Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has accused the TMC government in West Bengal of preventing the implementation of central welfare schemes, depriving the state's residents of benefits such as Ayushman Bharat and PM Kisan.
A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and West Bengal Election Watch reveals that nearly 23% of candidates in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections have declared criminal cases against themselves.
The CBI has registered an FIR in the alleged murder of Chandranath Rath, an aide to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, taking over the investigation from the state police following a request from the state government.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused central forces of attempting to search her car while en route to Kolkata airport, alleging misuse of central machinery by the BJP ahead of state elections.
The Trinamool Congress government's massive defeat in West Bengal shows "deep anti-incumbency and unpopularity" as out of 35 ministers who contested the assembly elections, 22 have been defeated, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her constituency.
Under the TMC, Bengal has seen expansion of welfare, but not big-ticket private investment.
The CBI is investigating the murder of Suvendu Adhikari's aide, Chandranath Rath, suspecting it was a meticulously planned contract killing. The investigation involves forensic analysis and examination of potential interstate criminal links.
The CBI has taken over the investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath, an aide to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the killing, which occurred shortly after the BJP's victory in the assembly elections.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of being 'anti-women' and obstructing the passage of the women's reservation bill in Lok Sabha. He criticised the TMC's opposition to the bill and defended the BJP's commitment to increasing women's representation in politics.
Ashok Lahiri, a distinguished economist with experience in government, the private sector, and electoral politics, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, tasked with strengthening India's reform trajectory and policy-making.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused central forces of searching her car and criticised the BJP for alleged election misconduct during a rally in Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur district.
'Look at the way SIR that was implemented in Bengal. They wanted to entirely curate the voter list in order to suit their purposes and victory.' 'Look at the targeted deletions and the targeted voting list.' 'The difference between the TMC and the BJP was only about 4% but that 4% vote was done so selectively that the difference ultimately showed up as 100 seats!'
Two Enforcement Directorate officers who participated in the raid against I-PAC in Kolkata this January received an award for their 'exceptional competence'.
Amit Mitra may have stopped talking about relaxing rules for foreign investment in India, but there is no dilution of his commitment to the cause of fiscal consolidation in West Bengal.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has condemned the recent blasts in Amritsar and Jalandhar, calling them a deliberate attempt to spread terror and disrupt the state's peace. He accused the BJP of trying to create an atmosphere of fear and division for political gains ahead of elections.
Indian equities on Dalal Street saw volatility as global market trends and weak rupee impacted investor sentiment. Track Sensex, Nifty50 movement and key market drivers for May 5, 2026.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty experienced a decline due to renewed geopolitical concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, a strained US-Iran ceasefire, and the rupee hitting a record low against the US dollar.
Noted economist and senior Trinamool Congress leader Amit Mitra is likely to step down as the West Bengal finance minister and even retire from active politics due to ill health, party sources said on Sunday.
Political observers said the announcement assumes significance as the state prepares for the assembly elections, with political parties stepping up outreach to various community groups.
Opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha criticised the Modi government's economic policies, citing the LPG crisis, lack of energy security, and concerns over the Economic Stabilisation Fund.
In a central govt report, the state only has figures from 2001-02 to 2003-04. But nothing after that.
The Congress party has accused the Modi government of abusing its power and distorting the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the upcoming assembly elections in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry. The party alleges that the MCC has become 'Modi's Code of Campaigning' filled with defamation and lies.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has strongly criticised the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid and subsequent arrest of Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora, calling it a politically motivated act by the BJP-led central government. AAP leaders allege the BJP is misusing central agencies to suppress opposition voices and destabilise the AAP government in Punjab.
Experts say moratorium on interest not a solution, debt needs to be restructured; state must look for avenues to increase revenue and curtail expenditure.
Odisha vigilance officers arrested the parents of a previously arrested banker, along with another individual, for allegedly embezzling Rs 5.56 crore in government funds in the Jajpur district. The accused are Pradip Kumar Mohanty, his wife Gitarani Mohanty, and Bishnu Prasad Dash. The funds were fraudulently diverted over six years.
The Centre is working out a financial package for West Bengal to tide over the huge problems the new government has inherited from the Left Front administration, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth over 581 crore belonging to Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL) and Reliance Commercial Finance Limited (RCFL), companies of Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani, as part of an ongoing investigation.
Trinamool Congress candidate and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce And Industry secretary general Amit Mitra, pitted against Communist Party of India-Marxist candidate and West Bengal Finance minister Ashim Dasgupta, is confident that his party is heading for a victory at the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Two dedicated freight corridors -- Eastern and Western -- are in operation covering several states and districts.
Outlay for cultural activities increased, for social welfare schemes slashed
The Election Commission released the names of deleted voters in West Bengal ahead of the publication of the draft electoral rolls for the upcoming assembly elections.
India's state-level fiscal rules have improved headline deficits, but the gains are fragile and uneven with major states still grappling with high debt levels, a World Bank report submitted to the 16th Finance Commission (FC) said. According to the report, despite nearly two decades of adoption of fiscal responsibility laws (FRLs), debt levels have not converged.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached fresh assets worth over 581 crore belonging to Reliance Group companies, RHFL and RCFL, as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation.
Though no reason was officially cited for his absence, Trinamool Congress sources here said Mitra will attend a crucial parliamentary meeting of the party in Kolkata on Tuesday to discuss the Centre's decision to hike diesel price, restrict of subsidised cooking gas and allow FDI in retail and decide the future of the party's ties with the United Progressive Alliance.
The Forum is organised by Singapore Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, with the partnership of state-trade agency IE Singapore, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The state is now under pressure to revise the salaries of its 800,000 employees, which would add to the strain of an already debt-laden state exchequer.
The Congress party has strongly criticized the Union Budget, calling it 'lacklustre' and 'disappointing,' claiming it fails to address the needs of farmers, unemployed youth, and other key sectors.
West Bengal: Flood situation improves, alert still on
Union Finance Minister and West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Pranab Mukheree on Sunday ruled out any further division of West Bengal.The minister said no problem could be solved by force and hoped that the GJM would call off its indefinite bandh in the Darjeeling Hills.
The bill will be discussed in the state Assembly on June 18.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances