Tag: West Bengal

  • Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik replaces WB’s Jyoti Basu as second-longest-serving CM in India 

    By PTI

    BHUBANESWAR: Odisha’s Naveen Patnaik on Saturday grew to become the second-longest-serving chief minister within the nation, changing West Bengal’s Jyoti Basu.

    Former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling nonetheless holds the report of being the longest-serving CM within the nation. He was the CM of the Himalayan state from December 12, 1994 until May 27, 2019, greater than 24 years.

    Patnaik, the five-time chief minister of Odisha, took cost on March 5, 2000, and holds the submit for 23 years and 138 days.

    CPI(M) chief Jyoti Basu served because the chief minister of West Bengal from June 21, 1977 to November 5, 2000, which was 23 years and 137 days.

    Patnaik can be the third chief after Chamling and Basu to turn out to be the chief minister of a state for 5 consecutive instances. If the ruling BJD wins the 2024 elections, Patnaik would be the longest-serving chief minister in India.

    BJD vice chairman Prasanna Acharya mentioned, “We are happy that our chief minister has crossed the record of West Bengal’s former CM Jyoti Basu.I am sure that Patnaik will break all the records of the past, and will emerge as the longest-serving CM.”

     Congress chief SS Saluja mentioned, “We congratulate Naveen Patnaik for becoming the second-longest-serving CM, but we are pained that Patnaik is not doing anything during his term.”

    Senior BJP chief Suresh Pujari mentioned historical past won’t bear in mind how lengthy one serves because the chief minister, however how one creates historical past inside a brief span of time.

    BHUBANESWAR: Odisha’s Naveen Patnaik on Saturday grew to become the second-longest-serving chief minister within the nation, changing West Bengal’s Jyoti Basu.

    Former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling nonetheless holds the report of being the longest-serving CM within the nation. He was the CM of the Himalayan state from December 12, 1994 until May 27, 2019, greater than 24 years.

    Patnaik, the five-time chief minister of Odisha, took cost on March 5, 2000, and holds the submit for 23 years and 138 days.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    CPI(M) chief Jyoti Basu served because the chief minister of West Bengal from June 21, 1977 to November 5, 2000, which was 23 years and 137 days.

    Patnaik can be the third chief after Chamling and Basu to turn out to be the chief minister of a state for 5 consecutive instances. If the ruling BJD wins the 2024 elections, Patnaik would be the longest-serving chief minister in India.

    BJD vice chairman Prasanna Acharya mentioned, “We are happy that our chief minister has crossed the record of West Bengal’s former CM Jyoti Basu.I am sure that Patnaik will break all the records of the past, and will emerge as the longest-serving CM.”

     Congress chief SS Saluja mentioned, “We congratulate Naveen Patnaik for becoming the second-longest-serving CM, but we are pained that Patnaik is not doing anything during his term.”

    Senior BJP chief Suresh Pujari mentioned historical past won’t bear in mind how lengthy one serves because the chief minister, however how one creates historical past inside a brief span of time.

  • Mamata alleges Congress, CPI(M) nexus with BJP in Bengal; accuses BSF of scaring voters

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA: Kicking off her marketing campaign for the panchayat polls after 15 years and for the primary time since her get together got here to energy in West Bengal in 2011 Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday mentioned the nexus between the CPI(M), Congress and the BJP within the upcoming rural elections will get washed away by the decision of the voters.

    “We are trying to form a grand alliance (Mahajot) against the BJP at the Centre. But the CPI (M) and Congress are trying to work with the BJP in Bengal. I will break this unholy nexus in Bengal,” the TMC supremo mentioned whereas addressing a panchayat election rally right here on Monday.

    This is for the second time within the final ten days that Banerjee has criticised the Congress and CPI (M) for having a tacit understanding with the BJP.

    Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar in north Bengal, the place the BJP made deep inroads within the 2019 basic elections, Mamata additionally focused the Border Security Force (BSF).

    “I have information that some BSF officials are visiting the border areas, threatening voters and forcing them not to vote. I will ask people not to be scared of BSF’s tactics and participate in the elections fearlessly,” she mentioned.

    While referring to the alleged capturing of villagers by the BSF final 12 months, whom the border drive claimed as smugglers, Banerjee mentioned, “Police will lodge FIRs in such cases and the law will take its own course.”

    “They don’t have the right to shoot and kill anyone. No one is above the law; it seems killing people in the Cooch Behar district has become a norm,” she mentioned.

    She additionally asserted that “law and order is a state subject” and the Centre has no position in it.

    Her feedback evoked a pointy response from the BSF Guwahati Frontier, below whose jurisdiction Cooch Behar falls.

    In a strongly worded assertion, it mentioned the allegations are “totally baseless and far from the truth,” including that the BSF “has never intimidated any border population or voters in the bordering areas for any reason.”

    “It is to appraise that the allegations leveled against BSF by the CM West Bengal during a rally at Cooch Behar, is totally baseless and far from the truth,” the discharge mentioned.

    It mentioned the BSF is an expert drive entrusted with the duty of securing the worldwide border of India, and “has never intimidated any border population or voters in the bordering areas for any reason.”

    It identified that BSF personnel deployed for election obligation are below the general supervision of the native administration.

    For their half, Opposition events alleged that Mamata has begun campaigning for the agricultural polls as she is feeling the warmth of voter discontent. 

