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West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026: The BJP has released its fifth list of five candidates. With this, the saffron party has announced 292 of candidates. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday evening five more candidates for the two-phase assembly elections in West Bengal, where it is hoping to dislodge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) from power. As per the list, the party has fielded Taraknath Chatterjee from Krishnanagar Uttar, Anupam Biswas from Kalyani, Saurav Sikdar from Dum Dum Uttar, Anindya Raju Banerjee from Madhyamgram, and Rudraprasad Banerjee from Uluberia Purba. Additionally, the party has also changed its candidates in three seats. Kaushik Sidharth will now contest from Basirhat Uttar, Abhijit Sardar from Bishnupur, and Shankar Sikdar from Behala Purba. 292 BJP candidates declared so far With this, the BJP has declared 292 of its candidates. The party had released its first of 144 candidates on March 16, fielding Suvendu Adhikari from Bhabanipur and Nandigram, and Dilip Ghosh from Kharagpur. Agnimitra Paul and Swapan Dasgupta were also fielded from Asansol South and Rashbehari. Three days later on March 19, it declared 111 more candidates in which former Union MoS Nishit Pramanik was fielded from Mathabhanga, Dibendu Adhikari from Egra, and Shankar Adhikari from Chopra. The third list of 19 candidates and the fourth list of 13 contestants were released on March 25 and March 31, respectively. It must be mentioned here that the ruling TMC has already declared all of its 294 candidates. BJP's bid to end TMC rule The saffron party is aiming to end the TMC rule in West Bengal, which has been in power since 2011. In the 2016 elections, the party's performance was dismal after it won just three seats. However, this tally significantly increased in the 2021 elections, with the BJP emerging as the second largest party after winning 77 seats. The biggest moment for the BJP in the 2021 polls was party leader Suvendu Adhikari defeating Banerjee in the Nandigram constituency, which had forced the TMC supremo to contest a byelection from the Bhabanipur seat later to get elected to the 294-member West Bengal Legislative Assembly. This year, the assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 4.
Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha and Union minister JP Nadda on Thursday said that the Chair should not be questioned or criticised about admissibility, calling it contempt of the House and Chairman. He also condemned Mallikarjun Kharge for criticising the Chair in a press conference the day before, calling it wrong. "The Chair cannot be questioned with regard to admissibility or for any other purposes. The Chairman's ruling cannot be questioned or criticised; to do so is contempt of the Hous ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI) The Assam Congress on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into alleged illegal stone mining in Karbi Anglong district in violation of a Supreme Court order. Addressing a press conference here, former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora also alleged that Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang was allowing illegal activities in the district in nexus with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Large-scale illegal stone mining is taking place in the hills of Karbi Anglong in violation of the Supreme Court order. The SC had banned mining in and around K ...Read More >
Kolkata, Jun 5 (PTI) Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Thursday confirmed her marriage to former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) parliamentarian Pinaki Mishra, thanking well-wishers for their love and blessings. There was speculation about their wedding which, according to media reports, took place in a private ceremony in Germany. "Thank you everyone for the love and good wishes!! So grateful," Moitra said in a post on X, sharing a photograph of the couple cutting a cake. TMC MP and actor-politician Saayoni Ghosh congratulated the couple. "Congratulations Mm & Pm... @MahuaMoitra @OfPinaki wishi ...Read More >
KOLKATA: The women's wing of the TMC on Friday held a march in south Kolkata to protest against alleged derogatory remarks by BJP leaders about West Bengal Chief Minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee, prompting a fresh political slugfest between the two arch-rivals in the state. The rally, led by state finance minister and TMC women's wing president Chandrima Bhattacharya, commenced from Triangular Park and culminated at Hazra More, covering around 2.4 km. During the rally, TMC Mahila Morcha members shouted slogans against what they described as the "continued vilification of a democrat ...Read More >
Berhampur (Odisha), Jun 6 (PTI) Environmental activist Medha Patkar on Saturday appealed to the people of Odisha for protection of Rushikulya river. The government planned to construct a dam in the river Pipalapnaka under Sorada block in the district. While participating in the Save Rushikulya river movement in Ganjam district, she said, "Rivers may be small or big, but they are our mother. We have to protect the rivers from attacks." She attended a meeting were organised by the Rushikulya Banchao Kriyaanusthan Committee (RBKC) and the Centre for Climate Justice, spearheading the agitation a ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, June 8: A day before his Government marks its first anniversary in third term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has redefined women-led development in its 11 years in power. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp In all sectors, including science, education, sports, start ups and the armed forces, women are excelling and inspiring several people, Modi said on X. He cited a number of welfare programmes which, he noted, have benefitted women immensely. Various initiatives, from ensuring dignity through Swachh ...Read More >
KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress Chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday strongly objected to the Election Commission of India's (ECI) latest guidelines, which mandate a specific identity card proving citizenship and submission of a self-attested declaration of Indian citizenship for inclusion in the voters' list. Banerjee alleged that the ECI was working in coordination with the Central Government and accused it of "providing emergency weapons to help the BJP." Directly targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, she claimed, "Modiji (Narendra Modi) is the Prime Minis ...Read More >
