<p>Didi has apparently learned from her mistakes in the recent past. The TMC supremo is eager to prove that she doesn't differentiate between Hindu and Muslims, Bengalis and Non-Bengalis.</p>

<p>TMC swept the West Bengal Panchayat elections in May and the BJP emerged as the main challenger to the party. The CPI-M was at the third position, while the Congress was literally wiped out.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the one hand, BJP's performance worked as a morale booster for the Saffron party, and a wake-up call for the TMC on the other. Panchayat election was the last significant electoral event before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and BJP has emerged as a strong player.</p>

<p>Mamata, accused of dividing people of the state on the religious lines to secure its vote bank, is trying to balance it out to avoid the backlash of the Hindu community.</p>

<p><strong>Durga Puja&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Last year, Banerjee drew massive criticism for her decision to impose restrictions on idol immersion during Durga Puja as it collided with Muharram. The Kolkata high court too slammed the state government for creating a divide between the two communities. “Let them (Hindus and Muslims) live in harmony, do not create a line between them," the court had observed.</p>

<p>To cover up the lapses, the chief minister, this year, announced a grant of Rs 28 Crore to 28,000 Puja committees across the state. This is not all. She also penned a theme song for a popular Durga Puja in the city.</p>

<p>The state government then also urged the Muslim community to avoid displaying weapons in processions during Muharram as this could hurt members of other communities.</p>

<p><strong>Cyber War</strong></p>

<p>To widen the use of social media in the run up for 2019 elections, Didi, last month, announced that her party will form a team of 30,000 'cyber sainiks' to counter BJP IT cell for their alleged vindictive politics.</p>

<p>Mamata said the warriors, without using any foul language, will take on the IT cell members of the BJP for their malicious attempts to defame TMC. According to reports, the warriors will respond to the BJP not just in Bengali but in Hindi as well.</p>

<p>BJP too is all set for the cyber war. Party chief Amit Shah and IT Cell head Amit Malviya met the IT cell members in Kolkata recently and reportedly asked them to take government's plans and policies to masses through social media.</p>

<p><strong>TMC Hindi Wing&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>TMC has announced opening a Hindi wing in the party for a broader reach. Mamata also announced her desire to open a Hindu University in the state. This is again an effort by TMC to revamp its image and win the confidence of BJP's non-Bengali support base in the state.</p>

<p><strong>Federal Front</strong></p>

<p>Mamata Banerjee has been urging opposition parties to set aside their differences and come together to take on the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Leading the pack to unite the opposition, Mamata has announced a massive anti-BJP rally to be held in Kolkata in January, 2019.</p>

<p>She has also met leaders of regional and opposition parties as her efforts to stitch an anti-BJP alliance. Several top opposition leaders, like &nbsp;Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, have already confirmed their presence.</p>

<p>TMC has also planned to invite BSP Supremo Mayawati, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress President Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With all the above strategies, TMC is attempting to overhaul its image of being a party which indulges in minority appeasement and opportunistic politics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To counter TMC's strategies, BJP has appointed Mukul Roy as the convener of the party's election management committee in West Bengal. Roy, who had quit the TMC to join BJP, is familiar with Mamata Banerjee's style of working.</p>

<p>Beginning December, the Saffron party will take out three Rath Yatras covering all the 42 parliamentary constituencies of the state. Through these Rath Yatras, the party also plans to reach out to the general people to garner support for Assam’s National Register of Citizens.</p>

<p>BJP is likely to score brownie points over TMC on NRC issue after Banerjee faced flak over her U-turn. Mamata, in 2005, had favoured NRC in West Bengal, claiming that the illegal immigrants in Bangladesh had spelt disaster for West Bengal.</p>

<p>However, this year she opposed the Assam’s National Register of Citizens.</p>

<p>West Bengal is crucial for the BJP for its growth in the Lok Sabha elections and the party is targetting at least 22 seats in the state. Meanwhile, TMC, confident of triggering a revolution by uniting the opposition to defeat the BJP in 2019, is putting its best efforts to maintain its stronghold in the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


Didi has apparently learned from her mistakes in the recent past. The TMC supremo is eager to prove that she doesn't differentiate between Hindu and Muslims, Bengalis and Non-Bengalis.