    The BJP, too, dubbed the chief minister’s allegation of utilizing the BSF to serve its political goal as baseless. “Such comments are unacceptable and an insult to our security forces. This reflects the mindset of the TMC, which has been against the BSF since its jurisdiction was increased,” BJP nationwide vice-president Dilip Ghosh mentioned.

    The BJP-led central authorities in 2021 had amended the BSF Act to authorise the drive to undertake search, seizure and arrest inside a 50-km stretch, as an alternative of 15 km, from the worldwide border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. This had snowballed into a significant political challenge in Bengal, with the ruling TMC passing a decision within the state meeting opposing the Centre’s choice.

    (With further inputs from PTI)

    KOLKATA: Kicking off her marketing campaign for the panchayat polls after 15 years and for the primary time since her get together got here to energy in West Bengal in 2011 Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday mentioned the nexus between the CPI(M), Congress and the BJP within the upcoming rural elections will get washed away by the decision of the voters.

    “We are trying to form a grand alliance (Mahajot) against the BJP at the Centre. But the CPI (M) and Congress are trying to work with the BJP in Bengal. I will break this unholy nexus in Bengal,” the TMC supremo mentioned whereas addressing a panchayat election rally right here on Monday.

    This is for the second time within the final ten days that Banerjee has criticised the Congress and CPI (M) for having a tacit understanding with the BJP.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar in north Bengal, the place the BJP made deep inroads within the 2019 basic elections, Mamata additionally focused the Border Security Force (BSF).

    “I have information that some BSF officials are visiting the border areas, threatening voters and forcing them not to vote. I will ask people not to be scared of BSF’s tactics and participate in the elections fearlessly,” she mentioned.

    While referring to the alleged capturing of villagers by the BSF final 12 months, whom the border drive claimed as smugglers, Banerjee mentioned, “Police will lodge FIRs in such cases and the law will take its own course.”

    “They don’t have the right to shoot and kill anyone. No one is above the law; it seems killing people in the Cooch Behar district has become a norm,” she mentioned.

    She additionally asserted that “law and order is a state subject” and the Centre has no position in it.

    Her feedback evoked a pointy response from the BSF Guwahati Frontier, below whose jurisdiction Cooch Behar falls.

    In a strongly worded assertion, it mentioned the allegations are “totally baseless and far from the truth,” including that the BSF “has never intimidated any border population or voters in the bordering areas for any reason.”

    “It is to appraise that the allegations leveled against BSF by the CM West Bengal during a rally at Cooch Behar, is totally baseless and far from the truth,” the discharge mentioned.

    It mentioned the BSF is an expert drive entrusted with the duty of securing the worldwide border of India, and “has never intimidated any border population or voters in the bordering areas for any reason.”

    It identified that BSF personnel deployed for election obligation are below the general supervision of the native administration.

    For their half, Opposition events alleged that Mamata has begun campaigning for the agricultural polls as she is feeling the warmth of voter discontent. 

    The BJP, too, dubbed the chief minister’s allegation of utilizing the BSF to serve its political goal as baseless. “Such comments are unacceptable and an insult to our security forces. This reflects the mindset of the TMC, which has been against the BSF since its jurisdiction was increased,” BJP nationwide vice-president Dilip Ghosh mentioned.

    The BJP-led central authorities in 2021 had amended the BSF Act to authorise the drive to undertake search, seizure and arrest inside a 50-km stretch, as an alternative of 15 km, from the worldwide border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. This had snowballed into a significant political challenge in Bengal, with the ruling TMC passing a decision within the state meeting opposing the Centre’s choice.

    (With further inputs from PTI)

  • Violence continues forward of WB rural polls

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA:  A Trinamool Congress chief was shot useless in Purulia late on Thursday evening, taking the loss of life toll to 9 within the native physique polls-related violence. TMC’s city president in Adra, Dhananjay Choubey, who was in his late 40s, was sitting outdoors his social gathering workplace when three males using a motorbike got here and opened fireplace. 

    Five bullets had been pumped into his physique. He was taken to an area hospital the place he was declared useless on arrival. “We identified the assassins and two of them were arrested,” stated a police officer. Local Congress chief Nepal Mahato stated there must be an neutral investigation. “The murder is condemnable. If necessary, the CBI may be engaged to find out the actual killers,” he stated.

    The police have arrested two Congress employees in reference to the lethal assault in Purulia. Ever for the reason that single-phase elections to the native our bodies had been introduced on June 9, violence has continued unabated within the state. Unabated violence forward of the agricultural polls has triggered a face-off between Governor C V Ananda Bose and the ruling TMC. 

    Bose had visited the strife-hit Bhangar space in South 24 Parganas the place three individuals had been killed throughout violence on the final day for submitting nominations on June 15. Reacting to violence within the state, Bose stated: “Victory depends on the count of votes, not dead bodies.”

    Hitting again, the TMC accused the governor of intervening within the rural polls. “The governor is overstepping his constitutional rights,” TMC’s spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated. On Friday, a senior official of the State Election Commission (SEC) stated the Union Home ministry sanctioned 315 firms of Central Armed Paramilitary Force (CAPF) to be deployed for the upcoming rural polls. 

    The state ballot panel requisitioned one other 485 firms of CAPF for the agricultural polls. The state ballot panel, after being slammed by the Calcutta High Court, sought 800 further firms of CAPF. Earlier, the SEC had requested for less than 22 firms of CAPF following a excessive courtroom order directing to deploy central pressure in all 22 districts. 

    The SEC had moved the Supreme Court to problem the excessive courtroom’s order which was not entertained. 
    BJP’s state president Sukanta Majumdar stated the BJP supporters, who had been on the run fearing assault by the TMC’s goons, began returning to their properties because the central pressure personnel began arriving within the state. “It is not possible to send 800 companies of CAPF in one go,” he stated. 

    On Thursday, a disagreement broke out between the governor and CM Mamata Banerjee after the constitutional head of Bengal returned the becoming a member of report of state election commissioner Rajiv Sinha, casting a shadow on the continuation of the state ballot panel head.  Mamata, earlier than leaving for Patna to attend an Opposition assembly, stated the state ballot panel head can’t be eliminated on whims and fancies.

    KOLKATA:  A Trinamool Congress chief was shot useless in Purulia late on Thursday evening, taking the loss of life toll to 9 within the native physique polls-related violence. TMC’s city president in Adra, Dhananjay Choubey, who was in his late 40s, was sitting outdoors his social gathering workplace when three males using a motorbike got here and opened fireplace. 

    Five bullets had been pumped into his physique. He was taken to an area hospital the place he was declared useless on arrival. “We identified the assassins and two of them were arrested,” stated a police officer. Local Congress chief Nepal Mahato stated there must be an neutral investigation. “The murder is condemnable. If necessary, the CBI may be engaged to find out the actual killers,” he stated.

    The police have arrested two Congress employees in reference to the lethal assault in Purulia. Ever for the reason that single-phase elections to the native our bodies had been introduced on June 9, violence has continued unabated within the state. Unabated violence forward of the agricultural polls has triggered a face-off between Governor C V Ananda Bose and the ruling TMC. googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    Bose had visited the strife-hit Bhangar space in South 24 Parganas the place three individuals had been killed throughout violence on the final day for submitting nominations on June 15. Reacting to violence within the state, Bose stated: “Victory depends on the count of votes, not dead bodies.”

    Hitting again, the TMC accused the governor of intervening within the rural polls. “The governor is overstepping his constitutional rights,” TMC’s spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated. On Friday, a senior official of the State Election Commission (SEC) stated the Union Home ministry sanctioned 315 firms of Central Armed Paramilitary Force (CAPF) to be deployed for the upcoming rural polls. 

    The state ballot panel requisitioned one other 485 firms of CAPF for the agricultural polls. The state ballot panel, after being slammed by the Calcutta High Court, sought 800 further firms of CAPF. Earlier, the SEC had requested for less than 22 firms of CAPF following a excessive courtroom order directing to deploy central pressure in all 22 districts. 

    The SEC had moved the Supreme Court to problem the excessive courtroom’s order which was not entertained. 
    BJP’s state president Sukanta Majumdar stated the BJP supporters, who had been on the run fearing assault by the TMC’s goons, began returning to their properties because the central pressure personnel began arriving within the state. “It is not possible to send 800 companies of CAPF in one go,” he stated. 

    On Thursday, a disagreement broke out between the governor and CM Mamata Banerjee after the constitutional head of Bengal returned the becoming a member of report of state election commissioner Rajiv Sinha, casting a shadow on the continuation of the state ballot panel head.  Mamata, earlier than leaving for Patna to attend an Opposition assembly, stated the state ballot panel head can’t be eliminated on whims and fancies.

  • School job rip-off: Bengal schooling secretary seems earlier than CBI

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Education Secretary Manish Jain on Thursday appeared earlier than the CBI sleuths on the company’s Kolkata workplace in reference to its investigation into the alleged irregularities in recruitment at state government-aided colleges.

    Jain was questioned concerning the paperwork associated to the recruitment, which have his signatures, a senior officer of the central company mentioned.

    “He was cross-checked with the versions given by arrested former state education minister Partha Chatterjee as well as other accused persons. His statements have been recorded,” the CBI officer mentioned.

    Thursday was Jain’s second look earlier than the CBI in the identical case.

    The bureaucrat was summoned and questioned for greater than 5 hours throughout his final look on the CBI workplace final 12 months.

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Education Secretary Manish Jain on Thursday appeared earlier than the CBI sleuths on the company’s Kolkata workplace in reference to its investigation into the alleged irregularities in recruitment at state government-aided colleges.

    Jain was questioned concerning the paperwork associated to the recruitment, which have his signatures, a senior officer of the central company mentioned.

    “He was cross-checked with the versions given by arrested former state education minister Partha Chatterjee as well as other accused persons. His statements have been recorded,” the CBI officer mentioned.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    Thursday was Jain’s second look earlier than the CBI in the identical case.

    The bureaucrat was summoned and questioned for greater than 5 hours throughout his final look on the CBI workplace final 12 months.

  • Violence over panchayat ballot nomination continues in Bengal

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Violence continued to rock components of West Bengal over the submitting of nominations for the July 8 panchayat ballot for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday, as activists of the ruling TMC and opposition events.

    Clashes had been reported in components of South 24 Parganas and Bankura districts prompting the police to make use of pressure to disperse the mobs.

    Supporters of Indian Secular Front (ISF) and TMC clashed in Bhangore space of South 24 Parganas, practically 30 km from Kolkata.

    An enormous police contingent was rushed to the spot, which resorted to baton cost to regulate the scenario.

    Bombs had been hurled and several other vehicles had been ransacked as supporters of the 2 events tried to cease one another from submitting nominations.

    Several activists belonging to the 2 events had been injured, the police stated.