The Election Commission introduces new rules for voter enrollment. Voters enrolled after 2003-04 must now provide proof of citizenship. This includes a self-attested declaration and supporting documents. The move aims to remove illegal immigrants from the electoral roll. Bihar will be the first state to implement the special intensive revision. Other states will follow soon.In a move to identify and remove illegal immigrants wrongly included in the electoral rolls, the Election Commission has man ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 27 (ANI): A female student was allegedly gang-raped inside a law college in Kolkata's Kasba on Wednesday evening. The police have arrested all three accused within 24 hours. The three accused, named as Monojit Mishra (31), Zaib Ahmed (19), and Pramit Mukhopadhyay (20), were former students or staff members of the same law college. Also Read | Student Gang-Raped at South Kolkata Law College: Police Arrest 3 Youths for Sexually Assaulting Young Woman Inside Law College. According to the police, the accused named in the FIR will be produced before the A.C.J. ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In a significant boost for 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbharta' in the aerospace and defence sector, and Hyderabad's growing stature as a global aerospace hub, the complete fuselage of the Rafale fighter jet will now be made in India at Hyderabad. This move marks the first time that these Rafale components will be manufactured outside France for the Indian as well as global markets.French aerospace major Dassault Aviation has signed four production transfer agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) for manufacturing key sections of the Rafale fighter jet, including the lateral ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 8 (ANI): Reacting to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI), TMC leader Kunal Ghosh on Sunday said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was the first leader to raise her voice against this voter list scam in the country. On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Maharashtra assembly election held in November 2024 was 'rigged' and claimed the same could happen in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls. 'Mamata Banerjee was the first to raise her voice against this voter list scam in th ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): BJP leader Amit Malviya on Saturday hit out at Kolkata Mayor and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Firhad Hakim for making what he called a 'vile and disgraceful attack' on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Operation Sindoor. He accused Hakim of calling the PM a 'coward' and dismissing his role in the operation. In a post on X, Malviya shared a video in which Hakim could be seen allegedly stating, 'There is nothing big about the Prime Minister here... But, for fear of a bigger country, he has locked up the Armed Forces as cowards.' Malviya further accused West ...Read More >
The Sena UBT chief spokesperson was reacting to Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad's comment that West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee should be allowed to lead the INDIA bloc. Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said that his party was open to discuss if someone outside of the Congress party should lead the Opposition INDIA bloc. Speaking in New Delhi Delhi, Raut said that all the constituents of the INDIA bloc are willing to have a discuss ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >
Kolkata: BJP on Saturday criticised urban development minister Firhad Hakim over a video where the Kolkata mayor is purportedly heard making a comment on minorities. Hakim had made the comment while addressing an educational conference recently. Hakim said BJP was using his quote out of context and he was only referring to the gulf between the educated and the uneducated. "As education spreads, the gulf will be bridged and there will be one identity," said Hakim. Saying that he would never play ...Read More >
Kolkata: On the 13th day of teachers' protest outside Bikash Bhavan, the protesting teachers split among themselves and formed a new platform. At least 2,500 protesters stood by the chief minister, as stated in a press conference by education minister Bratya Basu on Monday. Reacting to a question from media, Basu said in Titagarh, "I will trust those who have written to me expressing their faith in the chief minister."The new organisation formed was named the West Bengal Untainted Teachers Associ ...Read More >
Patna: BJP's West Bengal in charge and Bihar's health and law minister Mangal Pandey on Wednesday claimed that a three-member committee appointed by the Calcutta High Court had exposed the Mamata Banerjee govt and implicated Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in the Murshidabad violence, in which three people, including a father-son duo, were brutally killed during protests against the waqf law last month.The committee, tasked with probing the Murshidabad incident, highlighted serious lapses by the ...Read More >
Sharmistha Panoli, a law student, faced arrest over a controversial social media video. The video sparked outrage for allegedly insulting a religious community. Despite an apology, legal action followed. Kolkata Police arrested Panoli in Gurugram. A Kolkata court initially remanded her to judicial custody. Now, the Calcutta High Court has granted her interim bail.The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted interim bail to influencer Sharmistha Panoli, arrested for allegedly posting video on socia ...Read More >
Guwahati, June 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) The BJP on Saturday announced that the party's Assam state secretary Kanad Purkayastha would be its candidate for the June 19 Rajya Sabha election from the state. BJP's National General Secretary Arun Singh, in a statement, said the party's central election committee has approved the candidature of Purkayastha, who is currently the party's Assam state secretary. A party leader from southern Assam's Barak valley said that Purkayastha is the only son of veteran BJP leader and former Union minister Kabindra Purkayastha. Elections for two Rajya Sabha seats in As ...Read More >