Didi has apparently learned from her mistakes in the recent past. The TMC supremo is eager to prove that she doesn't differentiate between Hindu and Muslims, Bengalis and Non-Bengalis. TMC swept the West Bengal Panchayat elections in May and the BJP emerged as the main challenger to the party. The CPI-M was at the third position, while the Congress was literally wiped out. On the one hand, BJP's performance worked as a morale booster for the Saffron party, and a wake-up call for the TMC on the other. Panchayat election was the last significant electoral event before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and BJP has emerged as a strong player. Mamata, accused of dividing people of the state on the religious lines to secure its vote bank, is trying to balance it out to avoid the backlash of the Hindu community. Durga Puja Last year, Banerjee drew massive criticism for her decision to impose restrictions on idol immersion during Durga Puja as it collided with Muharram. The Kolkata high court too slammed the state government for creating a divide between the two communities. “Let them (Hindus and Muslims) live in harmony, do not create a line between them," the court had observed. To cover up the lapses, the chief minister, this year, announced a grant of Rs 28 Crore to 28,000 Puja committees across the state. This is not all. She also penned a theme song for a popular Durga Puja in the city. The state government then also urged the Muslim community to avoid displaying weapons in processions during Muharram as this could hurt members of other communities. Cyber War To widen the use of social media in the run up for 2019 elections, Didi, last month, announced that her party will form a team of 30,000 'cyber sainiks' to counter BJP IT cell for their alleged vindictive politics. Mamata said the warriors, without using any foul language, will take on the IT cell members of the BJP for their malicious attempts to defame TMC. According to reports, the warriors will respond to the BJP not just in Bengali but in Hindi as well. BJP too is all set for the cyber war. Party chief Amit Shah and IT Cell head Amit Malviya met the IT cell members in Kolkata recently and reportedly asked them to take government's plans and policies to masses through social media. TMC Hindi Wing TMC has announced opening a Hindi wing in the party for a broader reach. Mamata also announced her desire to open a Hindu University in the state. This is again an effort by TMC to revamp its image and win the confidence of BJP's non-Bengali support base in the state. Federal Front Mamata Banerjee has been urging opposition parties to set aside their differences and come together to take on the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Leading the pack to unite the opposition, Mamata has announced a massive anti-BJP rally to be held in Kolkata in January, 2019. She has also met leaders of regional and opposition parties as her efforts to stitch an anti-BJP alliance. Several top opposition leaders, like Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, have already confirmed their presence. TMC has also planned to invite BSP Supremo Mayawati, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress President Rahul Gandhi. With all the above strategies, TMC is attempting to overhaul its image of being a party which indulges in minority appeasement and opportunistic politics. To counter TMC's strategies, BJP has appointed Mukul Roy as the convener of the party's election management committee in West Bengal. Roy, who had quit the TMC to join BJP, is familiar with Mamata Banerjee's style of working. Beginning December, the Saffron party will take out three Rath Yatras covering all the 42 parliamentary constituencies of the state. Through these Rath Yatras, the party also plans to reach out to the general people to garner support for Assam’s National Register of Citizens. BJP is likely to score brownie points over TMC on NRC issue after Banerjee faced flak over her U-turn. Mamata, in 2005, had favoured NRC in West Bengal, claiming that the illegal immigrants in Bangladesh had spelt disaster for West Bengal. However, this year she opposed the Assam’s National Register of Citizens. West Bengal is crucial for the BJP for its growth in the Lok Sabha elections and the party is targetting at least 22 seats in the state. Meanwhile, TMC, confident of triggering a revolution by uniting the opposition to defeat the BJP in 2019, is putting its best efforts to maintain its stronghold in the state. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee plans to take on BJP in West Bengal

<p>West Bengal Police have blamed, prima facie, the deaths of the two men the BJP says were party workers on suicide and personal enmity.&nbsp</p>

<p>Both deaths took place in Bengal's Purulia district.&nbsp</p>

<p>The first body, of 20-year-old Trilochan Mahto, was found hanging from a tree on Thursday. On the front and back of his white T-shirt was written:&nbsp"This is for doing BJP politics from age 18. Been trying to kill you since the vote. Failed. Today you are dead."</p>

<p>The second body, of Dulal Kumar, was found hanging from an electric pole, on Saturday. &nbsp</p>

<p>"In preliminary investigation in first incident, it seems to be case of personal enmity. We've started investigating and we'll take proper action," said Purulia SP Joy Biswas.&nbsp</p>

<p>"Second incident seems to be case of suicide. Body sent for postmortem," he added.&nbsp</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In preliminary investigation in 1st incident, it seems to be case of personal enmity. We've started investigating & we'll take proper action. 2nd incident, seems to be case of suicide. Body sent for postmortem: Joy Biswas,Purulia SP on bodies of 2 BJP workers found in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBengal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBengal</a> <a href="https://t.co/k3aQH64c35">pic.twitter.com/k3aQH64c35</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1002849603249508352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">ADG के पूर्ण प्रयास के बाद भी आखिर<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBengal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBengal</a> के पुरुलिया जिले में,<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BJP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BJP</a> कार्यकर्ता दुलाल की लाश भी<br />
सुबह टॉवर पर लटकी हुई मिली है!<br />
<br />
हम शर्मिंदा हैं!<br />
शायद प्रजातन्त्र भी शर्मिंदा है!! <a href="https://t.co/0IjlhwWctb">pic.twitter.com/0IjlhwWctb</a></p>
— Kailash Vijayvargiya (@KailashOnline) <a href="https://twitter.com/KailashOnline/status/1002760954306678784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">After Trilochan Mahato, Dulal Kumar, another BJP karyakarta’s body found hanging from a tower in Purulia... BJP did exceedingly well here winning all 9 gram panchayats and 2 zilla parishad seats in the block. Mamata Banerjee must be proud of her murderous hoodlums. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveBengal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveBengal</a> <a href="https://t.co/n8Xq3C44KW">pic.twitter.com/n8Xq3C44KW</a></p>
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) <a href="https://twitter.com/amitmalviya/status/1002772782973968385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The BJP however has been quick to blame the murders on the Trinamool Congress.&nbsp</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The present TMC govt in West Bengal has surpassed the violent legacy of Communist rule. Entire BJP mourns this tragic loss & stands firmly with Trilochan Mahato’s family in this hour of grief. His sacrifice for organisation & ideology will not go in vain. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.</p>
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1001825007213973505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp</p>

<p>&nbsp</p>


The two men were found hanging from a tree and an electricity tower within 48 hours of each other

West Bengal Police have blamed, prima facie, the deaths of the two men the BJP says were party workers on suicide and personal enmity. Both deaths took place in Bengal's Purulia district. The first body, of 20-year-old Trilochan Mahto, was found hanging from a tree on Thursday. On the front and back of his white T-shirt was written: "This is for doing BJP politics from age 18. Been trying to kill you since the vote. Failed. Today you are dead." The second body, of Dulal Kumar, was found hanging from an electric pole, on Saturday. "In preliminary investigation in first incident, it seems to be case of personal enmity. We've started investigating and we'll take proper action," said Purulia SP Joy Biswas. "Second incident seems to be case of suicide. Body sent for postmortem," he added. In preliminary investigation in 1st incident, it seems to be case of personal enmity. We've started investigating & we'll take proper action. 2nd incident, seems to be case of suicide. Body sent for postmortem: Joy Biswas,Purulia SP on bodies of 2 BJP workers found in #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/k3aQH64c35 — ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2018 × ADG के पूर्ण प्रयास के बाद भी आखिर#WestBengal के पुरुलिया जिले में,#BJP कार्यकर्ता दुलाल की लाश भी सुबह टॉवर पर लटकी हुई मिली है! हम शर्मिंदा हैं! शायद प्रजातन्त्र भी शर्मिंदा है!! pic.twitter.com/0IjlhwWctb — Kailash Vijayvargiya (@KailashOnline) June 2, 2018 × After Trilochan Mahato, Dulal Kumar, another BJP karyakarta’s body found hanging from a tower in Purulia... BJP did exceedingly well here winning all 9 gram panchayats and 2 zilla parishad seats in the block. Mamata Banerjee must be proud of her murderous hoodlums. #SaveBengal pic.twitter.com/n8Xq3C44KW — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 2, 2018 × The BJP however has been quick to blame the murders on the Trinamool Congress. The present TMC govt in West Bengal has surpassed the violent legacy of Communist rule. Entire BJP mourns this tragic loss & stands firmly with Trilochan Mahato’s family in this hour of grief. His sacrifice for organisation & ideology will not go in vain. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti. — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 30, 2018 ×

