Bengal coal smuggling case: Prime accused Anup Majhi surrenders in special CBI court

Shillong, May 14: Anup Majhi a.k.a. Lala, one of the prime accused in the coal smuggling case in West Bengal, on Tuesday surrendered in a special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Asansol in West Burdwan district. Lala had escaped arrest by the CBI sleuths because of a protection against arrest provided [] The post Bengal coal smuggling case: Prime accused Anup Majhi surrenders in special CBI court appeared first on The Shillong Times .

Midnapore's Dilip Ghosh takes tough Durgapur fight to TMC camp

Amid political tensions in Burdwan-Durgapur, clashes erupted during Dilip Ghosh's visit, leading to injuries and property damage. The day witnessed escalating violence and disruptions, highlighting the charged atmosphere of the ongoing campaign.

In coal & rice belts of Burdwan, Durgapur and Asansol, Trinamool eyes a turnaround

During the Lok Sabha elections, CM Mamata Banerjee aims for a clean sweep in Asansol, Burdwan-Durgapur, and Burdwan East. BJP counters with Dilip Ghosh and S S Ahluwalia while TMC targets woman voters.

Polling begins for eight West Bengal Assembly seats

Polling begins for eight West Bengal Assembly seats Polling for eight Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal began at 7 am on Monday, amid tight security arrangements, an EC official said. Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat (SC), Bardhaman Purba (SC), Bardhaman-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur (SC) and Birbhum seats in the state are going to polls in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Altogether 1.45 crore voters, of whom 71.45 lakh are women and 282 are belonging to the third gender, are eligible to exercise their franchise at 15,507 polling stations spread across several districts in south Bengal. Several heavyweight candidates, including state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Baharampur, and BJP's former state chief Dilip Ghosh from Burdwan-Durgapur, are in the fray. Ex-cricketer Yusuf Pathan is contesting as a TMC candidate in Baharampur, while actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha is the TMCs Asansol nominee. The BJP has fielded Rajmata Amrita Roy in Krishnanagar seat against sitting MP Mahua Moitra of the TMC. The Trinamool Congress has nominated former Indian cricketer Kirti Azad in Burdwan-Durgapur and renominated Satabdi Roy in Birbhum. The poll panel has identified 3,647 polling stations as critical. The maximum of 659 critical polling stations are in Bolpur, while the least number of 301 such booths are in Bardhaman Purba seat. There are 640 critical polling stations in Birbhum seat, while Baharampur has 558, Burdwan-Durgapur 422, Ranaghat 410, Krishnanagar 338, and Asansol 319. A maximum of 152 companies of central forces has been deployed in Bardhaman Purba, 131 in Birbhum, 88 in Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate area, 81 in Krishnanagar, 73 in Murshidabad and 54 in Ranaghat.

Nobody can stop CAA implementation: PM Modi gives five guarantees to Bengal

North 24 Parganas (West Bengal): Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Trinamool Congress and said that infiltrators are flourishing under the Mamata Banerjee rule and guaranteed to the people of West Bengal that nobody can stop the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the state. Addressing a rally in Barrackpur, PM Modi gave five guarantees to the people of West Bengal. I want to give five guarantees to the people of Bengal: - Nobody can give reservations based on religion. Reservations for SC, ST, and OBC will not be touched. Nobody can stop you from celebrating Ram Navami. The judgement of the Supreme Court on Ram Mandir will not be quashed. Nobody can stop the implementation of CAA, PM Modi said. The Prime Minister's remarks on the Ram Mandir verdict came days after former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had vowed to overturn the Supreme Court's Ram Mandir verdict if Congress forms the government at the Centre. PM Modi slammed the Opposition and said that they had made the CAA a villain adding that the CAA is to provide citizenship. Vote bank politics has presented a law like CAA, which protects humanity, But opposition made it a villain. CAA is a law to give citizenship to the victims, it does not take away anyone's citizenship. But parties like Congress-TMC painted it with the colour of their lies, he said. The Prime Minister alleged that the infiltrators are flourishing under the protection of TMC in the state. There was a time when many scientific discoveries were taking place in Bengal, today under the rule of TMC, the home industry of making bombs is running in many places. There was a time when Bengal used to revolt against the infiltrators, but today the infiltrators are flourishing here under the protection of TMC, he said. He further hit out at the West Bengal government over the law and order in the state on several religious occasions when violent incidents have been reported, and said that it has become difficult for a common man to follow his faith in Bengal. PM Modi continued his attack on the state government and highlighted the Sandeshkhali incident saying that goons of TMC are threatening the women of Sandeshkhali. Goons of TMC are threatening the women of Sandeshkhali only because the culprit's name is Shahjahan Sheikh. They are trying their best to save and protect him from legal action. Don't be afraid of TMC. You must give your full mandate to our candidate; each vote will reach me. Viksit Bengal is crucial for Viksit Bharat, he said. Mentioning the West Bengal teacher's recruitment case, PM Modi said that the money that TMC extorted from the people would be lawfully given back to the people. Modi will not let the corrupt leaders sit peacefully. They will be reprimanded! No corrupt leader will be spared. The money that TMC extorted from you will be lawfully given back to you, he said. Voting will take place for eight Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal in the fourth phase of voting to be held on May 13. The constituencies are Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Bardhaman Purba, Burdwan-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur and Birbhum. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC won 34 seats in the state, while the BJP had to settle for 2 seats. The CPI (M) won 2 seats, while the Congress bagged 4. However, the BJP came up with a much-improved showing in the 2019 polls, winning 18 seats against the TMC's 22. The Congress's tally dropped to just 2 seats, while the Left scored a blank.