    ISF MLA from Bhangore, Naushad Siddique, went to fulfill Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee within the afternoon to transient her in regards to the scenario in his constituency.

    The legislator, nevertheless, couldn’t meet Banerjee because of her “pressing engagements” and left.

    “I had come here to meet Banerjee at the state secretariat and inform her about the situation in Bhangore where opposition candidates were threatened and stopped from filing nominations. But since she was busy, I could not meet her,” Siddique advised reporters.

    A senior official on the Chief Minister’s Office advised PTI that the assembly couldn’t be held due to Banerjee’s urgent engagements.

    When contacted, a senior officer of Bhangore Police Station stated that they had been but to arrest anybody for the clashes there.

    Similar scenes had been witnessed in Canning space of the district, as miscreants alleged to be members of dissident teams of the TMC tried to cease the submitting of nomination of the celebration’s official candidates.

    The miscreants hurled bombs and threw stones in the direction of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel and the police fired tear fuel shells to quell the scenario.

    The SDPO of Canning was injured within the assault as police detained round seven individuals for his or her alleged involvement in violence, an official stated.

    Officials stated that in Bankura’ Indas space, BJP activists clashed with the TMC supporters exterior the nomination submitting centre.

    Supporters of each teams got here to blows and pelted one another with stones, whilst police tried to regulate the scenario within the space, which is about 135 km from the town.

    Police later detained not less than three individuals from Indas in reference to the violence in Bankura district, he added.

    Since the start of nomination submitting on June 9, violence has marred the nomination submitting course of in numerous components of the state, with the opposition – BJP, Congress and CPI (M) accusing the TMC of utilizing muscle energy to cease candidates of opposition events from submitting nominations.

    “The TMC goons unleashed violence since last night to stop our candidates from filing nominations,” ISF chief and Bhangore MLA Naushad Siddique stated.

    TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed the allegations and claimed: “The ISF is trying to unleash violence in the area.”

    The TMC additionally requested the opposition events to launch its candidates’ record and stated that if wanted, it’ll assist them to file their nominations.

    The state’s three-tier panchayat election encompassing a big voters of roughly 5.67 crores, will train their franchise to decide on representatives for practically 74,000 seats in zilla parishads, panchayat samiti, and gram panchayats.

    The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered the requisition and deployment of central forces for the agricultural ballot however refused to contemplate the plea for extending the time for submitting of nominations and left it to the discretion of the State Election Commission.

    KOLKATA: Violence continued to rock components of West Bengal over the submitting of nominations for the July 8 panchayat ballot for the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday, as activists of the ruling TMC and opposition events.

    Clashes had been reported in components of South 24 Parganas and Bankura districts prompting the police to make use of pressure to disperse the mobs.

    Supporters of Indian Secular Front (ISF) and TMC clashed in Bhangore space of South 24 Parganas, practically 30 km from Kolkata.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); );

    An enormous police contingent was rushed to the spot, which resorted to baton cost to regulate the scenario.

    Bombs had been hurled and several other vehicles had been ransacked as supporters of the 2 events tried to cease one another from submitting nominations.

    Several activists belonging to the 2 events had been injured, the police stated.

    ISF MLA from Bhangore, Naushad Siddique, went to fulfill Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee within the afternoon to transient her in regards to the scenario in his constituency.

    The legislator, nevertheless, couldn’t meet Banerjee because of her “pressing engagements” and left.

    “I had come here to meet Banerjee at the state secretariat and inform her about the situation in Bhangore where opposition candidates were threatened and stopped from filing nominations. But since she was busy, I could not meet her,” Siddique advised reporters.

    A senior official on the Chief Minister’s Office advised PTI that the assembly couldn’t be held due to Banerjee’s urgent engagements.

    When contacted, a senior officer of Bhangore Police Station stated that they had been but to arrest anybody for the clashes there.

    Similar scenes had been witnessed in Canning space of the district, as miscreants alleged to be members of dissident teams of the TMC tried to cease the submitting of nomination of the celebration’s official candidates.

    The miscreants hurled bombs and threw stones in the direction of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel and the police fired tear fuel shells to quell the scenario.

    The SDPO of Canning was injured within the assault as police detained round seven individuals for his or her alleged involvement in violence, an official stated.

    Officials stated that in Bankura’ Indas space, BJP activists clashed with the TMC supporters exterior the nomination submitting centre.

    Supporters of each teams got here to blows and pelted one another with stones, whilst police tried to regulate the scenario within the space, which is about 135 km from the town.

    Police later detained not less than three individuals from Indas in reference to the violence in Bankura district, he added.

    Since the start of nomination submitting on June 9, violence has marred the nomination submitting course of in numerous components of the state, with the opposition – BJP, Congress and CPI (M) accusing the TMC of utilizing muscle energy to cease candidates of opposition events from submitting nominations.

    “The TMC goons unleashed violence since last night to stop our candidates from filing nominations,” ISF chief and Bhangore MLA Naushad Siddique stated.

    TMC state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed the allegations and claimed: “The ISF is trying to unleash violence in the area.”

    The TMC additionally requested the opposition events to launch its candidates’ record and stated that if wanted, it’ll assist them to file their nominations.

    The state’s three-tier panchayat election encompassing a big voters of roughly 5.67 crores, will train their franchise to decide on representatives for practically 74,000 seats in zilla parishads, panchayat samiti, and gram panchayats.

    The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered the requisition and deployment of central forces for the agricultural ballot however refused to contemplate the plea for extending the time for submitting of nominations and left it to the discretion of the State Election Commission.