After BJP says 2 workers killed in Bengal, police blame personal enmity, suicide

<p>The ruling Trinamool Congress today darted ahead in 1,800 gram panchayat seats while the BJP and the CPI(M) were leading in 100 and 30 gram panchayat seats, as per initial trends available at 10 am, SEC officials said.</p>

<p>The counting of votes began at 8 am amid tight security, the State Election Commission officials said.</p>

<p>The panchayat elections were held for 621 zilla parishads, 6,123 panchayat samitis and 31,802 gram panchayats in West Bengal on May 14.</p>

<p>Of the 48,650 seats in 3,358 gram panchayats, 16,814 were uncontested and of the 9,217 seats in 341 panchayat samitis, 3,059 were uncontested. In the 20 zilla parishads, 203 of the 825 seats were uncontested, the sources said.&nbsp</p>

<p>The voting was also marred by widespread violence which led to 568 booths in the state to undergo repolling.</p>

<p>The huge-scale clashes between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers, resulted in the death of at least 12 people.</p>

<p>(With inputs from PTI)</p>


The ruling Trinamool Congress today darted ahead in 1,800 gram panchayat seats while the BJP and the CPI(M) were leading in 100 and 30 gram panchayat seats

The ruling Trinamool Congress today darted ahead in 1,800 gram panchayat seats while the BJP and the CPI(M) were leading in 100 and 30 gram panchayat seats, as per initial trends available at 10 am, SEC officials said. The counting of votes began at 8 am amid tight security, the State Election Commission officials said. The panchayat elections were held for 621 zilla parishads, 6,123 panchayat samitis and 31,802 gram panchayats in West Bengal on May 14. Of the 48,650 seats in 3,358 gram panchayats, 16,814 were uncontested and of the 9,217 seats in 341 panchayat samitis, 3,059 were uncontested. In the 20 zilla parishads, 203 of the 825 seats were uncontested, the sources said. The voting was also marred by widespread violence which led to 568 booths in the state to undergo repolling. The huge-scale clashes between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers, resulted in the death of at least 12 people. (With inputs from PTI)

West Bengal panchayat polls: Early trends show Trinamool Congress leading

<p>Clashes erupted in different parts of West Bengal ahead of upcoming Panchayat elections in the state.</p>

<p>The clashes broke out between the party members of the Bhartiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress when some candidates were filing nomination papers for the upcoming elections.</p>

<p>About 25 people were injured in the clashes&nbsp;between the BJP workers and the TMC members during filing of nominations for Panchayat polls in Jalpaiguri.</p>

<p>While a police personnel was injured in the state's Birbhum district.</p>

<p>According to media reports workers in Murshidabad resorted to stone pelting, crude bombs leading to several injuries.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">WATCH Unidentified persons hurled crude bombs at BJP workers in Murshidabad's Jangirpur as they were going to file nomination for Panchayat polls, earlier today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBengal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBengal</a> <a href="https://t.co/zY17KdzUSd">pic.twitter.com/zY17KdzUSd</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/982240610475114498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Members of the Bhartiya Janata Party also organised a protest against the ruling TMC for turning the "panchayat elections into a farce in the state". Senior BJP leader Mukul Roy also claimed that the TMC was not letting candidates of other parties&nbsp;file their nominations.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Clash between BJP workers and Security personnel in West Bengal's Birbhum, one policeman injured <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBengal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBengal</a> <a href="https://t.co/kwXwNrSWwW">pic.twitter.com/kwXwNrSWwW</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/982201590059642881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">More than 25 people injured in a clash between TMC and BJP workers during filing of nominations for Panchayat polls in Jalpaiguri <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBengal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBengal</a> <a href="https://t.co/cUI55Vmd5D">pic.twitter.com/cUI55Vmd5D</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/982199970240512000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;BJP State Secretary Shyamapada Mondal was allegedly attacked&nbsp;by members of the Trinamool Congress in the state's Bankura district.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Bankura: BJP State Secretary Shyamapada Mondal attacked, allegedly by TMC workers. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBengal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBengal</a> <a href="https://t.co/RSgwJbHYCp">pic.twitter.com/RSgwJbHYCp</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/982186496982581255?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The clashes broke out between the party members of the Bhartiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress when some candidates were filing nomination papers for the upcoming elections