PM Modi Accuses TMC of Turning Hindus into Second-Class Citizens in West Bengal

Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in Barrackpur, accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of relegating Hindus to second-class citizens in West Bengal during its regime.PM Modi expressed confidence in the BJP's increasing mandate in Bengal, stating, The enthusiastic faces of the people tell me that the BJP is going to receive an even higher mandate than it did in 2019. Bengal is saying, 'Phir Ek Baar, Modi Sarkar!' He criticized the TMC, alleging that it had turned bomb-making into a cottage industry in Bengal. PM Modi highlighted the challenges faced by the common man in practicing their faith in Bengal, citing instances where TMC threatened people for chanting the name of Lord Ram and hindered the celebration of Ram Navami. He also accused the Congress and Left of standing against the construction of the Ram Mandir.Regarding the INDI Alliance, PM Modi accused them of appeasement politics and engaging in 'Vote Jihad' against the BJP. He referenced a statement by a TMC leader who allegedly threatened to throw Hindus into the Bhagirathi River, questioning who supported such actions. PM Modi emphasized that under the TMC regime, Hindus had become second-class citizens in Bengal.Earlier, TMC MLA Humayun Kabir made controversial remarks during an election rally in Murshidabad, stating that Hindus would be drowned in the Bhagirathi River within two hours, or else he would leave politics. PM Modi blamed the Congress for neglecting the development of eastern Indian states during its decades-long governance. He highlighted the potential for economic growth in states like West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha, asserting that the Congress did little to harness their capabilities. He pledged to make East India the growth engine of Viksit Bharat, stating, Today, we are creating a network of roadways, railways, and waterways in the eastern states of India... Dedicated freight corridors have amplified industrialization in this area. The upcoming years will be dedicated to furthering the development of West Bengal and the surrounding states.PM Modi also conducted a roadshow in Barrackpore, West Bengal, before his rally. In the upcoming fourth phase of voting on May 13, eight Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal will go to the polls. These constituencies are Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Bardhaman Purba, Burdwan-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur, and Birbhum.In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC won 34 seats in the state, while the BJP secured 2 seats. The CPI (M) won 2 seats, and the Congress bagged 4.However, in the 2019 polls, the BJP significantly improved its performance, winning 18 seats against the TMC's 22. The Congress's tally dropped to just 2 seats, while the Left failed to secure any. CM Mohan Yadav Slams Congress for Encouraging NOTA Votes, Calls it an Insult to Democracy Protests Erupt in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) Over Economic Hardships Bomb Blast Rocks Residence of BJP Panchayat Pradhan in West Bengal

12 Dead in West Bengal Thunderstorm; CM Mamata Banerjee Expresses Condolences

Kolkata: 12 people have lost their lives in the Nor'wester followed by a heavy thunderstorm that hit West Bengal on Monday evening. Five of them, including an 11-year-old girl, were from Burdwan East. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee shared the death toll on X-handle with a heavy heart on Tuesday. She stated, Profoundly sad to know that 9 persons died due to thunderstorms and lightning last night (5 in Purba Burdwan, 2 each in Paschim Medinipur and Purulia), while 2 more persons died due to wall collapses in Nadia and 1 more due to tree collapse in South 24 Parganas. The CM added, Our district administrations everywhere have been working on disaster management mode round the clock and are taking actions to provide relief and ex gratia as per guidelines. My sincere condolences to the bereaved families of the 12 fellow citizens of Bengal. In Purulia, four youth Priya Ranjan Kumar (23), Rahul Kumar (25), Suresh Kumar (24) and Yudhishthir Kumar (28)-- were struck by lightning when they took shelter under a tree beside a pond at Arsa. Priyaranjan and Rahul died there. The other two seriously injured were admitted to a district hospital.

