News for 'West Bengal'

Crorepati MLAs Surge 32 Times In 20 Years

Crorepati MLAs Surge 32 Times In 20 Years

Rediff.com18 May 2026

BJP witnessed steady growth in crorepati MLAs between 2016 and 2026.

ED raids 5 Kolkata locations in TMC plane, helicopter funding probe

ED raids 5 Kolkata locations in TMC plane, helicopter funding probe

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches in Kolkata as part of an investigation into alleged fund routing from TMC's bank accounts for purchasing an Embraer jet and an AgustaWestland helicopter. The probe suggests Rs 160 crore was transferred to Carewell Aviation, with Rs 112 crore used for aircraft. The ED suspects the arrangement was designed to camouflage the true purpose of transactions. This comes amidst frozen TMC bank accounts and ongoing internal party disputes.

TMC claims high voter turnout backs Mamata's governance

TMC claims high voter turnout backs Mamata's governance

Rediff.com23 Apr 2026

The TMC has refuted Prime Minister Modi's claim that high voter turnout in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls indicates a mandate for change, asserting it reflects support for Mamata Banerjee and her government's development agenda.

SC shields student protesters; mulls SIT probe into police excesses

SC shields student protesters; mulls SIT probe into police excesses

Rediff.com28 Jul 2026

The Supreme Court has issued interim directions regarding nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak, ordering the release of minor student protesters without criminal records and directing states to preserve all digital evidence. The court also called for a fair and independent investigation into allegations of police excesses against students, while also acknowledging concerns for injured police personnel.

Govt ready for debate in Parliament over paper leak, says Nadda; slams Rahul

Govt ready for debate in Parliament over paper leak, says Nadda; slams Rahul

Rediff.com23 Jul 2026

Union minister J P Nadda on Wednesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of playing politics over the NEET paper leak and urged the Opposition to allow an "intensive" discussion on the issue in Parliament to find a "permanent solution" to the problem, instead of indulging in a blame game.

Wayanad landslide: NDRF, fire teams intensify river search for missing man

Wayanad landslide: NDRF, fire teams intensify river search for missing man

Rediff.com11 Jul 2026

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire and Rescue teams on Saturday intensified search operations along the Meenachipuzha river to trace the lone missing person, Vikram Rana, as rescue efforts entered the fifth day following the Wayanad landslide.

Car used in Suvendu aide's murder purchased in UP: Police

Car used in Suvendu aide's murder purchased in UP: Police

Rediff.com21 May 2026

Police and eyewitnesses have revealed that the car used in the murder of Chandranath Rath, an aide to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, was purchased in Ballia. The CBI and Uttar Pradesh STF are intensifying raids to locate Gyanendra Pratap Singh, a key figure in the case.

'Every Political Party Will Be BJP-ised'

'Every Political Party Will Be BJP-ised'

Rediff.com20 May 2026

'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!'

Enforcement Directorate Searches Merlin Group In Money Laundering Probe

Enforcement Directorate Searches Merlin Group In Money Laundering Probe

Rediff.com17 Apr 2026

The Enforcement Directorate conducted fresh searches on the Merlin Group, a Kolkata-based real estate company, as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation. The searches follow previous raids on the group and its promoters, with the ED investigating alleged financial links between the company and West Bengal government officials.

DRI seizes 440+ Endangered Animals, Ivory

DRI seizes 440+ Endangered Animals, Ivory

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has conducted a nationwide crackdown on wildlife trafficking, seizing over 440 endangered animals and 15 kg of ivory, and arresting 33 individuals involved in organised crime syndicates.

Former BDO Arrested For Drunken Driving, Wanted In Murder Case

Former BDO Arrested For Drunken Driving, Wanted In Murder Case

Rediff.com27 May 2026

Former Rajganj block development officer Prashant Barman was arrested in New Town near Kolkata for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and is wanted in connection with a businessman's murder in 2025.

Fresh blow for Mamata as long-time aide quits as Bidhannagar mayor

Fresh blow for Mamata as long-time aide quits as Bidhannagar mayor

Rediff.com4 Jun 2026

Trinamool Congress leader Krishna Chakraborty has resigned as the mayor of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, citing personal reasons. A long-time associate of Mamata Banerjee, Chakraborty served for 16 years and expressed a desire to work as a councillor.

Mamata Banerjee Highlights Ambedkar's Vision for Inclusive Society

Mamata Banerjee Highlights Ambedkar's Vision for Inclusive Society

Rediff.com14 Apr 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid tribute to B R Ambedkar on his birth anniversary, emphasising his legacy's role in guiding efforts to protect democracy and ensure an inclusive society.