Clashes erupted in different parts of West Bengal ahead of upcoming Panchayat elections in the state. The clashes broke out between the party members of the Bhartiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress when some candidates were filing nomination papers for the upcoming elections. About 25 people were injured in the clashes between the BJP workers and the TMC members during filing of nominations for Panchayat polls in Jalpaiguri. While a police personnel was injured in the state's Birbhum district. According to media reports workers in Murshidabad resorted to stone pelting, crude bombs leading to several injuries. WATCH Unidentified persons hurled crude bombs at BJP workers in Murshidabad's Jangirpur as they were going to file nomination for Panchayat polls, earlier today. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/zY17KdzUSd — ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018 × Members of the Bhartiya Janata Party also organised a protest against the ruling TMC for turning the "panchayat elections into a farce in the state". Senior BJP leader Mukul Roy also claimed that the TMC was not letting candidates of other parties file their nominations. Clash between BJP workers and Security personnel in West Bengal's Birbhum, one policeman injured #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/kwXwNrSWwW — ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018 × More than 25 people injured in a clash between TMC and BJP workers during filing of nominations for Panchayat polls in Jalpaiguri #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/cUI55Vmd5D — ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018 × BJP State Secretary Shyamapada Mondal was allegedly attacked by members of the Trinamool Congress in the state's Bankura district. #WATCH Bankura: BJP State Secretary Shyamapada Mondal attacked, allegedly by TMC workers. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/RSgwJbHYCp — ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2018 ×

BJP, TMC workers clash in parts of West Bengal ahead of panchayat polls

<p>West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and leaders of some regional parties as well as NDA ally Shiv Sena to explore a "federal front" option to take on the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls, mooting a "one-to-one" fight in all the states.'</p>

<p>According to a senior NCP leader, who did not want to be identified, Banerjee at the same time favoured a front without involving the Congress.</p>

<p>The Trinamool Congress(TMC) supremo sought to rally the regional parties against the NDA even as Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who mooted a non-Congress, non-BJP coalition in national politics, said the alternative being proposed by him would be a "people's front of India".</p>

<p>Coming down heavily on the NDA-led Centre, Banerjee said issues like demonetisation and bank frauds have affected people at the grassroot level and that it was time for the BJP to "pack up and go".</p>

<p>She asserted that all opposition parties should work together to oust the BJP.</p>

<p>Banerjee, who is in Delhi for three days, had an hour-long meeting with Pawar and other NCP leaders at his office in Parliament.</p>

<p>Pawar had earlier in the day denied that a meeting over dinner with opposition parties was scheduled tonight.</p>

<p>"There is no meeting, there is no dinner," Pawar had said in response to a question whether there will be a dinner meeting with the West Bengal chief minister.</p>

<p>Banerjee, who also met leaders from other opposition parties like the TDP, which recently walked out of the BJP-led NDA over the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh, TRS, SP, RJD, BJD, NC and JMM, once again emphasised that the need of the hour is have a state-wise strategy to defeat the BJP.</p>

<p>She met Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut along with other Sena members of Parliament triggering speculation in political circles. The Sena, though a part of the ruling NDA, has been critical of Maharashtra and central governments.</p>

<p>"All opposition parties should work together. It should be a one-to-one fight against the BJP. All opposition parties should help the strongest one in the state against the BJP," Banerjee told reporters.</p>

<p>On the issue of opposition unity, Banerjee hailed the alliance between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh and said that all opposition parties should come together to help the alliance.</p>

<p>"If Akhilesh and Mayawati call a meeting in Lucknow, we will all go. We should help the parties where they are strong," she said.</p>

<p>Raut denied that Shiv Sena was joining any front, but said that the Shiv Sena and Banerjee have "a very warm" relationship and there were certain things which Banerjee wanted to convey to Uddhav Thackeray.<br />
Banerjee later said that she "respects" Shiv Sena.</p>

<p>"At least it does not do politics with a gun in their hand. There is no party more communal than the BJP," Banerjee said.</p>

<p>The chief minister will also meet rebel BJP leaders Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha and former Union minister Arun Shourie tomorrow.</p>

<p>Though Banerjee is said to be favouring a Front without the Congress, she did say she was in touch with its president Rahul Gandhi. TMC leaders said she is planning to meet Sonia Gandhi.</p>

<p>Replying to a query, Banerjee said she has been exchanging messages with Rahul Gandhi<br />
According to a senior NCP leader, Banerjee favoured forming a "federal front" to defeat the BJP without involving the Congress.</p>

<p>"She said that a non-Congress federal front should be formed to take on the BJP in the assembly as well as the Lok Sabha elections. She feels that if the Congress becomes a part of the opposition front, then many parties like the BJD, TDP would not join the alliance. But she urged the NCP leader to also speak to other opposition parties to know their views," the leader, who did not want to be identified, said.</p>

<p>Later NCP leader Praful Patel, while briefing the media on the meeting, said that both the leaders agreed that there should be "maximum unity" among opposition parties to take on the BJP.</p>

<p>"The situation will evolve in the coming months for assembly and Lok Sabha polls. There are of course a lot of different views on what kind of approach should be taken.</p>

<p>"But certainly what the leaders discussed was that opposition unity should be maximum possible as has been witnessed today in Uttar Pradesh where the BSP and the SP have started working together and therefore it is important that political differences among opposition should be resolved,"Patel told reporters.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief said that all opposition parties should work together to oust the BJP