  • Bengal panchayat polls: SEC mulling imposition of prohibitory order close to nomination centres

    By PTI

    KOLKATA:  In view of experiences of stray incidents of violence earlier than nomination centres for panchayat elections in West Bengal, the State Election Commission is mulling imposition of prohibitory orders underneath Section 144 CrPC close to such centres from Monday, a senior SEC official stated.

    “We are considering imposition of prohibitory order underneath Section 144 Crpc round nomination venues very quickly.

    Once we take the choice the notification can be issued and handed on to the DMs on clamping Section 144 CrPC and can be in pressure inside a 1 km radius distance of each such venue to stop gathering,” the official advised PTI on Sunday.

    Asked what prompted the choice, the official stated “After assessing the ground situation for the sake of smooth and peaceful electioneering process to enable all stakeholders to perform their role.”

    The state’s three-tier panchayat elections are scheduled to happen on July 8.

    The choice was preceded by experiences of violence throughout two days of nomination submitting throughout which a TMC employee was allegedly shot at in a conflict in Coochbehar, a Congress activist was shot useless in Murshidabad, and a TMC chief was caught with a firearm in Murshidabad.

    Opposition BJP, Congress and CPI(M) additionally claimed that their candidates have been prevented by ruling get together activists from submitting papers in Murshidabad, Paschim Bardhaman and South 24 Parganas district.

    “Action has been taken on the basis of receiving reports of every incident and the nomination process went on smoothly across the state since Thursday including the arrest of a political leader for moving around with a firearm in Murshidabad. The SEC will act strictly and promptly in every situation,” he added.

    The official stated over 10,000 nomination papers have been filed for three-tier elections on the primary two days throughout the state with the bulk numbers filed by opposition events.

    A Congress activist was shot useless on Friday, the primary day of nomination submitting, in Murshidabad district allegedly by TMC activists, a cost denied by the ruling get together.

    On the second day, incidents of violence and scuffle between staff of the ruling and opposition events have been reported in Bankura, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts.

    Opposition BJP demanded instant deployment of central forces to conduct the panchayat polls whereas the TMC asserted that the opposition is trying to find excuses fearing defeat.

    TMC Rajya Sabha MP and get together spokesperson Shantanu Sen stated the opposition had confronted extreme drubbing within the 2021 meeting polls and several other assemblies and one Lok Sabha by-elections, all of which have been carried out within the presence of central forces.

    “People of Bengal are solidly behind the TMC and not with the BJP, Congress or the CPI(M). The opposition may demand deployment of peacekeeping force from the United Nations in panchayat polls if they want,” Sen stated.

    The panchayat polls can be held within the state on July 8. The 2018 rural ballot course of was marred by violence and alleged malpractices in a number of districts.

    KOLKATA:  In view of experiences of stray incidents of violence earlier than nomination centres for panchayat elections in West Bengal, the State Election Commission is mulling imposition of prohibitory orders underneath Section 144 CrPC close to such centres from Monday, a senior SEC official stated.

    “We are considering imposition of prohibitory order underneath Section 144 Crpc round nomination venues very quickly.

    Once we take the choice the notification can be issued and handed on to the DMs on clamping Section 144 CrPC and can be in pressure inside a 1 km radius distance of each such venue to stop gathering,” the official advised PTI on Sunday.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    Asked what prompted the choice, the official stated “After assessing the ground situation for the sake of smooth and peaceful electioneering process to enable all stakeholders to perform their role.”

    The state’s three-tier panchayat elections are scheduled to happen on July 8.

    The choice was preceded by experiences of violence throughout two days of nomination submitting throughout which a TMC employee was allegedly shot at in a conflict in Coochbehar, a Congress activist was shot useless in Murshidabad, and a TMC chief was caught with a firearm in Murshidabad.

    Opposition BJP, Congress and CPI(M) additionally claimed that their candidates have been prevented by ruling get together activists from submitting papers in Murshidabad, Paschim Bardhaman and South 24 Parganas district.

    “Action has been taken on the basis of receiving reports of every incident and the nomination process went on smoothly across the state since Thursday including the arrest of a political leader for moving around with a firearm in Murshidabad. The SEC will act strictly and promptly in every situation,” he added.

    The official stated over 10,000 nomination papers have been filed for three-tier elections on the primary two days throughout the state with the bulk numbers filed by opposition events.

    A Congress activist was shot useless on Friday, the primary day of nomination submitting, in Murshidabad district allegedly by TMC activists, a cost denied by the ruling get together.

    On the second day, incidents of violence and scuffle between staff of the ruling and opposition events have been reported in Bankura, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts.

    Opposition BJP demanded instant deployment of central forces to conduct the panchayat polls whereas the TMC asserted that the opposition is trying to find excuses fearing defeat.

    TMC Rajya Sabha MP and get together spokesperson Shantanu Sen stated the opposition had confronted extreme drubbing within the 2021 meeting polls and several other assemblies and one Lok Sabha by-elections, all of which have been carried out within the presence of central forces.

    “People of Bengal are solidly behind the TMC and not with the BJP, Congress or the CPI(M). The opposition may demand deployment of peacekeeping force from the United Nations in panchayat polls if they want,” Sen stated.

    The panchayat polls can be held within the state on July 8. The 2018 rural ballot course of was marred by violence and alleged malpractices in a number of districts.

