The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has expelled two of its Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), Sandipan Saha and Ritabrata Banerjee, for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities.
BJP leader Priyanka Tibrewal joined a protest in Kolkata against rebel TMC MLA Sandeepan Saha and his father, Swarna Kamal Saha, over allegations of land grabbing and extortion. The protest highlighted public resentment against the duo, who are accused of demanding "cut money." Sandeepan Saha is also part of a TMC rebel faction that has sought recognition as a separate bloc.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari denies political vendetta in the CID's investigation into alleged signature forgery by TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, following complaints from within his own party.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh explained the expulsion of two MLAs, stating they should have approached the party leadership before complaining to the Assembly speaker about a 'fake signature' case.
Expelled TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee has garnered support from 58 legislators, who have proposed him as the new leader of the legislative party to West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose, while still acknowledging Mamata Banerjee as their 'chairperson'.
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is grappling with an unprecedented political crisis following its recent electoral defeat, which has seen a significant number of its legislators openly challenging her authority and forming a rebel faction.
The dramatic development marked the culmination of a revolt that began with allegations of forged signatures on a letter proposing a Leader of Opposition and snowballed into an open challenge to the party leadership following the TMC's defeat at the hands of the BJP in the assembly elections.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari denies political vendetta in the signature forgery probe involving TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, stating the investigation stems from complaints by TMC MLAs.
What began with an apparently chance encounter between rebel TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Banga Bhavan on May 22 ended on Wednesday with 58 MLAs wresting control of the party's legislature wing, electing Ritabrata as their leader and securing recognition from the assembly Speaker.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has declared that the TMC will proceed with its planned sit-in protest against alleged attacks on party leaders and workers, as well as the Railways' hawker eviction drive, despite the police denying permission for the event.
Middle-order batsman Sangram Atitkar hammered a listless Bengal attack into submission with a brilliant 168 as Maharashtra took a mammoth first innings lead to set sights on an innings victory by stumps on the second day of Ranji Trophy semi-final in Indore.
Grandmaster Sandipan Chanda also tallied an identical 17.5 points in the 23-round event, but Ganguly won on a superior tie-break score.
Wriddhiman Saha's century went in vain as Maharashtra crushed Bengal by a convincing margin of 10 wickets to storm into the final of the Ranji Trophy, in Indore.
Left-arm seamer Samad Fallah exposed the poor technique of Bengal's batsmen with some incisive swing bowling to put Maharashtra in the driver's seat on the first day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final in Indore on Saturday.
Chasing a tough victory target of 399, Punjab were tottering at 108 for four at stumps on the third day with Test discard Yuvraj Singh unbeaten on 19 in company of Uday Kaul, who is yet to open his account.
A round-up of the Ranji Trophy matches being played in various part of the country.