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and leaders of some regional parties as well as NDA ally Shiv Sena to explore a "federal front" option to take on the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls, mooting a "one-to-one" fight in all the states.' According to a senior NCP leader, who did not want to be identified, Banerjee at the same time favoured a front without involving the Congress. The Trinamool Congress(TMC) supremo sought to rally the regional parties against the NDA even as Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who mooted a non-Congress, non-BJP coalition in national politics, said the alternative being proposed by him would be a "people's front of India". Coming down heavily on the NDA-led Centre, Banerjee said issues like demonetisation and bank frauds have affected people at the grassroot level and that it was time for the BJP to "pack up and go". She asserted that all opposition parties should work together to oust the BJP. Banerjee, who is in Delhi for three days, had an hour-long meeting with Pawar and other NCP leaders at his office in Parliament. Pawar had earlier in the day denied that a meeting over dinner with opposition parties was scheduled tonight. "There is no meeting, there is no dinner," Pawar had said in response to a question whether there will be a dinner meeting with the West Bengal chief minister. Banerjee, who also met leaders from other opposition parties like the TDP, which recently walked out of the BJP-led NDA over the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh, TRS, SP, RJD, BJD, NC and JMM, once again emphasised that the need of the hour is have a state-wise strategy to defeat the BJP. She met Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut along with other Sena members of Parliament triggering speculation in political circles. The Sena, though a part of the ruling NDA, has been critical of Maharashtra and central governments. "All opposition parties should work together. It should be a one-to-one fight against the BJP. All opposition parties should help the strongest one in the state against the BJP," Banerjee told reporters. On the issue of opposition unity, Banerjee hailed the alliance between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh and said that all opposition parties should come together to help the alliance. "If Akhilesh and Mayawati call a meeting in Lucknow, we will all go. We should help the parties where they are strong," she said. Raut denied that Shiv Sena was joining any front, but said that the Shiv Sena and Banerjee have "a very warm" relationship and there were certain things which Banerjee wanted to convey to Uddhav Thackeray. Banerjee later said that she "respects" Shiv Sena. "At least it does not do politics with a gun in their hand. There is no party more communal than the BJP," Banerjee said. The chief minister will also meet rebel BJP leaders Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha and former Union minister Arun Shourie tomorrow. Though Banerjee is said to be favouring a Front without the Congress, she did say she was in touch with its president Rahul Gandhi. TMC leaders said she is planning to meet Sonia Gandhi. Replying to a query, Banerjee said she has been exchanging messages with Rahul Gandhi According to a senior NCP leader, Banerjee favoured forming a "federal front" to defeat the BJP without involving the Congress. "She said that a non-Congress federal front should be formed to take on the BJP in the assembly as well as the Lok Sabha elections. She feels that if the Congress becomes a part of the opposition front, then many parties like the BJD, TDP would not join the alliance. But she urged the NCP leader to also speak to other opposition parties to know their views," the leader, who did not want to be identified, said. Later NCP leader Praful Patel, while briefing the media on the meeting, said that both the leaders agreed that there should be "maximum unity" among opposition parties to take on the BJP. "The situation will evolve in the coming months for assembly and Lok Sabha polls. There are of course a lot of different views on what kind of approach should be taken. "But certainly what the leaders discussed was that opposition unity should be maximum possible as has been witnessed today in Uttar Pradesh where the BSP and the SP have started working together and therefore it is important that political differences among opposition should be resolved,"Patel told reporters.

Time for BJP to pack up and go: Mamata Banerjee

<p>Five police personnel were injured in the clashes that broke out during Ram Navami rally in West Bengal`s Purulia district on Sunday. Earlier a person was killed and four others were injured in the clashes. The ruling party Trinamool Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata party took out rallies across the state on Sunday to celebrate Ram Navami festival fuelling communal tension. The BJP party has reportedly organised rallies across the state stating it is a step towards "uniting the Hindus" of the state. Countering this, the TMC also organised rallies in various parts of the state. Meanwhile, various right-wing groups were also seen brandishing swords in a procession in the state. Unidentified miscreants in Bardhman district of West Bengal also vandalised a Ram Navami pandal. BJP members who had set up the pandal had alleged that it was attacked by the members of TMC.</p>


Earlier a person was killed and four others were injured in the clashes

Five police personnel were injured in the clashes that broke out during Ram Navami rally in West Bengal`s Purulia district on Sunday. Earlier a person was killed and four others were injured in the clashes. The ruling party Trinamool Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata party took out rallies across the state on Sunday to celebrate Ram Navami festival fuelling communal tension. The BJP party has reportedly organised rallies across the state stating it is a step towards "uniting the Hindus" of the state. Countering this, the TMC also organised rallies in various parts of the state. Meanwhile, various right-wing groups were also seen brandishing swords in a procession in the state. Unidentified miscreants in Bardhman district of West Bengal also vandalised a Ram Navami pandal. BJP members who had set up the pandal had alleged that it was attacked by the members of TMC.

5 policemen injured during Ram Navami rally in West Bengal

<p>A Ram Navami pandal was vandalised on Saturday evening by unidentified miscreants in Bardhman district of West Bengal.</p>

<p>The pandal was set up by Bhartiya Janata Party members who have alleged that it was attacked by workers of Trinamool Congress.</p>

<p>Four persons are reported to be injured in the incident.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">West Bengal: 4 injured after a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RamaNavami?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RamaNavami</a> pandal set up by BJP workers was attacked by miscreants in Bardhaman last night. BJP alleged that TMC was behind the incident. Police investigation underway. <a href="https://t.co/WBP4LrrmJ4">pic.twitter.com/WBP4LrrmJ4</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/977764065354317824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>A police investigation is also underway.</p>

<p>Security has also been stepped up in the region following the incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BJP has further planned rallies across the state to celebrate the festival fuelling the tension in the state.</p>

<p>In Kolkata also several rallies were organised reportedly by members of the Sangh Parivar.</p>

<p>Following the rally announcement made by BJP workers, TMC had also announced that it would organise Ram Navami in several districts as the&nbsp;festival is not very popular in the region.</p>

<p>So far no reports of any violence have been reported from any district.</p>

<p>West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee had also instructed police to no permit any organisation to hold processions displaying arms during Ram Navami.</p>

<p>However, news agency ANI reported Ram Mandir Mahotsav Samiti was seen brandishing swords in a procession at Siliguri, West Bengal.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ram Mandir Mahotsav Samiti took out a procession on the occasion of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RamNavami?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RamNavami</a> where people were seen brandishing swords, in West Bengal&#39;s Siliguri <a href="https://t.co/UZudBIo0Hn">pic.twitter.com/UZudBIo0Hn</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/977827172902633472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The pandal was set up by Bhartiya Janata Party members who have alleged that it was attacked by workers of Trinamool Congress