Devastation in West Bengal: 12 Dead Due to Storm and Lightning

Kolkata: W est Bengal witnessed significant devastation as a result of storms and lightning, leading to the tragic death of 12 people. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the forecast suggests that the storms may continue over the next few days, further raising concerns. The IMD has issued a warning of lightning in many districts of the state. Five people lost their lives in East Burdwan due to heavy rain and storms on Monday. Additionally, two people each lost their lives due to storms and lightning in West Midnapore and Purulia. Two deaths were reported in Nadia due to a wall collapse, while one person died in South 24 Parganas due to a tree uprooting. Expressing deep grief over the loss of lives, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter, stating, It is very sad to know that 12 people died due to storm and lightning on Monday night. She assured that the district administration is working round the clock in disaster management mode and is ready to provide relief and ex-gratia amounts to the affected families. IMD officials mentioned that a cyclonic circulation is developing along the border with Bangladesh, and a low-pressure area is forming from Jharkhand to Rajasthan. This change is drawing moisture from the Bay of Bengal, leading to thunderstorms and storms. The IMD predicts heavy rains in districts such as Jhargram, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, South 24 Parganas, Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum, and North 24 Parganas till May 11, along with the possibility of storms, lightning, and strong winds. North Bengal districts are also likely to experience storms. Putin Embarks on Fifth Term Amidst Global Scrutiny: A Look into Russia's Political Landscape Kendrick Lamar and Drake's Feud Turns Explosive: What You Need to Know Fatal Accident on Nagpur-Mumbai Samriddhi Expressway Claims Two Lives

PM Modi Faces Zero Allegations Of Corruption: Amit Shah

Kolkata : Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday pointing out corruption in West Bengal and Jharkhand asserted that allegation of even 25paise never surfaced against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 23 years of political career. Addressing a rally at Bardhaman-Durgapur parliamentary constituency, in support of BJP candidate Dilip Ghosh after leading a road show at Krishnanagar in Nadia, Shah said, `50 crore in cash was found at the houses of a Bengal minister and in Jharkhand, `350 crore in cash was recovered from the house of a Congress MP and last night `30 crore was seized from a ministers house, and added, shouldnt those who looted the money be put behind bars? Narendra Modi has 23 years of serving as chief minister and Prime Minister, but there has been no allegation of corruption of even 25paise against him. Shah also accused TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of driving away industries from the state and promised to revive industries. Bardhaman-Durgapur used to be an industrial town. But the goons of Mamata Didi destroyed the entrepreneurial environment here, he said. Shah said, Im giving you a Modi Guarantee. Elect Dilip da, BJP will take the initiative to reopen all the ventures lying shut at Bardhaman-Durgapur. There is a steel plant but rumours are spread that it will be shut down. But I declare that Modiji will pump in investments into the steel plant and a urea plant here and undertake its expansions. Reacting to Shahs allegations against her, TMC supremo at a TMC rally in Burdwan West said, You are talking about reopening all industries but your government also promised to give two crore jobs every year thus 20 crore jobs in 10 years. Did you give even a single job? Instead you are taking away teachers jobs. Questioning Shahs plans for the state, the Chief Minister asked the gathering, All the industries will be reopened but how? Ask them. Last time when Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri went to the polls, the Prime Minister told the public about reopening five tea gardens to get votes for BJP. Till date none of them reopened. Your words never come true; your lies are bigger than the gas balloons. On the corruption charges, she alleged, They are spending so much in advertisement because they looted so much earlier. Slamming the Election Commission of India, Banerjee said,Does anyone know where it is now? At least I cant find. Someone told me that the Model Code of Conduct has become the Modi Code of Conduct. Whatever he will say will happen.

Have asked BJP to form separate legal cell to provide help to genuine teachers in SSC scam: PM Modi

KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the West Bengal BJP unit to create a separate legal cell to provide help to genuine teachers and candidates who have lost jobs due to the School Service Commission (SSC) scam. While addressing an election rally at Burdwan-Durgapur, PM Modi said that although he wants those involved in corruption by the TMC to be punished, he does not want the innocent to suffer. The corruption that the TMC has done in Bengal regarding the school recruitment is shameful. Due to this scam, several genuine candidates have suffered. I have asked the Bengal BJP unit on behalf of the party to create a separate legal cell and social media platform to provide help to the genuine candidates and teachers, he said. Modis remark drew sharp criticism from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who said that after taking jobs from people, he is now trying to portray himself as a saviour. As elections are going on, just to garner support from the people, Modi is saying that he will help the genuine SSC candidates. Where was he when the Calcutta High Court gave the order? We have said we will help all the candidates and will see in due course of time whether or not the appointments madewere legal or illegal, added Banerjee. BJP will support such honest candidates and will provide them legal help and will fight for them. This is Modis guarantee, stressed the PM. Calcutta HC cancels 2016 SSC teachers' recruitment panel; almost 24,000 jobs affected Modis remarks came a week after the Supreme Court declared that whether it is possible to separate between legal and illegal appointments. Soon after this remark, SSC chairman held a press conference and said, They will see whether they can separate between legal and illegal appointments of SSC. Calcutta High Court declared the recruitment process of the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools as null and void, ordering the cancellation of all appointments made through it. Around 26,000 people have lost jobs following the court order. On 22 April, theCalcutta High Courtdeclared the entire panel of the 2016 SSC recruitment null and void due to identified irregularities in appointments across various educational sectors in the state. Justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi, comprising the division bench, unequivocally invalidated all appointments made through the 2016 state-level test conducted by the West Bengal SSC. The court mandated the administration to initiate fresh appointments within a 15-day timeframe. This resulted in the immediate job loss of teachers and non-teaching staff. The courts decree extends further, necessitating individuals appointed under the invalidated process to refund their salaries within a stipulated six-week period. HC order on Bengal school jobs 'illegal', will challenge: Mamata What is the 2016 SSC scam in Bengal The purportedWest Bengal School Service Commissionstems from the inception of the teacher hiring procedure in state owned schools through the State Level Selection Test (SLST) in 2014 with the recruitment officially starting in 2016. In 2016, the West Bengal government released a notification for the employment of 13,000 Group-D staff in state operated schools. Multiple petitions were lodged in the high court asserting discrepancies in the scandal. Allegations surfaced that numerous candidates with lower scores were ranked higher on the merit roster, prompting doubts about the integrity of the selection process. Furthermore, accusations emerged suggesting that individuals not listed on the merit roster received appointment letters. The recruitment exam was conducted to fill vacancies for the posts of assistant teachers for Classes 9-10, assistant teachers for Classes 11-12, Group C (clerks) and Group D posts. On 24 April, the West Bengal government under Mamata Banerjees leadership took the step to approach the Supreme Court, contesting the decision of the Calcutta High Court. This ruling revoked nearly 24,000 appointments of both teaching and non-teaching personnel, which were conducted through the 2016 SSC recruitment process. Reacting to the HCs verdict, Banerjee said, The court verdict cancelling all recruitments is illegal. We stand by those who lost jobs. We will ensure you get justice, and challenge the order in a higher court. However, quick relief to those affected is unlikely soon.

TMC Faces Tough Challenge from BJP in Arambagh, Outcome Hinges on Key Factors