  • Congress leaders cry foul over ‘poaching’, urge Kharge to not ally with Trinamool in Bengal

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: Days sooner than opposition occasions are scheduled to fulfill in Patna, the place Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress leaders will probably be present, to draw a roadmap to fight the BJP throughout the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, functionaries of the grand outdated get collectively from West Bengal met its nationwide president Mallikarjun Kharge and made it clear that they are in opposition to any alliance with the Trinamool Congress throughout the state.

    Citing the present defection of lone Congress MLA Bayron Biswas to the Trinamool, Congress leaders from the state accused Bengal’s ruling get collectively of poaching MLAs from completely different occasions. Kharge, reportedly, assured the Congress leaders that no decision about an alliance with the Trinamool in state politics might be taken with out consulting the get collectively’s Bengal chapter.

    Congress leaders like Pradip Bhattacharya, a Rajya Sabha MP, former Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan and West Bengal youth Congress president Azhar Mallick met Kharge at his residence in Delhi. “Raising Biswas’ defection to the TMC, the leaders from Bengal became vocal about TMC’s highhandedness and atrocities against the Congress in the state. They told Kharge that an alliance with Bengal’s ruling party in the state will not be accepted at any cost,” acknowledged a Congress chief.

    Kharge reportedly suggested the leaders from Bengal that he was aware of TMC’s actions throughout the state. “He assured that no decision would be taken without discussing the issue with the state leadership,” acknowledged the Congress chief.

    Biswas was the Congress’s candidate throughout the Sagardighi Assembly byelection, supported by the Left Front. His victory was an unlimited jolt to the TMC as a result of the constituency is dominated by the minority neighborhood, which is taken into consideration the votebank of the TMC all through the state.

    After the victory, every the Left Front and Congress launched that they’d fight in opposition to the TMC and the BJP throughout the state by forming an alliance.

    “But Biswas’s defection was a blow to our effort,” admitted a Left Front chief.

    West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury acknowledged Nitish Kumar convened the meeting in Patna on June 12 inviting opposition occasions along with the Congress and the TMC. “At the national level, such meetings may take place. But we will continue our fight against the TMC’s misrule in Bengal and there will be no alliance with Bengal’s ruling party,” he acknowledged.

    Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held conferences with Nitish and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav at Nabanna, the state secretariat, and talked about an alliance in opposition to the BJP throughout the 2024 regular elections.

    KOLKATA: Days sooner than opposition occasions are scheduled to fulfill in Patna, the place Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress leaders will probably be present, to draw a roadmap to fight the BJP throughout the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, functionaries of the grand outdated get collectively from West Bengal met its nationwide president Mallikarjun Kharge and made it clear that they are in opposition to any alliance with the Trinamool Congress throughout the state.

    Citing the present defection of lone Congress MLA Bayron Biswas to the Trinamool, Congress leaders from the state accused Bengal’s ruling get collectively of poaching MLAs from completely different occasions. Kharge, reportedly, assured the Congress leaders that no decision about an alliance with the Trinamool in state politics might be taken with out consulting the get collectively’s Bengal chapter.

    Congress leaders like Pradip Bhattacharya, a Rajya Sabha MP, former Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan and West Bengal youth Congress president Azhar Mallick met Kharge at his residence in Delhi. “Raising Biswas’ defection to the TMC, the leaders from Bengal became vocal about TMC’s highhandedness and atrocities against the Congress in the state. They told Kharge that an alliance with Bengal’s ruling party in the state will not be accepted at any cost,” acknowledged a Congress chief.googletag.cmd.push(carry out() googletag.present(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    Kharge reportedly suggested the leaders from Bengal that he was aware of TMC’s actions throughout the state. “He assured that no decision would be taken without discussing the issue with the state leadership,” acknowledged the Congress chief.

    Biswas was the Congress’s candidate throughout the Sagardighi Assembly byelection, supported by the Left Front. His victory was an unlimited jolt to the TMC as a result of the constituency is dominated by the minority neighborhood, which is taken into consideration the votebank of the TMC all through the state.

    After the victory, every the Left Front and Congress launched that they’d fight in opposition to the TMC and the BJP throughout the state by forming an alliance.

    “But Biswas’s defection was a blow to our effort,” admitted a Left Front chief.

    West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury acknowledged Nitish Kumar convened the meeting in Patna on June 12 inviting opposition occasions along with the Congress and the TMC. “At the national level, such meetings may take place. But we will continue our fight against the TMC’s misrule in Bengal and there will be no alliance with Bengal’s ruling party,” he acknowledged.

    Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held conferences with Nitish and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav at Nabanna, the state secretariat, and talked about an alliance in opposition to the BJP throughout the 2024 regular elections.

  • Post-grads amongst 35K candidates for one-year job to cut grass and catch snakes in Bengal

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: Mohammad Akher (establish modified on request) dreamt of instructing school college students in a university after clearing the SSC examination 5 years up to now. But fortune had one factor else in retailer for him. Now, in its place of a chalk in hand, he is hoping to carry a pair of shears. Akher is one amongst larger than 35,000 candidates who’ve queued up for a one-year contractual authorities job to cut grass and catch snakes.

    Reflecting the sorry state of job alternate options in Bengal, the candidates, many with bigger educational {{qualifications}}, have crammed up the form for the short-term submit of 445 Bana Sahayak throughout the forest division. Though the forest division talked about Class VIII go as a result of the eligibility, 1000’s of graduate and postgraduate candidates utilized for the job which presents Rs 10,000 month-to-month. Many of the candidates handed the SSC examination nonetheless are however to acquire appointment letters as school lecturers.

