Page 3 - Mamata Banerjee

Mamata questions SIR in BJP states, warns Centre over voter deletions

Mamata said the SIR exercise was creating fear and confusion, alleging the EC had turned into a "BJP Commission" by pushing through a hurried voter list revision ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls

Bengal govt to allocate 1.6 mn houses under state scheme by 2026 mid-Jan

The West Bengal government announced that 16,36,522 more houses would be allocated to beneficiaries under the 'Banglar Bari' housing scheme by the middle of January next year. Announcing this after a cabinet meeting on Monday, senior minister Chandrima Bhattacharya accused the central government of depriving the state of funding for the scheme. "To date, 12 lakh houses have already been handed over under the 'Banglar Bari' scheme despite the Centre depriving the state government. We will hand over 16,36,522 houses to those who deserve to get them by mid-January," she said. Meanwhile, the Cabinet gave its nod to a significant expansion of industrial infrastructure under the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation Limited (WBIDC) to boost employment opportunities, Bhattacharya said. "New plots will be allocated for seven new industrial parks across the state. They will be set up in Coochbehar (2 plots), Kalyani (1), Uluberia (1), Bishnupur (1) and Falta (2)," the minister ...

TMC accuses Election Commission of bias, links SIR to multiple deaths

The Trinamool Congress on Saturday accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of acting to appease a particular political party and linked the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to recent multiple deaths, including those of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and ordinary citizens. The party also claimed that 34 people in the state have died during the ongoing SIR exercise and demanded that the ECI take responsibility for these deaths. Senior TMC leaders Arup Biswas, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Partha Bhowmick visited the CEO's office on Saturday and submitted a memorandum outlining these concerns. "Work that normally takes two years is being compressed into two months. The Commission is being accused of trying to favour a political party. The names of 150 to 200 voters are being deliberately omitted at each booth. The Commission's website is full of errors. These lapses are costing lives," senior West Bengal minister Arup Biswas told reporters. The TMC leaders also alleged that B

Mamata Banerjee to hold SIR protest rally in West Bengal's Matua heartland

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will hold a rally at Trikone Park on November 25 before leading a 3-km march from Chandpara to Thakurnagar, the Matua spiritual headquarters, as part of her campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Banerjee's move marks the latest escalation in her campaign against the SIR of electoral rolls, a drive she has denounced as "coercive" and "chaotic," and which has triggered deep anxiety across the refugee belts of North and South Bengal. Her choice of Bongaon, the symbolic seat of Matua political consciousness, reflects both the scale of unrest and the high-stakes battle for a community that has shaped Bengal's electoral arithmetic for nearly a decade. According to TMC leaders, Banerjee will fly from Kolkata on Tuesday afternoon, with a temporary helipad being prepared at Pratapgarh ground on Chakdah Road. The public meeting at Trikone Park is scheduled for 1 pm, following which she will walk to Thakurnagar, ho

Suvendu accuses Mamata of undermining EC, shielding 'illicit vote-bank'

Ratcheting up the political temperature around the SIR, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has written to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, accusing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of trying to undermine the Election Commission and shield an illicit vote-bank her party has nurtured for years. Adhikari's letter to the CEC came hours after Banerjee's communication to the poll panel on Thursday in which she slammed the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as chaotic and coercive. The Leader of the Opposition in the assembly hit back late on Thursday with a four-page counter, calling her missive to the EC misleading, politically motivated and factually distorted. He dubbed the CM's objections as nothing less than a desperate attempt to derail a clean-up drive that threatens her political ecosystem. The Chief Minister's letter is a calculated attempt to sow discord among election officials, discredit the ECI's constitutional mandate and protect a vote-bank of ineligible and .

West Bengal SIR: Mamata Banerjee writes to EC, seeks immediate intervention

The Chief Minister expressed serious concerns about the ongoing SIR, citing inadequate planning, insufficient training, and unrealistic timelines that are "compromising the process's credibility"

Mamata writes to CEC, alleges SIR is 'unplanned, coercive and dangerous'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state is being run in an unplanned and coercive manner, putting citizens and officials at risk. She also claimed that the SIR exercise has reached an "alarming" and "dangerous" stage. Banerjee said she had time and again flagged her concerns over the ongoing SIR process, and told the CEC that she is now compelled to write because the situation has deeply deteriorated. The chief minister alleged that the voters' list revision exercise is being forced upon people "without basic preparedness or adequate planning". The manner in which this exercise is being forced upon officials and citizens is not only unplanned and chaotic, but also dangerous. The absence of even basic preparedness, adequate planning or clear communication has crippled the process from day one, the chief minister wrote. Pointing to .