A Ram Navami pandal was vandalised on Saturday evening by unidentified miscreants in Bardhman district of West Bengal. The pandal was set up by Bhartiya Janata Party members who have alleged that it was attacked by workers of Trinamool Congress. Four persons are reported to be injured in the incident. West Bengal: 4 injured after a #RamaNavami pandal set up by BJP workers was attacked by miscreants in Bardhaman last night. BJP alleged that TMC was behind the incident. Police investigation underway. pic.twitter.com/WBP4LrrmJ4 — ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2018 × A police investigation is also underway. Security has also been stepped up in the region following the incident. The BJP has further planned rallies across the state to celebrate the festival fuelling the tension in the state. In Kolkata also several rallies were organised reportedly by members of the Sangh Parivar. Following the rally announcement made by BJP workers, TMC had also announced that it would organise Ram Navami in several districts as the festival is not very popular in the region. So far no reports of any violence have been reported from any district. West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee had also instructed police to no permit any organisation to hold processions displaying arms during Ram Navami. However, news agency ANI reported Ram Mandir Mahotsav Samiti was seen brandishing swords in a procession at Siliguri, West Bengal. Ram Mandir Mahotsav Samiti took out a procession on the occasion of #RamNavami where people were seen brandishing swords, in West Bengal's Siliguri pic.twitter.com/UZudBIo0Hn — ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2018 ×

West Bengal: Ram Navami pandals vandalised, BJP accuses TMC

<p>One villager has been killed in a clash between locals and police during a Ram Navami procession in Beldi village in Purulia, West Bengal.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">One villager killed, around four injured following a clash between locals &amp; police during a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RamNavami?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RamNavami</a> procession in Purulia&#39;s Beldi; police personnel also injured; visuals from hospital in Purulia <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBengal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBengal</a> <a href="https://t.co/vuaTUOehwN">pic.twitter.com/vuaTUOehwN</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/977875507701313536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Four people were also injured in the clash.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ruling party Trinamool Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata party took out rallies across the state on Sunday to celebrate Ram Navami festival fuelling communal tension.</p>

<p>The BJP party has reportedly organised rallies across the state stating it is a step towards &quot;uniting the Hindus&quot;&nbsp;of the state.</p>

<p>Countering this, the TMC also organised rallies in various parts of the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Police have also increased the security in the region following the clash.</p>

<p>Last week chief minister Mamata Banerjee had instructed police to not permit any organisation to hold processions displaying arms during Ram Navami.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, various right-wing groups were also seen brandishing swords in a procession in the state.</p>

<p>In a procession taken out by the Ram Navami Janmo Maha Utsab Committee, people were also seen riding bikes without helmets. Five people were also seen riding one bike.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">People seen riding bikes without helmets in a procession took out on the occasion of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RamNavami?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RamNavami</a> by Ram Navami Janmo Maha Utsab Committee in Siliguri; five people seen riding on one bike <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBengal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBengal</a> <a href="https://t.co/nxootUtEsC">pic.twitter.com/nxootUtEsC</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/977883461469048832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Party chief of BJP&#39;s Bengal unit, Dilip Ghosh was also seen brandishing swords during the rally in Kharagpur, West Bengal.</p>

<p>Ghosh called this a tradition to conduct procession with weapons.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Their is a tradition of holding <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RamNavami?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RamNavami</a> procession with weapons in Kharagpur.Ram iss desh ke purwaj hain. Hindu, musalmaan, isayi sabhi ke purwaj hain,Ram dharmik purush nahi the woh rajneetik purush aur raja the toh unke saath kya virodh hai?:Dilip Ghosh,West Bengal BJP chief <a href="https://t.co/OEeQJKFhx2">pic.twitter.com/OEeQJKFhx2</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/977884098655064064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The ruling party Trinamool Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata party took out rallies across the state on Sunday to celebrate Ram Navami festival fuelling communal tension

One villager has been killed in a clash between locals and police during a Ram Navami procession in Beldi village in Purulia, West Bengal. One villager killed, around four injured following a clash between locals & police during a #RamNavami procession in Purulia's Beldi; police personnel also injured; visuals from hospital in Purulia #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/vuaTUOehwN — ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2018 × Four people were also injured in the clash. The ruling party Trinamool Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata party took out rallies across the state on Sunday to celebrate Ram Navami festival fuelling communal tension. The BJP party has reportedly organised rallies across the state stating it is a step towards "uniting the Hindus" of the state. Countering this, the TMC also organised rallies in various parts of the state. Police have also increased the security in the region following the clash. Last week chief minister Mamata Banerjee had instructed police to not permit any organisation to hold processions displaying arms during Ram Navami. Meanwhile, various right-wing groups were also seen brandishing swords in a procession in the state. In a procession taken out by the Ram Navami Janmo Maha Utsab Committee, people were also seen riding bikes without helmets. Five people were also seen riding one bike. People seen riding bikes without helmets in a procession took out on the occasion of #RamNavami by Ram Navami Janmo Maha Utsab Committee in Siliguri; five people seen riding on one bike #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/nxootUtEsC — ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2018 × Party chief of BJP's Bengal unit, Dilip Ghosh was also seen brandishing swords during the rally in Kharagpur, West Bengal. Ghosh called this a tradition to conduct procession with weapons. Their is a tradition of holding #RamNavami procession with weapons in Kharagpur.Ram iss desh ke purwaj hain. Hindu, musalmaan, isayi sabhi ke purwaj hain,Ram dharmik purush nahi the woh rajneetik purush aur raja the toh unke saath kya virodh hai?:Dilip Ghosh,West Bengal BJP chief pic.twitter.com/OEeQJKFhx2 — ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2018 ×

West Bengal: 1 dead in clash between locals, police on Ram Navami

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/after-ball-tampering-admission-smith-warner-step-down-as-captain-vice-captain-of-australian-cricket-team-37010">After ball-tampering admission, Smith, Warner step down as captain, vice-captain of Australian cricket team</a></p>

<p>Steve Smith has stepped down as the captain of the Australian cricket team following the ball-tampering saga that took place during the third day of the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjps-win-in-up-rajya-sabha-polls-has-bolstered-sp-bsp-unity-akhilesh-yadav-37024">BJP&#39;s win in UP Rajya Sabha polls has bolstered SP-BSP unity: Akhilesh Yadav</a></p>

