Page 2 - Mamata Banerjee

Mamata vs Suvendu: Bhabanipur contest turns into high-stakes showdown

In the calculus of West Bengal's electoral politics, Bhabanipur has emerged as the X factor. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is pitted in a pitched battle with the BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in her long-held bastion, making it the state's most closely watched Assembly seat. While the Trinamool Congress is looking to retain its stronghold in south Kolkata with organisational strength and emotion, the BJP wants to breach the keep by banking on social arithmetic and symbolism. The fight is reminiscent of the electoral clash between Banerjee and Adhikari in the 2021 Assembly polls, when the chief minister had taken on her protege-turned-rival, who had then just joined the BJP, in the latter's home turf, Nandigram. Banerjee had lost the fight, although the BJP had been drubbed by the TMC five years ago. She later won the Bhabanipur Assembly bypolls. The turf has changed, and it remains to be seen if the result does too. Mamata Banerjee's party is banking on the "'ghorer meye' (girl next doo

TMC counters Shah's chargesheet, seeks answers on Manipur violence

The Trinamool Congress slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday with a counter to his "chargesheet" against the Mamata Banerjee government, accusing the BJP of trying to polarise the people of poll-bound West Bengal and evade accountability for its own record on a host of issues, including women's safety. Hours after Shah's press conference here, the incumbent TMC questioned the BJP-led Centre over the prolonged violence in Manipur, women's safety in BJP-ruled states and the Centre's handling of illegal immigration. Senior TMC leaders Mahua Moitra, Bratya Basu and Kirti Azad held a joint press conference where the trio targeted the Union home minister over his criticism of the TMC government on women's safety. "Amit Shah is talking about women's security. What is the condition of women's safety in BJP-ruled states?" "Shah should first answer about violence in Manipur, which has bled continuously for the past three years," TMC MP Moitra said. The counter-charges came after

BJP will lose power by attempting to destroy Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday asserted that the BJP will lose power in the country in its attempt to destroy West Bengal. Addressing a poll rally in Raniganj, she announced that after winning the West Bengal assembly elections for the fourth consecutive time, she would bring all political parties along to "capture" Delhi. "If the BJP comes to power in the state, they will use bulldozers and throw everyone out," Banerjee claimed. "By attempting to destroy Bengal, the BJP will lose power across the country," the chief minister asserted at the rally in the mining town of Paschim Bardhaman district. Accusing the Election Commission of working at the behest of the saffron party to delete voters' names in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Banerjee said, "There must be a Lakshman Rekha, but the BJP is crossing all limits." "SIR will be your death knell," she warned the BJP. Referring to clashes during the Ram Navami procession in Murshidaba

Voting rights being snatched today, citizenship next: Mamata slams BJP, EC

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP, the Centre and the Election Commission, accusing them of misusing Constitutional institutions to undermine democracy. Addressing an election rally in North Bengal's Maynaguri, she alleged the BJP-led Centre and the Election Commission were "snatching voting rights" and warned the next step could be attempts to snatch away citizenship by imposing NRC. Banerjee also alleged that certain communities were being excluded from the poll processes through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. "Rajbanshis names have been removed through SIR. Women's names are also being removed. If deaths occur because of SIR, who will take responsibility?" she posed. The Trinamool Congress supremo said, "The EC, BJP and the Centre are not following the Constitution and are trying to snatch away voting rights. Today, they are snatching away voting rights; tomorrow, they will snatch away citizenship

Mamata Banerjee quits 23 posts across bodies ahead of Bengal polls

Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly polls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday resigned from 23 offices and positions she held across departments and affiliated bodies, according to an official communication. In a letter from the state's home department, its counterparts in the state government were directed to initiate necessary steps for the acceptance of her resignation from the posts, as well as from any other positions that may not have been explicitly listed in her communique. Banerjee is fighting the Assembly polls from the Bhabanipur seat in south Kolkata against the state's Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.. "I am directed to forward a copy of the communication which would reveal that Mamata Banerjee has, with immediate effect, resigned from the offices/posts as mentioned in the enclosed list," the letter stated. The incumbent CM resigned as head of state health mission, and as chairperson of the state wildlife board, ecotourism advisory board, committee for the .