Mamata slams ECI after death of BLO, alleges 'unbearable SIR pressure'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed shock over the death of a Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Jalpaiguri's Mal block, alleging that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has imposed "inhuman" pressure on field workers and led to 28 deaths so far. The chief minister claimed the deceased an anganwadi worker engaged as a BLO died by suicide due to the "unbearable pressure" of the revision exercise being undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI). In a strongly worded statement posted on X, Banerjee criticised the Election Commission for what she described as an "unplanned, relentless workload" ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. "Deeply shocked and saddened. Today again, we lost a Booth Level Officer in Mal, Jalpaiguri an anganwadi worker who took her own life under the unbearable pressure of the ongoing SIR work," she wrote on X. She said 28 people have already lost their lives since SIR began, some due to fear and .

Bengal govt's telemedicine consulations surpass 70 mn mark: CM Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the state government's telemedicine services reached a major milestone, with its Swasthya Ingit' initiative crossing 7 crore consultations. Health care in West Bengal achieves yet another milestone. #Swasthyaingit, a unique GoWB initiative to connect remote areas with higher level health facilities through telemedicine, crossed 7 crores consultations landmark today, Banerjee said on X. The programme is playing a crucial role in linking remote and underserved regions with specialised medical care, supported by a vast network of health centres, hubs and doctors across the state, she said. The initiative delivers daily teleconsultations via 11,000+ health and wellness centres and 63 hubs at higher health facilities. It enables 80,000+ consultations daily with 9000+ doctors transforming affordable and accessible healthcare in West Bengal, the CM said.

Red Fort explosion kills 8: Opposition leaders condemn 'alarming' incident

Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand are among the states that have been placed on high alert

Bengal's Swasthya Sathi scheme crosses 10 mn hospitalisations: CM Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the state's flagship health assurance scheme, 'Swasthya Sathi', has crossed a significant milestone of one crore hospitalisations as of October 31. She said under the scheme, residents have received cashless medical treatment worth Rs 13,156 crore, fully funded from the state budget, she said. "Swasthya Sathi' -- the all-inclusive, unique health assurance scheme of Government of West Bengal has achieved one crore hospitalisations mark on 31st October 2025, where cashless health care benefit of Rs. 13,156 crore has been provided to the citizens of WEST BENGAL entirely from the State Budget," Banerjee posted on X. Highlighting the inclusivity of the initiative, the chief minister said that any resident of the state who is not covered under another state-sponsored health scheme is eligible for Swasthya Sathi benefits. "Any resident of West Bengal is eligible to avail the benefits of 'Swasthya Sathi', if not covered by any other

All 5 accused arrested in Durgapur gangrape case: Here's everything we know

The 23-year-old student, hailing from Jaleswar in Odisha's Balasore district, was allegedly raped by a group of men on Friday night outside the campus when she went out with a friend for dinner

CM Mamata seeks compensation from Bhutan for floods in north Bengal

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that water flowing down from adjoining Bhutan caused floods in north Bengal and sought compensation from the Himalayan kingdom. The chief minister, who is visiting the natural disaster-hit region to oversee relief and rehabilitation work, said at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district that the losses occurred owing to rainwater flowing down from Bhutan through various rivers. "We have faced losses due to water coming down from Bhutan... We want them to give us compensation," Banerjee said in a short address during a government programme. Maintaining that the state government has to arrange all relief and rehabilitation, she claimed that the Centre does not pay for it. Maintaining that her government has long been demanding formation of an Indo-Bhutan River Commission in which West Bengal should be made a member, Banerjee said a meeting is likely to be held on October 16 on the issue where the state will send an officer as the representativ

BJP, Congress hold protest over 'gang rape' of medical student in Durgapur

The opposition BJP and the Congress on Sunday held protests in various places across West Bengal over the alleged gang rape of a medical student in Durgapur, seeking exemplary punishment of the accused. Another opposition CPI(M) and the BJP questioned the law and order situation in West Bengal after the alleged incident, and claimed that the state is not safe for women. Asserting that nobody involved in the alleged gang rape of a medical student at Durgapur on Friday will be spared, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged female boarders, especially those from outside the state, to follow hostel rules and not venture out late at night. Three persons, all residents of Durgapur, have been arrested in connection with the crime. CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty criticised Banerjee, saying that by asking female students not to venture out at night, she made it clear that West Bengal is not safe for women. BJP supporters held a protest march and staged a sit-in