<p>The BJP may have wrested an extra seat in the recent Rajya Sabha polls but the victory will backfire on the saffron party as its &quot;anti-Dalit face stood exposed&quot; while the SP-BSP unity got strengthened, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav claimed today.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/up-10-persons-arrested-for-alleged-links-to-let-terror-funding-37016">UP: 10 persons arrested for alleged links to LeT, terror-funding</a></p>

<p>The Uttar Pradesh Police&#39;s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Sunday arrested 10 persons for alleged links to the terrroist outfit the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and allegedly involved in terror-funding activities at the behest of Pakistan.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-ram-navami-pandals-vandalised-bjp-accuses-tmc-37020">West Bengal: Ram Navami pandals vandalised, BJP accuses TMC</a></p>

<p>A Ram Navami pandal was vandalised on Saturday evening by unidentified miscreants in Bardhman district of West Bengal.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-problem-getting-naked-before-the-white-man-but-there-is-revolution-when-govt-asks-for-address-minister-37008">No problem getting naked before white man but revolution when </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-problem-getting-naked-before-the-white-man-but-there-is-revolution-when-govt-asks-for-address-minister-37008">government</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-problem-getting-naked-before-the-white-man-but-there-is-revolution-when-govt-asks-for-address-minister-37008"> asks for name, address: Union Minister&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>Union Minister of State for Tourism and IT K J Alphons on Saturday said that Indians absolutely have no problem giving fingerprints and getting body naked before the white man at all.</p>


After ball-tampering admission, Smith, Warner step down as captain, vice-captain of Australian cricket team Steve Smith has stepped down as the captain of the Australian cricket team following the ball-tampering saga that took place during the third day of the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday. BJP's win in UP Rajya Sabha polls has bolstered SP-BSP unity: Akhilesh Yadav The BJP may have wrested an extra seat in the recent Rajya Sabha polls but the victory will backfire on the saffron party as its "anti-Dalit face stood exposed" while the SP-BSP unity got strengthened, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav claimed today. UP: 10 persons arrested for alleged links to LeT, terror-funding The Uttar Pradesh Police's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Sunday arrested 10 persons for alleged links to the terrroist outfit the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and allegedly involved in terror-funding activities at the behest of Pakistan. West Bengal: Ram Navami pandals vandalised, BJP accuses TMC A Ram Navami pandal was vandalised on Saturday evening by unidentified miscreants in Bardhman district of West Bengal. No problem getting naked before white man but revolution when government asks for name, address: Union Minister Union Minister of State for Tourism and IT K J Alphons on Saturday said that Indians absolutely have no problem giving fingerprints and getting body naked before the white man at all.

WION evening news brief, March 25, 2018

<p>Congress has decided to stay away from the &lsquo;Third Front&rsquo; experiment mooted by some regional parties, including Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and TRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) are making efforts to stitch together a &#39;non-Congress, non-BJP&#39; front bringing together like-minded parties.</p>

<p>But sources in the Congress say that such talks are a result of West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee nursing prime ministerial ambitions, and TRS president KCR trying to fight the heat of incumbency in his state.</p>

<p>Many senior leaders in the Congress are of the opinion that most of the regional leaders will come around by election time but Congress cannot become a casualty of a tie-up where its organisation is further impacted.</p>

<p>&quot;Everyone is free to pursue their agenda and ambition. KCR for four years considered Modi as the only leader and aligned with him. Now Congress has put heat on him and his party is taking a nose dive so he wants to create an alternative,&quot; Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told WION.</p>

<p>Though it targets KCR, Congress officially remains diplomatic on Mamata and maintains that both parties will resolve their differences to come together on issues of national importance.</p>

<p>However, Mamata and KCR have received support from regional players. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi told WION that since Congress has not taken the initiative, other parties are filling the vacuum. Even DMK has been contacted on this issue which has decided to discuss the proposal.</p>

<p>Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi spoke to KCR over phone on Monday and expressed support for the plan to float a Third Front-like formation. Former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has also extended support to the proposal.</p>

<p>Congress, for now, is focussing on nourishing the organisation amid fears that the party will wither away completely after humiliating losses in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland assembly elections. It is for this reason that Congress has kept away from joining the SP-BSP combine to fight the Phoolpur and Gorakhpur bypolls in Uttar Pradesh.</p>

<p>&quot;Parties are free to contest but we will not withdraw our candidates from the fray,&quot; Surjewala said.</p>

<p>The idea, sources say, is to have a front which is led by the Grand Old Party. And Sonia Gandhi&#39;s invitation to leaders of opposition parties for a dinner on March 13 points to that, they say.</p>

<p>Several leaders have confirmed their attendance, a Congress leader said, declining to go into spcifics. However, he said Sonia Gandhi is keen to have all top opposition party leaders, including Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who is yet to confirm.</p>


TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and TRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao are making efforts to stitch together a 'non-Congress, non-BJP' front bringing together like-minded parties