'What will putlaa do?': Himanta on Babri-style mosque in Bengal

'What will putlaa do?': Himanta on Babri-style mosque in Bengal

Rediff.com17 Feb 2026

The original Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992, leading to a Supreme Court verdict in 2019 that allowed the construction of a Ram Temple.

The World No. 1 Who Lost A Leg In Combat

The World No. 1 Who Lost A Leg In Combat

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

Subedar Hokato Sema lost his leg in a mine blast on the Line of Control. Today he is a champion para shot-putter and among the most decorated para soldier-athletes.

Crimes By Foreigners Rise In Delhi, NCRB Data Shows

Crimes By Foreigners Rise In Delhi, NCRB Data Shows

Rediff.com7 May 2026

Delhi has seen an increase in crimes committed by foreigners, with 201 cases registered in 2024 compared to 130 in 2023, according to NCRB data. Delhi accounted for the highest number of such cases among union territories. West Bengal recorded the highest number of such cases among states.

TMC-backed BLOs clash with police in Kolkata over voter list row

TMC-backed BLOs clash with police in Kolkata over voter list row

Rediff.com31 Mar 2026

Tension flared outside the Chief Electoral Officer's office in Kolkata following a confrontation between Trinamool Congress supporters and police over alleged voter list manipulation, with accusations of illegal voter enrolment from other states.

TMC Alleges BJP's 'Desperate Bid' to Disrupt Election Campaign After I-PAC Raids

TMC Alleges BJP's 'Desperate Bid' to Disrupt Election Campaign After I-PAC Raids

Rediff.com2 Apr 2026

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the BJP of orchestrating raids on premises linked to I-PAC executives to disrupt their election campaign in West Bengal, alleging vendetta politics and interference in the electoral process.

Student dies after consuming hot tea, RKM school shuts hostel

Student dies after consuming hot tea, RKM school shuts hostel

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya in Narendrapur, West Bengal, has indefinitely closed its hostels and suspended classes after a Class 12 student died following an alleged incident involving hot tea. The decision comes amidst widespread protests, a police probe into negligence, and the suspension of three staffers, with the headmaster also offering to resign.

Mamata Banerjee Obstructed Coal Smuggling Probe, ED Tells Supreme Court

Mamata Banerjee Obstructed Coal Smuggling Probe, ED Tells Supreme Court

Rediff.com23 Apr 2026

The Enforcement Directorate has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of obstructing its investigation into a Rs 2,700-crore coal smuggling case, alleging she used state machinery to halt a search of an I-PAC office in Kolkata.

Now, row erupts in Kerala as chief poll officer appointed as CM's secretary

Now, row erupts in Kerala as chief poll officer appointed as CM's secretary

Rediff.com23 May 2026

The appointment of Kerala's Chief Electoral Officer as the Chief Minister's secretary has ignited a political firestorm, raising questions about election credibility and sparking accusations of hypocrisy among political parties.

India, Bangladesh likely to hold border talks in Delhi next week

India, Bangladesh likely to hold border talks in Delhi next week

Rediff.com31 May 2026

India and Bangladesh are scheduled to hold bi-annual Director General-level border talks in Delhi next week, focusing on border fencing, attacks on BSF personnel, infiltration, cross-border crimes, and illegal migration.

Protests demanding Pradhan's resignation sweep India

Protests demanding Pradhan's resignation sweep India

Rediff.com24 Jul 2026

Nationwide protests against the NEET paper leak have intensified across several Indian states, with demonstrators condemning the Delhi Police crackdown and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Congress party has called for further demonstrations, while various student and political groups have organised marches and sit-ins, some leading to clashes with police.

AAP Accuses BJP Of Plotting Punjab Blasts, BJP Denies

AAP Accuses BJP Of Plotting Punjab Blasts, BJP Denies

Rediff.com7 May 2026

Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh has accused the BJP of orchestrating bomb blasts in Amritsar and Jalandhar to destabilise Punjab ahead of elections, a claim strongly refuted by the BJP.

Why NIA Declared Former TMC MLA Saokat Molla Absconding

Why NIA Declared Former TMC MLA Saokat Molla Absconding

Rediff.com5 Jun 2026

The NIA has declared former TMC MLA Saokat Molla absconding in connection with the Bhangar blast case in West Bengal, intensifying searches and alerting border agencies to prevent his escape. Three arrests have been made in the case, with Molla identified as a prime suspect.

EC announces assembly poll dates for WB, TN, Kerala, Assam, Puducherry

EC announces assembly poll dates for WB, TN, Kerala, Assam, Puducherry

Rediff.com15 Mar 2026

The counting of votes for all 824 seats across four states and one Union Territory will be held on May 4.