TMC Faces Tough Challenge from BJP in Arambagh, Outcome Hinges on Key Factors Development, or the alleged lack of it, and recurrent floods in every monsoon are the key issues of the erstwhile red bastion Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal's Hooghly district, an SC-reserved political hotspot of the state in terms of law and order volatility. The TMC may have won the 2014 and 2019 editions of parliamentary polls in Arambagh, but the party's steady decline in vote share over the last two editions coupled with BJP trumping Trinamool in four of Arambaghs six assembly seats in Hooghly in the 2021 state polls are signs of an upcoming battle which Mamata Banerjee's party may find tougher to tide past than what appears on paper. That's perhaps why Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose Arambagh to kick start his poll campaigns in Bengal and addressed one of the poll season's first public meetings on March 1 from where he slammed the Mamata Banerjee government for ''betraying the people of the state''. The state's ruling dispensation has replaced its two-time MP Aparupa Poddar with Hooghly Zilla Parishad member Mitali Bag who debuts in parliamentary polls. The BJP nominated Arup Kanti Digar, also a first-timer. People, especially farmers, are in deep distress because of recurrent floods, Digar told PTI. ''Floods are a routine affair in places like Pursura, Goghat, Khanakul and Chandrakona during July-August every year. The TMC government has grossly misutilised Central funds to undertake measures like dredging of water bodies and building barrages while offering no more than lip service to the Ghatal master plan to control flood damages in neighbouring Paschim Medinipur,'' he said. He also accused the state government of discriminating against the area by neglecting the creation of employment opportunities for youths. The panchayats withheld disbursal of central funds for several welfare schemes of the Narendra Modi government among the poor, the BJP candidate further alleged. Rubbishing Digar's narrative, his TMC counterpart claimed that women and youths of the constituency benefitted from various schemes implemented in the state by the Mamata Banerjee government. Bag said, ''The less BJP talks about Arambagh's flood, the better. Despite constant pleas by our government and our MPs, the BJP-run Centre is yet to act on the Ghatal master plan or the Mayurakshi and Keleghai flood control projects.'' ''An integrated plan is needed to prevent flooding of the basin-like area during monsoon, but the Centre's discriminatory attitude has proved to be the stumbling block in all these years,'' she alleged. The CPI(M) which had won Arambagh ten times before 2014 has fielded Biplab Maitra, a primary school teacher. A district leader of the CPI(M) stated that the party was virtually wiped out from the seat over the last decade on account of ''terror unleashed by the TMC''. The CPI(M) bagged 1,00,520 votes in 2019, which was less than seven per cent of the votes polled. This time, however, the situation is different, he claimed. ''The young generation, particularly the unemployed graduates, are upset with the TMC for not only failing in industrialization but also turning the state's education sector into a mess by perpetrating job scams of unprecedented levels. We hope to do well if the polling is free and fair,'' the CPI(M) leader said. Arambagh is home to vast swathes of agrarian land and comprises mostly rural assembly pockets like Haripal, Tarakeswar, Pursurah, Arambagh, Goghat, Khanakul. It also includes Chandrakona, the only assembly segment falling in the neighbouring district of Paschim Medinipur. Election observers are of the opinion that the fight between the TMC and BJP is likely to go down to the wire this time around. ''The TMC seems to be on a bit of a sticky wicket this time due to grassroots grievances on development in the area and recurrent flooding. The school job recruitment scam is likely to have an impact as well. A sizeable number of young teaching job aspirants hail from Arambagh in particular and Hooghly district in general,'' academic and Pursura resident Ashis Bera said. Bera, a political science professor at Burdwan University, stated that the Sandeshkhali incident may also cast a shadow on the prospects of the ruling dispensation. ''There is a strong undercurrent of support for Mamata Banerjee among women. It needs to be seen if her social welfare schemes can tilt the balance in her favour. Arambagh is also a microcosm of the entire southern part of West Bengal. Hence the trend here can largely reflect on the ruling party's poll fortunes in the other so-called 'safe seats' of the party south of the Farakka barrage,'' he said. Digar said that Banerjee's decision to remove Aparupa Poddar, the two-time winner from Arambagh, from the poll fray shows everything is not well within the TMC. She claimed factional fights within the TMC will adversely impact its electoral prospects. ''TMC won by only 1,142 votes last time. Keep watching which way the wind blows when the votes are counted on June 4,'' the BJP nominee said. Bag, however, dismissed her opponent's claims and stated that such averments were mere political ploys which had little truth in them.. Arambagh will go to polls in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 20.