Mamata to visit disaster-hit north Bengal to oversee relief ops today

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will on Sunday again visit natural calamity-hit north Bengal to oversee the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work, officials said. She will also hold a series of administrative meetings to expedite assistance to the affected families, they said. At least 32 people have been killed and thousands left homeless in landslides and floods in the northern districts of West Bengal since October 4, following heavy rain. Banerjee was in north Bengal for four days since October 5 to oversee the relief work. The CM will, during the day, visit Hasimara in Alipurduar district, where she will chair a high-level review meeting before touring multiple districts, including Darjeeling, to assess the extent of the damage, the officials said, adding she is expected to stay a few days in the region. Officials said a preliminary assessment report has been prepared, indicating that around 12,000 houses have been damaged, of which nearly 6,000 have completely collapsed in t

TMC MP Saugata Roy criticises party's focus on 'khela, mela' over politics

Veteran TMC MP Saugata Roy has courted controversy by claiming that a party should not be obsessed with organising fairs and tournaments ("khela and mela") but rather focus on political activities, particularly when elections are near. Opposition parties in West Bengal have long been accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress of giving attention only to "khela and mela", ignoring the serious development and administrative issues. Roy was attending a 'Bijoya Sammilani' (post-Durga Puja meet to exchange greetings) at Baranagar, which falls under his Dumdum Lok Sabha constituency, on Friday night when he made the comments, leaving hundreds of TMC supporters and others present stunned. "When a party gets busy prioritising fests and tournaments, it gradually loses its political soul. We must keep in mind that only six months are left before the assembly polls in the state. "The party should put the focus on political course of action, on firming up strategy to cope with the ...

Mamata Banerjee visits landslide-hit Mirik, interacts with locals

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday visited landslide-hit areas in Mirik and met families affected by last week's devastating rains and flash floods that claimed several lives across north Bengal. She handed over compensation cheques to the next of kin of the deceased and assured them of all possible government assistance. Banerjee, who reached Mirik in Darjeeling district by road amid intermittent drizzle, interacted with survivors and local residents who narrated their ordeal since the calamity struck. She also reviewed the ongoing relief and rehabilitation work being carried out by the district administration. "The state government stands beside the people of the hills in this hour of grief. We have already announced compensation for the bereaved families and financial aid for those who lost their homes," the chief minister said after distributing cheques to the victims' families. Officials said the government has sanctioned Rs 5 lakh each to the families of t

Centre rejects Mamata's claim, says ₹1,290 cr released for flood relief

The Centre on Tuesday rejected West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's allegation of "discrimination" over flood management and river cleaning, asserting that India is already working closely with Bhutan on trans-border river issues and has released more than Rs 1,290 crore to the state under flood management programmes. A day after torrential rain wreaked havoc in large parts of north Bengal, leaving 30 dead and several missing across the region, Banerjee on Monday accused the Centre of ignoring her call to set up an Indo-Bhutan River Commission, warning that "north Bengal would continue to bear the consequences" of recurrent floods without it. She also claimed that "the Centre provides no funds for flood management and has even halted the Ganga Action Plan for cleaning the river". In response, the Ministry of Jal Shakti said in a post on X that India and Bhutan already have institutional mechanisms such as the Joint Group of Experts (JGE), Joint Technical Team (JTT), and Join

Bengal floods man-made, DVC releasing water to save Jharkhand: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday called the floods and the ensuing destruction in north Bengal man-made, and blamed the DVC for "unrestricted" release of water, resulting in overflowing rivers in the southern parts of the state. Banerjee also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of those who died in the floods and landslides, besides offering a job of home guard to one member of the bereaved families. We have so far received reports of 23 people who have died in the north Bengal floods. The region received over 300 mm of rainfall, sustaining for over 12 hours on Saturday night and early Sunday, she said. The CM was talking to reporters at Kolkata airport before leaving for Bagdogra to oversee relief and rescue operations in the flood-ravaged areas of north Bengal. Incessant rainfall in the upper reaches of the state over the last 48 hours have led to widespread flooding in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduars and Co

Darjeeling landslide: Over 40 villagers in relief camp; CM to visit today

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives caused by the heavy rains and landslides