    Youths for the short-term job will in all probability be recruited in Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda, North and South Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts.

    “Examinations for government jobs have come a halt. In many cases, getting a job without having political connections is not possible. Besides, even after clearing exams, receiving the appointment letter takes many years. I have no option left other than applying for this one-year contractual job with monthly remuneration of Rs 10,000,” said Akher, a postgraduate.

    In the federal authorities notification, it has been clearly talked about: “The post is purely temporary and contractual. The incumbent will not have any claim to any service benefits provided to permanent employees of the government of West Bengal. The engagement shall be for one year initially. The incumbent may continue to be engaged on an annual basis on the recommendation of the Head of the Office where engaged.”   

    Officials of the forest division have been shocked whereas going by the features. Admitting the candidates’ spectacular {{qualifications}}, Vikash Vijay, divisional forest officer of Jalpaiguri, said, “We found many achieved first-class in graduation and post-graduation. Around 30,000 applications were received till May 29 for vacancies of 150 posts.”    

    Echoing Akher, one different applicant said the state has witnessed large-scale malpractices in recruitment in colleges whereby many ruling social gathering heavyweights, along with former education minister Partha Chatterjee, have been arrested. “The Calcutta High Court recently terminated the jobs of 36,000 school teachers in connection with the scam. There are no job opportunities in the state and that is why I applied for the job of Bana Sahayak even though I have much higher and better qualifications,” said the postgraduate applicant.

    KOLKATA: Mohammad Akher (establish modified on request) dreamt of instructing school college students in a university after clearing the SSC examination 5 years up to now. But fortune had one factor else in retailer for him. Now, in its place of a chalk in hand, he is hoping to carry a pair of shears. Akher is one amongst larger than 35,000 candidates who’ve queued up for a one-year contractual authorities job to cut grass and catch snakes.

    Reflecting the sorry state of job alternate options in Bengal, the candidates, many with bigger educational {{qualifications}}, have crammed up the form for the short-term submit of 445 Bana Sahayak throughout the forest division. Though the forest division talked about Class VIII go as a result of the eligibility, 1000’s of graduate and postgraduate candidates utilized for the job which presents Rs 10,000 month-to-month. Many of the candidates handed the SSC examination nonetheless are however to acquire appointment letters as school lecturers.

    Youths for the short-term job will in all probability be recruited in Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda, North and South Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts.googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.present(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    “Examinations for government jobs have come a halt. In many cases, getting a job without having political connections is not possible. Besides, even after clearing exams, receiving the appointment letter takes many years. I have no option left other than applying for this one-year contractual job with monthly remuneration of Rs 10,000,” said Akher, a postgraduate.

    In the federal authorities notification, it has been clearly talked about: “The post is purely temporary and contractual. The incumbent will not have any claim to any service benefits provided to permanent employees of the government of West Bengal. The engagement shall be for one year initially. The incumbent may continue to be engaged on an annual basis on the recommendation of the Head of the Office where engaged.”   

    Officials of the forest division have been shocked whereas going by the features. Admitting the candidates’ spectacular {{qualifications}}, Vikash Vijay, divisional forest officer of Jalpaiguri, said, “We found many achieved first-class in graduation and post-graduation. Around 30,000 applications were received till May 29 for vacancies of 150 posts.”    

    Echoing Akher, one different applicant said the state has witnessed large-scale malpractices in recruitment in colleges whereby many ruling social gathering heavyweights, along with former education minister Partha Chatterjee, have been arrested. “The Calcutta High Court recently terminated the jobs of 36,000 school teachers in connection with the scam. There are no job opportunities in the state and that is why I applied for the job of Bana Sahayak even though I have much higher and better qualifications,” said the postgraduate applicant.

  • Centre spending crores on new parliament nonetheless depriving Bengal of funds: TMC chief

    The TMC nationwide widespread secretary alleged the Centre, has stopped the funds ensuing from Bengal on the event of the ruling BJP event.

    DEBRA: Senior TMC chief Abhishek Banerjee on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the model new Parliament establishing and acknowledged whereas crores of rupees are being spent on its constructing, the union authorities has withheld funds beneath the 100-day rural employment guarantee scheme for Bengal.

    Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the model new Parliament establishing on Sunday concurrently spherical 20 opposition occasions, along with the TMC, boycotted the event, alleging that President Droupadi Murmu has been denied the correct to inaugurate the establishing and known as it an insult to India’s first woman president from the tribal group.

    “They have built a new parliament building by spending crores of rupees. The Centre is also spending crores of rupees on the Central Vista project. Whereas they have kept Rs 7,500 crores pending for the 100 days MGNREGA scheme in the State,” Abhishek acknowledged.

    The new parliament establishing was completed in about two-and-a-half years at an estimated value of virtually Rs 1,200 crore.

    The TMC chief acknowledged he on no account had any factors in sitting throughout the earlier parliament.

    “As an MP, I never had any problem sitting in the old parliament building. The parliament is in session for nearly 40 days a year, and around 800 MPs are members of either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. yet they are spending crores of rupees on new buildings,” he acknowledged.

    The TMC nationwide widespread secretary alleged the Centre, has stopped the funds ensuing from Bengal on the event of the ruling BJP event.

    “They are depriving the poor people of West Bengal by denying MGNREGA funds to Bengal. It (BJP) is trying to punish the State’s people for their defeat in the last assembly poll in 2021,” he acknowledged whereas addressing a rally throughout the Debra area in Paschim Midnapur district.

