets, Manipal Health Enterprises said in its annual report for FY26. Manipal Hospitals continues to evaluate inorganic growth opportunities across Karnataka; Maharashtra and Goa, including the Mumbai-Pune economic corridor; and Eastern India, comprising West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and Sikkim, it said. A key pillar of its upcoming infrastructure is the greenfield project in Juhu, Mumbai. The group recently completed the acquisition of the remaining land and building for this project for a total consideration of Rs 495 crore, of which Rs 130 crore is payable subject to the ...
People free to choose food habits, religious practices: Bengal CM
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said people have the constitutional freedom to choose their food habits and religious practices, in an apparent response to godman Dhirendra Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba, over his purported remarks on Bengalis eating non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja. Speaking at a summit organised by a private news 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 .
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) Trinamool Congress founder Mamata Banerjees possible return as a member of the West Bengal Assembly has continued to dominate discussions, even as the jury has yet to decide which of the two current factions is the real party. The Election Commission on Saturday gave time to both groups, one under Mamata Banerjee -- often referred to as the Kalighat Trinamool from her home address and the other, led by former Left leader Ritabrata Banerjee, to put forward their respective claims for the original name and party symbol. Both are seeking the poll bodys recognition before by-elections to two Assembly seats in West Bengal -- left vacant after the respective winning candidates resigned -- are held next month. As per a recent Election Commission communique, the repoll will be held on October 6, with the last date for making nominations being Wednesday, just four days hence. While the Rejinagar Assembly Constituency was left vacant after the controversial Babri Mosque replica maker Humayun Kabir resigned, retaining his Naoda seat, Nandigram was vacated by current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for Bhabanipur, where he defeated his predecessor and once-mentor Mamata Banerjee. Incidentally, Mamata Banerjee lost to him from Nandigram in 2021 and had to subsequently seek re-election from Bhabanipur to become Chief Minister for the third successive term. Kabir has already extended an invitation to her to contest from Rejinagar, asserting that he can ensure her victory from the seat. He was earlier with the Trinamool Congress, but was suspended following his contentious decision to build a mosque modelled on Ayodhya's Babri Masjid at Rejinagar in West Bengals Murshidabad district. He went on to launch the Aam Janata Unnayan Party and contested from two seats simultaneously. In December last year, four months before the Assembly elections, he laid the foundation stone for the replica. Meanwhile, members of the Ritabrata faction have insisted that they would not field a candidate in Nandigram if Mamata Banerjee chose to contest herself. Ritabrata Banerjee, now the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, himself endorsed this, though quipping that a win would mean that she could enter the state legislature only through repolls. He was referring to her two successive losses, with a repoll ensuring her entry in the earlier case. Mamata Banerjee, or her camp, has yet to conclusively issue a statement on her contesting the upcoming by-elections. It is, however, almost certain that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold an edge in Nandigram in the absence of a candidate from the Ritabrata faction. His faction can split anti-Mamata Banerjee votes, where those still not supporting the BJP would have an option to exercise their franchise against the previous Trinamool regime. As of now, the faction under the feisty former Chief Minister stands reportedly somewhat jaded following this years election loss, subsequent crossing over by several leaders, MPs, and MLAs, and arrests or legal proceedings initiated against many, including Mamata Banerjees nephew and her partys General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
West Bengal shuts down 252 madrasas, sends show-cause notices to 100
West Bengal's minority affairs department has issued closure notices to 252 madrasas. About 100 other madrasas received show-cause notices for non-compliance. This action follows a survey of unaided and unauthorized madrasas across the state. The department aims to ensure modern education for all students. Further verification and enforcement actions will continue.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari targeted both the Left Front and Trinamool Congress government, accusing them of destroying the cultural traditions of Bengali Hindus in the State, and promised to restore the religious and cultural traditions
West Bengal elections: CPI(M), CPI announce candidates for Nandigram, Rejinagar bypolls
The CPI(M) and CPI have named their candidates for upcoming West Bengal by-elections. Advocate Sayeed Asad Ali will contest from Rejinagar for the CPI(M) party. Shanti Gopal Giri is the CPI's nominee for the Nandigram constituency. Voting is scheduled for October sixth, with results announced on October ninth. These bypolls were necessitated by recent resignations from the Assembly.
West Bengal professors oppose Govt.s inter-university transfer Bill, call it an attack on education
WBCUTA says arbitrary transfers will weaken universities already facing severe faculty shortages, vows to first write to the Governor, who is also the Cancellor of Universities, and make an appeal
Man Arrested for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting His 13-Year-Old Daughter in West Bengal
A man in Kolkata has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting his 13-year-old daughter, following a report by his elder daughter. Man Arrested for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting His 13-Year-Old Daughter in West Bengal
India to get another major DRDO missile testing range in Bengal
India is embarking on a pivotal project with the establishment of a new weapon and missile testing range in Junput, West Bengal. This state-of-the-art facility will complement the existing range in Chandipur, Odisha, marking the DRDO's third significant site. The initiative promises to not only bolster national defense capabilities but also promote substantial growth in West Bengal's infrastructure and economy.
CPI(M) and CPI announce candidates for West Bengal by-elections in Nandigram and Rejinagar
The News Mill
TMC rivals meet EC, resigned to interim name and symbol
Ex-Hawildar Faces UAPA, Arms Act
During his service, Mallesh also served at Barrackpore in West Bengal, a major military cantonment near Kolkata.
Buses with Kol students collide on NH-16, 1 injured
Man arrested for 24 crore bank fraud, forging docus