Mamata Banerjee falls while trying to board a chopper in Durgapur

KOLKATA : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost her balance and fell while attempting to board a chopper in Durgapur, West Burdwan district, on Saturday. CM Banerjee slipped and fell while trying to take a seat on her helicopter. Her security personnel at the scene assisted her to her seat. The Trinamool chief reportedly suffered a minor injury, but was still able to proceed with her journey to Asansol. Mamata Banerjee was en route to Kulti for an election rally when the incident occurred. The CM fell inside the helicopter after losing her balance while trying to sit. She is fine, a senior officer accompanying Banerjee said. Following the incident, she flew to Kulti and addressed the rally in support of TMCs Asansol candidate and veteran Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha. Just about a month ago, on March 14, Banerjee, 69, had sustained serious injuries to her forehead after falling at her home in Kalighat, Kolkata. Banerjee has suffered injuried quite often. Ealier in March, the chief minister was injured when she had a gash on her forehead. She had also suffered a leg injury in Spain in the year 2023. Flew to Kulti Mamata Banerjee flew to Kulti and addressed the rally in support of TMCs Asansol candidate and veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha

BJP's Dilip Ghosh faces electoral test for political survival in Bardhaman-Durgapur

BJP's Dilip Ghosh faces electoral test for political survival in Bardhaman-Durgapur In the Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency, a region known for altering political allegiance in every election, BJP candidate Dilip Ghosh faces a pivotal challenge to overturn this pattern and secure his political future. Since its establishment in 2009, Bardhaman-Durgapur has sent CPI(M), TMC and BJP representatives once each to the Lok Sabha in the three previous polls. In 2019, BJP's S S Ahluwalia clinched the seat from the TMC by a narrow margin of approximately 3,000 votes, marking it as a challenging battleground for the saffron party. With the odds stacked up, the BJP is placing its faith in Ghosh, widely regarded as one of its most successful state presidents, to retain its foothold in the region. Political analysts believe that Ghoshs relocation from his previous Medinipur constituency, coupled with his removal from the post of party's national vice-president, have turned the Bardhaman-Durgapur contest into a critical test of both prestige and political survival for Ghosh. ''Dilip Ghosh is now fighting a battle for his political survival. He is presently cornered in his own party. A victory would rejuvenate his political career, while a defeat could cast doubts over it,'' said Maidul Islam, a political scientist at the Centre for Studies in Social Science. During Ghosh's tenure as the state BJP president, the party won 18 Lok Sabha seats in 2019. Despite the challenging circumstances, the BJP leader remains optimistic about his prospects. ''I am a loyal party member, and I embrace any role assigned to me. This is a challenge I am prepared to overcome,'' Ghosh told PTI. Highlighting his track record of political firsts, he added, ''I became the state president within nine months of joining the party. I became an MLA in my first attempt, by defeating the 10-time MLA Gyan Singh Sohanpal. I also became an MP in my first attempt. Bardhaman-Durgapur presents another new challenge for me.'' Ghosh's opponents in this electoral race include TMC candidate and former India cricketer Kirti Azad, as well as the LeftCongress alliance candidate Sukriti Ghoshal. The TMC, eager to reclaim the seat, faces the hurdle of Azad being labelled an ''outsider'' by the BJP. However, Azad dismissed these concerns, stating, ''I am an Indian, and any Indian can contest from any part of the country. This election is about issues and policies, not individuals.'' In contrast, the BJP has launched a campaign emphasizing Azad's outsider status, echoing the ''insider-outsider'' narrative used by the TMC during the 2021 assembly polls. The ''insider-outsider'' debate in West Bengal gained traction ahead of the 2021 state elections, with the ruling TMC leveraging Bengali sub-nationalism to counter the BJP's Hindutva narrative. The constituency, created after the reorganisation of parliamentary constituencies in 2008, is a blend of industrial and farming regions, appealing to both rural and urban voters. It comprises seven assembly segments: Burdwan South, Burdwan North, Monteswar, Bhatar, Galsi, Durgapur East, and Durgapur West. In the 2021 assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) clinched victories in all segments except Durgapur West. The assembly seats in this constituency were once bastions of the Left parties. However, with changing political tides in Bengal since the defeat of the Left Front government in 2011, the TMC has been steadily gaining ground in the area. In 2009, the CPI(M)'s Saidul Haque won the Lok Sabha seat with over one lakh votes against Congress-supported TMC candidate, Nargis Begam. But in 2014, TMC's Mamtaz Sanghamitra wrested the seat from Haque. Five years later, the elections saw a close contest, with SS Ahluwalia of the BJP narrowly defeating the TMC by a margin of 0.1 per cent votes, with the two parties garnering 42.3 and 42.2 per cent of the votes respectively. The constituency has a Muslim population of nearly 20 per cent while the scheduled caste community comprises 27 per cent. With the Left-Congress alliance entering the fray, the upcoming election promises a three-cornered fight, a departure from the previous bipolar contests. ''This area has a rich history of trade unions and peasant movements led by the Left. The CPI(M) maintains its base here, evident from the 2016 assembly polls when the Left-Congress alliance won two assembly segments,'' said Islam. In 2019, the CPI(M) secured over 1.5 lakh votes, accounting for 11.5 per cent of the total votes polled, while the Congress garnered nearly 38,000 votes, representing 2.3 per cent of the votes. ''With the Left-Congress alliance, we are optimistic about winning the seat. The electorate is disenchanted with both the TMC and the BJP,'' Ghosal said. Islam highlighted that if the Left-Congress alliance secures over 15 per cent of the votes polled, the electoral battle could swing either way as far as the TMC and BJP are concerned. Sensing the imminent danger of Left-Congress, Ghosh has recently appealed to the Left voters to vote for the BJP in the fight against the ''corrupt TMC'', a plea which was rejected outright by the CPI(M). The Left-Congress alliance aims to resonate with the people on issues like unemployment and agrarian crisis, stemming from state and central policies, as their primary campaign themes in the constituency which goes to vote on May 13.

Didi: I Dont Interfere in Departmental Hiring; TMC Govt Moves SC Against HC Order

Kolkata: As the Trinamul Congress government on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court's judgment canceling the jobs of 25,753 West Bengal school education department employees over corruption in their recruitment, chief minister Mamata Banerjee tried to distance herself the monumental scam under her rule. During the day, the School Service Commission (SSC), which recruited the candidates including teaching and non-teaching staff in 2016, filed a special leave petition at the SC against the order of the HC division bench. SSC chairman Siddhartha Majumdar said, There have been allegations against 5000 candidates of illegally getting jobs. But why would nearly 26,000 candidates lose jobs for that? The CM later raised the issue at a Lok Sabha Election campaign rally in Burdwan East in support of Bolpur TMC candidate Asit Mal. She claimed, It is the lookout of a concerned department how it recruits employees. I do not interfere in it. But nearly 26000 employees were terminated from their jobs. They were asked to return their salaries with interest. I felt bad about it. Ms Banerjee alleged, I'm asking those BJP leaders, who are snatching jobs like this, whether they would be able to return the salaries of their entire government service if they were told similarly. Where will these 26000 people go? Will the schools in Bengal go for closure? Won't teachers' recruitment happen further? She added, I still have 10 lakh government jobs to offer. But the court is stalling them if any appeal is filed. It is a big pilgrimage for the BJP. If BJP files a PIL, it gets what it asks for. But if others pray for justice, door is closed for them. Meanwhile the National Commission for Women has condemned a controversial remark by TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee against Malda South BJP candidate Sreerupa Mitra Choudhury and sought a report from state DGP within four days.