The shadow of SIR on West Bengal Assembly elections sharpens battle lines

A high-stakes electoral battle unfolds in West Bengal as candidate reshuffles, voter roll revisions, and shifting political narratives redefine the contest

TMC releases list of 17 candidates ahead of Assam Assembly elections

The Assam assembly polls will be held on April 9, and votes will be counted on May 4

Mamata releases TMC manifesto, expands welfare schemes for women, youth

The party promised an increase of ₹500 in financial support for women, and a ₹1,500 monthly allowance for all unemployed youth in the state

Mamata calls officials' transfers 'highest order of political interference'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed alarm over the "arbitrary removal of more than 50 senior officials" in the poll-bound state, terming it a "political interference of the highest order". Continuing with her tirade against the Election Commission, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo claimed that such action amounted to "systematic politicisation of institutions" and a "direct assault on the Constitution". After announcing the schedule for the assembly polls, the Election Commission has ordered several reshuffles of senior officers, including the transfer of Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty, Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena, and the removal of DGP Peeyush Pandey and Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar. On Wednesday, the poll body ordered a fresh reshuffle of senior officers, posting two secretaries to other poll-bound states as observers, and deploying 13 IAS and five IPS officers in key poll management roles. Slamming the poll body, ...

West Bengal Assembly polls: Trinamool Congress drops 74 sitting MLAs

Mamata Banerjee's TMC drops 74 sitting MLAs in Bengal poll list, signalling a generational shift; Congress also unveils first list for Kerala Assembly elections

Mamata accuses EC of transferring officers at BJP's behest before polls

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the EC, alleging that senior administrative and police officers were being transferred ahead of the assembly polls at the behest of the BJP. She warned that the poll body and the saffron party would be responsible if any untoward incident happens in the state. Addressing reporters while announcing the Trinamool Congress candidate list for the 2026 assembly elections, Banerjee questioned the timing of the changes in key administrative posts, particularly ahead of Eid. "Why are senior officers being transferred just before Eid? Are there plans to trigger riots before elections?" she said. The chief minister alleged that the list of officers who were transferred was prepared at the BJP's office and the decision was merely implemented by the Election Commission. She further alleged that some officials from outside West Bengal had been brought in to assist the BJP in the electoral ...

Mamata to take on Suvendu in Bhabanipur as TMC releases candidate list

Betting on calibrated generational change and organisational loyalty rather than star power, the ruling TMC on Tuesday unveiled candidates for 291 of the 294 West Bengal assembly seats, signalling a strategy of controlled churn as it seeks a fourth straight term in office. The Mamata Banerjee-Suvendu Adhikari rivalry is set to acquire a fresh electoral theatre in Bhabanipur, where the chief minister will defend her seat even as the BJP has fielded the leader of opposition from the constituency. The stage is set for a direct face-off between the two rivals who first clashed in Nandigram in the 2021 assembly polls, when Adhikari defeated his former mentor by a narrow margin despite the TMC's sweeping victory across the state. Announcing the list from her Kalighat residence, Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee said the party would leave the three Darjeeling hills seats to ally Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) led by Anit Thapa and expressed confidence of crossing .

West Bengal elections: Another Banerjee vs Adhikari showdown likely

BJP fields Suvendu Adhikari from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur as part of strategy to challenge Mamata Banerjee in upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls

Mamata Banerjee raises monthly honorarium for purohits, muezzins by ₹500

Hours before the scheduled announcement of assembly polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced an increase of Rs 500 in the monthly honorarium for purohits and muezzins. With the revision, the beneficiaries will now receive Rs 2,000 per month. "I am pleased to announce an increase of Rs 500 in the monthly honorarium extended to our purohits and muezzins, whose service sustains the spiritual and social life of our communities. With this revision, they will now receive Rs 2,000 per month," she said in an X post. The chief minister said the state government has approved all fresh applications submitted by purohits and muezzins for the honorarium. "At the same time, all fresh applications that have been duly submitted by purohits and muezzins have also been approved by the state government," Banerjee said. Highlighting the government's stance on religious harmony and support for traditional institutions, she added, "We take pride in nurturing an environment