TMC's Derek O'Brien moves SC alleging irregularities in Bengal SIR

TMC's Derek O'Brien moves SC alleging irregularities in Bengal SIR

Rediff.com6 Jan 2026

The application claimed that since the inception of the SIR process in the state, the EC has issued instructions to officers at the ground level through "informal and extra-statutory channels", such as WhatsApp messages and oral directions conveyed during video conferences, instead of issuing formal written instructions.

Ex-bureaucrat C V Ananda Bose appointed West Bengal governor

Ex-bureaucrat C V Ananda Bose appointed West Bengal governor

Rediff.com18 Nov 2022

C V Ananda Bose was on Thursday appointed as the new governor of West Bengal, a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

Trinamool Congress Counters Amit Shah's Allegations, Accuses BJP of Polarisation

Trinamool Congress Counters Amit Shah's Allegations, Accuses BJP of Polarisation

Rediff.com28 Mar 2026

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has launched a strong rebuttal against Union Home Minister Amit Shah's 'chargesheet' on the West Bengal government, accusing the BJP of attempting to polarise the state ahead of elections and failing to address critical issues such as violence in Manipur and women's safety in BJP-ruled states.

'Samajwadi Party Isn't Breaking Up Like TMC Or Shiv Sena (UBT)'

'Samajwadi Party Isn't Breaking Up Like TMC Or Shiv Sena (UBT)'

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Political tensions are escalating in Uttar Pradesh as Samajwadi Party leaders strongly refute Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar's assertions of an impending split within the SP.

CBI To Investigate Killing Of Suvendu Adhikari's Associate

CBI To Investigate Killing Of Suvendu Adhikari's Associate

Rediff.com12 May 2026

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.

Trinamool MP Criticises 'Blend and Butcher' Approach of Jan Vishwas Bill

Trinamool MP Criticises 'Blend and Butcher' Approach of Jan Vishwas Bill

Rediff.com2 Apr 2026

Trinamool Congress MP Nadimul Haque criticised the Jan Vishwas (Amendment and Provisions) Bill, 2026, in the Rajya Sabha, questioning the government's approach to amending multiple central laws through a single piece of legislation and raising concerns about its impact on public health and federal funds owed to West Bengal.

How BJP turned TMC's structural cracks into a sweeping mandate

How BJP turned TMC's structural cracks into a sweeping mandate

Rediff.com5 May 2026

The BJP's landslide victory in West Bengal has not merely redrawn the electoral map but overturned the operating logic of politics in the state, breaching the TMC's entrenched fortress despite a decade-and-a-half of dominance, minority consolidation, and a sustained "outsider" narrative.

TMC Leader Banerjee Criticises Modi Government's Economic Policies

TMC Leader Banerjee Criticises Modi Government's Economic Policies

Rediff.com3 Apr 2026

Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee criticised the Modi government's economic policies, citing rising prices and hardships caused by demonetisation and lockdown measures during an election rally in West Bengal.

Mamata's 'Girgiti' poem targets TMC rebels amid growing dissent

Mamata's 'Girgiti' poem targets TMC rebels amid growing dissent

Rediff.com29 May 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has penned a new poem titled 'Girgiti' (Chameleon), which political observers believe carries a veiled message for leaders who have recently turned critical of the Trinamool Congress.

'West Bengal: Top investment destination'

'West Bengal: Top investment destination'

Rediff.com9 Mar 2009

At ground level, Trinamool leaders are quite reasonable and supportive. But TC is such a party where opinions of the grassroot-level people don't matter. The party has decided to oppose whatever development work we undertake, says

Banerjee Calls for 'Revenge' Votes Over Voter List Changes

Banerjee Calls for 'Revenge' Votes Over Voter List Changes

Rediff.com5 Apr 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged voters to cast their ballots in the upcoming assembly polls as a form of 'revenge' for the deletion of names from electoral rolls, alleging foul play and urging vigilance during the election process.

Birla approves 6 Sena-UBT MPs' merger; rebel TMC MPs get separate seats

Birla approves 6 Sena-UBT MPs' merger; rebel TMC MPs get separate seats

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has approved the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and allowed separate seating for 20 rebel TMC lawmakers who joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), ahead of the Monsoon session.

Akhilesh Yadav Accuses BJP Of Being 'Anti-Women'

Akhilesh Yadav Accuses BJP Of Being 'Anti-Women'

Rediff.com23 Apr 2026

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav criticised the BJP government's record on women's safety, alleging increased crimes and discrimination.

Trinamool Congress Unveils Manifesto with Focus on Healthcare and Welfare

Trinamool Congress Unveils Manifesto with Focus on Healthcare and Welfare

Rediff.com20 Mar 2026

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has released its manifesto for the West Bengal Assembly polls, outlining 10 key pledges focused on expanding welfare schemes, improving healthcare access, and developing infrastructure.