Yusuf Pathan and Kirti Azad: Two cricketers from TMC seemingly on sticky wicket

KOLKATA: Two cricketers, who are contesting in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Trinamool Congress are seemingly on a sticky wicket . While Yusuf Pathan, the TMC candidate from Behrampore, takes on seven time MP from Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Kirti Azad takes on BJP strongman Dilip Ghosh from Burdwan East. These two former cricketers are now in an alien wicket as they are outsiders. When it comes to advantages, both Pathan and Azad have nothing to lose because Pathan is new in politics, but Azad has got some dabbling in politics. He was previously associated with Congress for a brief stint. They are new in politics and so if they lose it does not matter to them. But on the down side, both Adhir Chowdhury and Dilip Ghosh are Goliaths. Adhir is a seven-time MP. Dilip Ghosh is also an MP and former state president and tough contender. They are also ready to bet their political career on this election as well. On Tuesday, Chowdhury said, If I lose Behrampore , I will quite politics altogether. The internal conflicts within the Party also playing bad for the cricketers. TMC is riddled with factional fights in Burdwan Eastso much so that a few days back, during a rally,two groups of TMC clashed with each other in front of the candidate and Azad had to stop the rally and seek refuge in the temple. Few days back BJP alleged that Yousuf Pathan used the picture of Sachin Tendulkar to woo the voters. Outsiders The BJP on Sunday picked up the Lok Sabha candidates list of the Trinamool Congress to counter the ruling partys charge that the BJP was anti-Bengal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was an outsider to the state. Speaking on the sidelines of the BJPs rally in Sandeshkhali, BJP state chief Sukanta Majumdar tore into Trinamuls choice of outsider candidates, including former Indian cricketers Yusuf Pathan and Kirti Azad. West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar pointed out that TMC candidates Kirti Azad and Yusuf Pathan arent from the state. Just half an hour before TMCs list was announced, Abhishek Banerjee was making statements like the BJP is anti-Bengal. Now, when the candidates are announced, its clear that TMC is bringing people from outside. I dont know if Kirti Azad and Yusuf Pathan are Bengali, Yusuf Pathan is from Gujarat, and so is PM Modi, but for them, PM Modi is an outsider, he said. According to BJP, INDIA alliance is nothing but a ship without a captain. Its CM Mamata Banerjees strategy and also she is in fear that she wants no other leader to get more importance and become a bigger leader than Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, hence they give tickets to actresses so that her nephew continues to be a politician, he added. Yusuf Pathan hits campaign trail in Baharampur; Adhir says, 'politics and cricket are not same' Pathan played 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is for India from 2007 to 2012 during which time he scored 810 runs with 2 hundreds and 3 fifties in 50-overs cricket while in the shortest format he amassed 236 runs. The 41-year-old broke into the limelight thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he was a key part of the Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals team which won the inaugural title in 2008. He achieved major success during his 8-year stint with Kolkata Knight Riders where he won the IPL title two more times in 2012 and 2014 under Gautam Gambhir's captaincy. In another notable move, former Indian cricketer and 1983 World Cup winner Kirti Azad has received a TMC party ticket to run for the Durgapur Lok Sabha seat. It's worth mentioning that Kirti Azad previously won the Lok Sabha elections from Darbhanga in 2014 under the BJP ticket. However, in 2018, he departed from BJP and joined the Congress, later shifting allegiance to the TMC in 2021. Northeast BJP CMs slam TMC leader Kirti Azad for tweet over PMs attire