    Banerjee was addressing the rally as part of the ‘Trinamool-eh Nabajowar’ (new wave in Trinamool) mass outreach advertising and marketing marketing campaign.

    His remark drew sharp reactions from the BJP, which dubbed the allegations baseless.

    “The TMC has a habit of levelling baseless allegations. The funds have been stopped as the state government has not submitted funds utilization certificates,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar acknowledged.

  • West Bengal minister’s automobile attacked as Kurmi protest targets Abhishek’s convoy 

    By PTI

    SALBONI: West Bengal minister Birbaha Hansda’s automobile was attacked in Paschim Medinipur district on Friday as members of the Kurmi group allegedly hurled stones at senior TMC chief Abhishek Banerjee’s convoy, by which she was travelling, officers talked about.

    The incident occurred in Salboni the place Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to attend a celebration programme on Saturday.

    Abhishek, a Z-plus protectee, led a roadshow in Jhargram’s Binpur and Gopiballavpur as part of his Trinamooley Nabojowar (new wave in Trinamool) advertising and marketing marketing campaign.

    Following the rally, he was travelling by way of Salboni when members of the Kurmi group, who’re protesting demanding ST standing, gathered on both aspect of the freeway, a celebration chief talked about. As his car moved ahead, they allegedly started throwing stones on the roadshow.

    “The vehicle of Hansda, which was in the convoy, was damaged in the attack,” the chief talked about.

    An monumental police contingent was rushed to the spot to handle the state of affairs, officers talked about. It could not be immediately recognized if anyone was arrested.

    Condemning the incident, Hansda talked about violence can in no way be the kind of a democratic protest.

    “This can never be a fight for the rights of a community. All those who have thrown stones are outsiders, and are using the garb of being members of a specific community to justify the violence,” she added.

    Members of the Kurmi group had met Banerjee in Bankura on Tuesday and urged him to look into their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) standing.

    The TMC MP from Diamond Harbour gave them a affected particular person listening to and talked about it was justified to conduct democratic protests to press for his or her requires.

    Last week, BJP nationwide vice-president Dilip Ghosh’s dwelling in Paschim Medinipur’s Kharagpur was vandalised allegedly by members of a Kurmi outfit over his suggestions in the direction of the group.

    “The TMC has been fanning this movement. When my house was attacked they had cherished it, now they are at the receiving end,” Ghosh talked about.

    The Kurmi group, which is assessed as OBC at present, protested for days in April in a number of districts of the state, along with Dakshin Dinajpur, Purulia, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur, demanding ST standing.

    ALSO READ | Stir for ST standing: Railway suppliers affected as Kurmis proceed blockade at two stations in Bengal

    CPI(M) chief Sujan Chakraborty talked about the TMC administration should do some soul-searching as to why such protests are taking place inside the state. He alleged that people are indignant over a lot of factors.

    “It is unfortunate that such protests are happening despite huge security arrangements,” he talked about.

    SALBONI: West Bengal minister Birbaha Hansda’s automobile was attacked in Paschim Medinipur district on Friday as members of the Kurmi group allegedly hurled stones at senior TMC chief Abhishek Banerjee’s convoy, by which she was travelling, officers talked about.

    The incident occurred in Salboni the place Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to attend a celebration programme on Saturday.

    Abhishek, a Z-plus protectee, led a roadshow in Jhargram’s Binpur and Gopiballavpur as part of his Trinamooley Nabojowar (new wave in Trinamool) advertising and marketing marketing campaign.googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.present(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    Following the rally, he was travelling by way of Salboni when members of the Kurmi group, who’re protesting demanding ST standing, gathered on both aspect of the freeway, a celebration chief talked about. As his car moved ahead, they allegedly started throwing stones on the roadshow.

    “The vehicle of Hansda, which was in the convoy, was damaged in the attack,” the chief talked about.

    An monumental police contingent was rushed to the spot to handle the state of affairs, officers talked about. It could not be immediately recognized if anyone was arrested.

    Condemning the incident, Hansda talked about violence can in no way be the kind of a democratic protest.

    “This can never be a fight for the rights of a community. All those who have thrown stones are outsiders, and are using the garb of being members of a specific community to justify the violence,” she added.

    Members of the Kurmi group had met Banerjee in Bankura on Tuesday and urged him to look into their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) standing.

    The TMC MP from Diamond Harbour gave them a affected particular person listening to and talked about it was justified to conduct democratic protests to press for his or her requires.

    Last week, BJP nationwide vice-president Dilip Ghosh’s dwelling in Paschim Medinipur’s Kharagpur was vandalised allegedly by members of a Kurmi outfit over his suggestions in the direction of the group.

    “The TMC has been fanning this movement. When my house was attacked they had cherished it, now they are at the receiving end,” Ghosh talked about.

    The Kurmi group, which is assessed as OBC at present, protested for days in April in a number of districts of the state, along with Dakshin Dinajpur, Purulia, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur, demanding ST standing.

    ALSO READ | Stir for ST standing: Railway suppliers affected as Kurmis proceed blockade at two stations in Bengal

    CPI(M) chief Sujan Chakraborty talked about the TMC administration should do some soul-searching as to why such protests are taking place inside the state. He alleged that people are indignant over a lot of factors.

    “It is unfortunate that such protests are happening despite huge security arrangements,” he talked about.