WB govt to clear DA arrears of its employees, pensioners from March 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced that her government will clear DA arrears of its employees and pensioners, including teachers, non-teaching staffers, and workers of grant-in-aid institutions, from March this year. The announcement came within minutes of hiking the honorarium for purohits and muezzins, ahead of the scheduled announcement of state assembly polls. "They will start receiving their ROPA 2009 DA arrears from March 2026 onwards as per the modalities detailed out in the notifications issued by our finance department," Banerjee said in a post on X. The arrears relate to the Revision of Pay and Allowances (ROPA) 2009, a long-standing demand of government employees and pensioners, covering salaries and allowances of teachers, municipal and panchayat staffers, and other grant-in-aid institutions. A section of state government employees had moved the Supreme Court on the contentious issue, demanding clearance of DA dues. The top court ordered the

'Countdown has begun, change in Bengal inevitable': PM Modi in Kolkata

Addressing a rally in Kolkata ahead of West Bengal Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the TMC government of lawlessness and announced infrastructure projects worth ₹18,680 crore

PM arrives in Kolkata, to unveil development projects worth over ₹18,500 cr

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal on Saturday to address a rally at the iconic Brigade Parade Ground here and unveil development projects worth around Rs 18,680 crore, in his first trip to the state after the publication of the post-SIR electoral rolls last month. The rally, organised by the BJP, will mark the culmination of the party's statewide 'Parivartan Yatra' ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. After the surge in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the setback in the 2021 assembly polls, the BJP's yatra is being seen as its most expansive statewide mobilisation in recent years. The yatra, which began on March 1, a day after the publication of the revised electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision exercise, criss-crossed nearly 5,000 km across the state, covering 237 assembly constituencies. According to official data released on February 28, following the SIR exercise, 63.66 lakh names, around 8.3 per cent of the electorate, have been deleted since

Ahead of polls, CM Mamata announces development boards for 5 communities

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that her government would constitute new cultural and development boards for five communities. Banerjee, who made the announcement ahead of the assembly polls, said the boards will safeguard the customary rights and ensure socio-economic growth of these communities. "I am pleased to announce that our government intends to constitute soon five new Cultural and Development Boards for the Munda (ST), Kora (ST), Dom (SC), Kumbhakar (OBC) and Sadgope (OBC) communities," she said in a social media post. Stating that these communities are integral to the vibrant fabric of the state, the CM said, "The boards will protect their unique languages and traditions while ensuring better education, healthcare, and jobs." Banerjee said that since 2013, her government has established many such boards for our weaker communities, ensuring their all-around development. "We remain dedicated to ensuring no community is left behind," she said

RN Ravi sworn in as 22nd governor of Bengal after predecessor's resignation

Former IPS officer R N Ravi took oath as the 22nd governor of West Bengal at a ceremony in Lok Bhavan on Thursday morning. He was administered the oath by Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Sujoy Paul, in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, senior minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim and Left Front chairman Biman Bose. No leader from the opposition BJP camp, however, was present at the programme. Several senior bureaucrats, including Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty and senior police officers, also attended the event. Ravi was appointed the governor of West Bengal following the resignation of his predecessor C V Ananda Bose on March 5. Ravi had earlier served as the governor of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu.

PM Modi accuses Bengal govt of insulting President Murmu during state visit

Accusing the West Bengal government of insulting President Droupadi Murmu during her visit to the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said it was "shameful and unprecedented" and the TMC dispensation has "truly crossed all limits". The prime minister was reacting after President Murmu expressed her displeasure over the change of venue of the Santal conference, which she attended in the state, and the absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her ministers during her visit. PM Modi said that the office of the President is above politics and its sanctity should always be respected. He expressed the hope that better sense will prevail among the West Bengal government and the ruling TMC. "This is shameful and unprecedented. Everyone who believes in democracy and the empowerment of tribal communities is disheartened," Modi said in a post on 'X' The prime minister said that the pain and anguish expressed by the President, who herself hails from a tribal ...