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday raised questions over the fresh electoral roll revision guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) ahead of Bihar assembly polls scheduled this year. Expressing apprehensions, Banerjee said that these fresh guidelines might be implemented in Bengal ahead of the assembly polls in 2026. Speaking to ET, Banerjee said that she has apprehensions that these guidelines may be even worse that National Register of Citizens ( ...Read More >
INDIA bloc MPs, donning black jackets with slogans like "Modi Adani Ek Hai", protested at Parliament demanding a joint probe into the Adani issue. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused PM Modi of evading discussion on the "Adani mega scam" while defending Adani's alleged corruption. Rahul Gandhi asserted that Modi won't investigate Adani as it would be like investigating himself.Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Thursday said the country's people want the "Adani mega scam" to be discussed in Parliame ...Read More >
NDIA bloc leaders, who submitted a notice of no-confidence motion against the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday, blamed the chair for not allowing them to speak in the Rajya Sabha. The leaders held a joint press conference labelling several charges against the chairman. "His behaviour (RS chairman) has damaged the dignity of the country. He has brought such a situation in the history of parliamentary democracy that we had to bring this notice for the resolution (of no confidence ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 6 (ANI): Law student Sharmistha Panoli, arrested for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through a social media post, has been granted interim bail by the Calcutta High Court on Thursday. The court directed her to cooperate with the investigation, not leave the country, and furnished bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000. The court also ordered appropriate police protection for her. Also Read | Goa: Man Held for Trying to Trade Sensitive Data Online Using Cryptocurrency Transactions. Her father, Prithviraj Panoli, expressed relief, citing her health iss ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 8 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday said his party is ready to come together with anyone who will work to protect the interests of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos, his statement coming amid the rapprochement buzz between the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Talking to reporters here, Thackeray accused the BJP of "swallowing" Mumbai and Maharashtra. He said injustice is being meted out to Maharashtra by the BJP. "We have been saying this consistently. We are ready to work with anyone, any party that is ready to ...Read More >
Kolkata, Jun 27 (PTI) Union minister and BJP's West Bengal unit president Sukanta Majumdar on Friday claimed that the alleged gang rape in a law college in Kolkata shows that female students are "not safe" in educational institutes in the state. Condemning the incident, the ruling Trinamool Congress said the police swiftly apprehended all three accused in the case and urged the opposition party not to politicise the issue. Majumdar, the union minister of state for education, alleged that the law and order situation in West Bengal is "in a shambles" even though Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day Thursday afternoon amid ruckus as the treasury and opposition benches trades charges over no-trust notice against Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, and the BJP's allegations of the Congress leadership's "connections" with billionaire investor George Soros. The House witnessed two adjournments in the day before that. The first was during the Zero Hour in the pre-lunch sitting when Chairman Dhankhar rejected six notices to adjourn the scheduled business of the day and take up matters mentioned in the notices. As several oppos ...Read More >
Bhopal, June 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Senior BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister for Urban Development, Housing and Parliamentary affairs, Kailash Vijayvargiya stirred controversy on Thursday with remarks disapproving of women wearing short outfits, asserting that such a trend is a foreign concept of beauty and not aligned with Indian tradition. A six-time legislator and a state government minister, Vijayvargiya emphasised that in Indian culture, women are regarded as a form of Goddess and should dress in a manner that reflects grace and dignity. Comparing cultural perspectives, he stat ...Read More >
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has quietly married Pinaki Misra in a private ceremony on May 30. Known for her outspokenness, Moitra's wedding came as a surprise due to the lack of official announcement. Misra, a senior Supreme Court advocate and former BJD MP from Puri, brings his own extensive political background to the union.In a rare moment of quiet amid the high-octane world of Indian politics, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has surprised everyone with a low-key wedding. The firebra ...Read More >
KOLKATA: Social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli was released from prison on Friday after the Calcutta High Court granted her interim bail in a case involving alleged communal remarks made in a video uploaded on social media. The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted interim bail to Panoli, who was arrested by Kolkata Police last week following an FIR lodged at the Garden Reach Police Station. The court observed that the complaint against Panoli did not disclose any cognisable offence. Panoli, a 22-year-old law student, was arrested from Gurugram in Haryana last week after the FIR was re ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): BJP leader Amit Malviya on Saturday hit out at Kolkata Mayor and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Firhad Hakim for making what he called a 'vile and disgraceful attack' on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Operation Sindoor. He accused Hakim of calling the PM a 'coward' and dismissing his role in the operation. In a post on X, Malviya shared a video in which Hakim could be seen allegedly stating, 'There is nothing big about the Prime Minister here... But, for fear of a bigger country, he has locked up the Armed Forces as cowards.' Malviya further accused West ...Read More >