Election 2024: CPM bets on young and fresh faces in West Bengal

NEW DELHI: The highlight of the first set of Lok Sabha candidates for West Bengal announced by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) is that the party has reposed confidence in its youth leadership to take political heavyweights in the state. The party has so far announced names for 17 seats and at least 12 of them are young and fresh faces. Youngest of the lot is Dipsita Dhar (30); joint secretary of Student Federation of India (SFI). She has been fielded from Sreerampur against the three-time MP of Trinamool Congress Kalyan Banerjee.The student leader is the granddaughter of noted CPM leader Padma Nidhi Dhar. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Kabir Shankar Bose, a Supreme Court lawyer, from the seat. Dipsita has been at the forefront of various student-led protests and has been vocal on issues related to gender, sexual harassment and Indian higher education. She was also actively involved in the Justice for Rohit Vemula movement and the anti-CAA protests. Srijan Bhattacharya (31)--former secretary of Students Federation of India (SFI) of the statehas been pitted against actor Saayoni Ghosh of TMC in the prestigious Jadavpur parliamentary constituency. Bhattacharyas parents were also leftist student activists and his grandfather Achintya Bhattacharyya was a communist leader of Assam. A scholar-turned-politician Anirban Ganguly isthe BJPs candidate from the seat. Saira Shah Halim (46), CPMs nominee from Kolkata Dakshi also comes from an illustrious family of Left party leaders of West Bengal. His husband Dr Fuad Halim is the son of the veteran Leftist leader Hasim Abdul Halim, who served as the speaker of the Bengal assembly for almost three decades. Saira is the daughter of retired Lieutenant General Zameer Uddin Shah and niece of actor Naseeruddin Shah. Lok Sabha polls 2024: Left, Congress talks on in West Bengal to keep BJP, TMC at bay She actively participated in the campaign against the National Register of Citizens and the Citizenship Amendment Act in Bengal and Delhi. She has been speaking on the rights of religious minorities and LGBTQ+ community. On her candidature from the seat, Saira said, People here are looking for an alternative which is not corrupt and communalist. So I hope the public will like my candidature and give me their blessings. The party has nominated two young lawyers; Sayan Banerjee (31) from Tamluk and Sabyasachi Chatterjee (39) from Howrah constituency. Banerjee, a fresher in politics but quite popular in the civil society because of his arguments at the Calcutta High Court in the school-job case is challenging former judge of Calcutta High Court Abhijit Gangopadhyay. The TMC has named its youth leader Debangshu Bhattacharya from the constituency. Basically the thought behind the entire plan of nominating the young candidates is to attract the youth; younger generation because the majority of the electoratebelong to the 18-40 years age group. The party has nominated young candidates; it is a hope for the new generation and we believe that if young educated youth dont come forward then the entire political vacuum will be taken over by hooligans and corrupt, he said. Chatterjee, also a practicing lawyer in the Calcutta High Court, has been given ticket to face incumbent MP of TMC Prasun Banerjee, a former professional footballer, and Arjuna Awardee and BJPs Rathin Chakraborty . Nearly half of Bengal's new voters reluctant to vote in2024 Lok Sabhaelecions Chatterjee said that his priority would be redevelopment and revival of industry in Howrah and rein in illegal construction. Howrah is a mix of rural and urban areas. Congestion and unauthorized construction are two big issues in the constituency. If I am elected, my priority will be to make proper planning for restoration and rival industry; to find out possibilities and work on thembasically planning for the unplanned city, he said. The other new faces of CPM in these elections are Debraj Burman (Jalpaiguri), Nilanjan Dasgupta (Bankura), Shital Kaibarta (Bishnupur), Monodip Ghosh (Hooghly) and Nirab Khan (Burdwan Purba).

Four Bengal DMs removed by ECI replaced with IAS-cadre officers

Kolkata, March 22 (IANS) The four District Magistrates in West Bengal, who were removed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday, were replaced by the state government with four Indian Administrative Service (IAS)-rank officers on Friday. On Thursday, the ECI ordered the removal of the DMs of East Midnapore, East Burdwan, Jhargram, and []

Mamata Banerjee Suffers Deep Head Injuries, Admitted to Hospital: TMC

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister and Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee suffered deep head injuries after she fell down at her residence in Kalighat of south Kolkata on Thursday evening. She was rushed to SSKM Hospital and has been admitted to a cabin at Woodburn Block. A medical board has been set up by the hospital authorities for her treatment. A specialist doctor from Apollo Gleneagles Hospital also joined the team of doctors. The CM underwent stitches on her forehead and MRI. She was later seen taken away on a wheelchair with a bandage on her head. Her injuries became public at around 8.10 pm when TMC posted a photo of her wounded forehead with blood stains, while she was lying on the hospital bed, on X-handle and wrote, Our chairperson @MamataOfficial sustained a major injury. Please keep her in your prayers. According to TMC insiders, Ms Banerjee was walking inside her residence on Harish Chatterjee Street after returning home from an event in memory of her late cabinet colleague and mentor Subrata Mukherjee in Gariahat. Her MP nephew Abhishek Banerjee and other family members were also present then. Sources claimed that when the CM was walking around, she suddenly fell down while her forehead hit the edge of a furniture set in the room. Mr Banerjee later brought her to SSKM. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said on X-handle, Honble Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar has inquired about the health of the Honble Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms Mamata Banerjee, expressing his deep anguish and wishing speedy recovery. State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said, Wishing CM @MamataOfficial a speedy recovery. Our prayers are with her for a quick return to good health This was the second time in the last two months Ms Banerjee was injured. On January 24, she was hurt after her car made an emergency halt to avoid a collision with another vehicle that entered her convoy at a high speed in Burdwan. Last year, the CM had leg injuries during the Spain-tour.