Congress has decided to stay away from the ‘Third Front’ experiment mooted by some regional parties, including Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and TRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) are making efforts to stitch together a 'non-Congress, non-BJP' front bringing together like-minded parties. But sources in the Congress say that such talks are a result of West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee nursing prime ministerial ambitions, and TRS president KCR trying to fight the heat of incumbency in his state. Many senior leaders in the Congress are of the opinion that most of the regional leaders will come around by election time but Congress cannot become a casualty of a tie-up where its organisation is further impacted. "Everyone is free to pursue their agenda and ambition. KCR for four years considered Modi as the only leader and aligned with him. Now Congress has put heat on him and his party is taking a nose dive so he wants to create an alternative," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told WION. Though it targets KCR, Congress officially remains diplomatic on Mamata and maintains that both parties will resolve their differences to come together on issues of national importance. However, Mamata and KCR have received support from regional players. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi told WION that since Congress has not taken the initiative, other parties are filling the vacuum. Even DMK has been contacted on this issue which has decided to discuss the proposal. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi spoke to KCR over phone on Monday and expressed support for the plan to float a Third Front-like formation. Former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has also extended support to the proposal. Congress, for now, is focussing on nourishing the organisation amid fears that the party will wither away completely after humiliating losses in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland assembly elections. It is for this reason that Congress has kept away from joining the SP-BSP combine to fight the Phoolpur and Gorakhpur bypolls in Uttar Pradesh. "Parties are free to contest but we will not withdraw our candidates from the fray," Surjewala said. The idea, sources say, is to have a front which is led by the Grand Old Party. And Sonia Gandhi's invitation to leaders of opposition parties for a dinner on March 13 points to that, they say. Several leaders have confirmed their attendance, a Congress leader said, declining to go into spcifics. However, he said Sonia Gandhi is keen to have all top opposition party leaders, including Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who is yet to confirm.

Congress cold-shoulders idea of 'Third Front'

<p>All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O&#39;Brien on Sunday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not remain Prime Minister when the time came for him to deliver his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort in 2019.</p>

<p>The Trinamool leader challenged PM Modi and said that if the BJP was aiming at coming to power in Bengal, then the BJP&#39;s target was the Red Fort, the place from where PM Modi delivers his Independence Day speech.</p>

<p>&quot;First tackle 2019 and then imagine about Bengal. This is our clear message to the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). If their target is Bengal, then our target is Lal Qila (Red Fort). I make it clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not deliver his address from Lal Qila on the Independence Day in 2019,&quot; O&#39;Brien said while addressing the media on Sunday.</p>

<p>Derek O&#39;Brien&#39;s remarks came a day after the BJP sweeped Tripura, and for the first time won more than 10 seats in Nagaland.</p>

<p>Challenging the prime minister, Derek O&#39;Brien asked all the opposition parties to come together.</p>

<p>The TMC leader also highlighted the party&#39;s poor show in the Rajasthan Lok Sabha bypolls.</p>

<p>&quot;The results of the bypolls in Rajasthan came out only 15 days ago. It included Alwar seat where the BJP won by a margin of 2.80 lakh votes in 2014. But this time the BJP&#39;s margin of 2.80 lakh votes has gone down to minus 1.50 lakh,&quot; said the TMC leader.</p>

<p>On Saturday, the BJP ended the CPI(M)&#39;s 25-year-long rule in Tripura and registered their first win in the northeastern state by winning 35 seats out of 60. The left party won only 16 seats.</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


The Trinamool leader challenged PM Modi and said that if the BJP was aiming at coming to power in Bengal, then the BJP's target was the Red Fort, the place from where PM Modi delivers his Independence Day speech.

All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien on Sunday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not remain Prime Minister when the time came for him to deliver his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort in 2019. The Trinamool leader challenged PM Modi and said that if the BJP was aiming at coming to power in Bengal, then the BJP's target was the Red Fort, the place from where PM Modi delivers his Independence Day speech. "First tackle 2019 and then imagine about Bengal. This is our clear message to the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). If their target is Bengal, then our target is Lal Qila (Red Fort). I make it clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not deliver his address from Lal Qila on the Independence Day in 2019," O'Brien said while addressing the media on Sunday. Derek O'Brien's remarks came a day after the BJP sweeped Tripura, and for the first time won more than 10 seats in Nagaland. Challenging the prime minister, Derek O'Brien asked all the opposition parties to come together. The TMC leader also highlighted the party's poor show in the Rajasthan Lok Sabha bypolls. "The results of the bypolls in Rajasthan came out only 15 days ago. It included Alwar seat where the BJP won by a margin of 2.80 lakh votes in 2014. But this time the BJP's margin of 2.80 lakh votes has gone down to minus 1.50 lakh," said the TMC leader. On Saturday, the BJP ended the CPI(M)'s 25-year-long rule in Tripura and registered their first win in the northeastern state by winning 35 seats out of 60. The left party won only 16 seats.

Narendra Modi won't remain PM in 2019, claims TMC leader

<p>The Congress on Thursday won an assembly seat in Rajasthan and had a major victory in two <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bypoll-results-31475">parliamentary </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bypoll-results-31475">bypolls</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bypoll-results-31475">.&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>The Congress is ready to take the Ajmer and Alwar parliamentary seats from the BJP and has won the Mandalgarh assembly segment, also held by the BJP.</p>

<p>Congress president Rahul Gandhi hailed the party&rsquo;s Rajasthan unit for its impressive show in the bypolls for two Lok Sabha and one Assembly seats, calling the outcome a &ldquo;rejection&rdquo; of the BJP by the people.</p>

<p>&quot;Well done Rajasthan Congress! Proud of each and every one of you. This is a rejection of the BJP by the people of Rajasthan,&quot; tweeted Congress president Rahul Gandhi.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Well done Rajasthan Congress! Proud of each and every one of you. This is a rejection of the BJP by the people of Rajasthan.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanByPolls?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanByPolls</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/959017563572359168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The ruling BJP on Thursday conceded defeat in Rajasthan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;&ldquo;We respect the people&rsquo;s mandate and we will analyse the reasons for our defeat. I am taking responsibility for the defeat,&rdquo; Rajasthan BJP chief Ashok Parnami said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;We are going to study the reasons, but bypolls don&#39;t reflect the full picture,&quot; said BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya also said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>All three seats are linked to Rahul Gandhi&#39;s top lieutenants in Rajasthan - Pilot, CP Joshi and Jitendra Singh Bhanwar.</p>

<p>All the three seats fell vacant after the deaths of Ajmer MP Sanwar Lal Jat, Alwar MP Chand Nath and Mandalgarh MLA Kirti Kumari.</p>


The Congress is ready to take the Ajmer and Alwar parliamentary seats from the BJP and has won the Mandalgarh assembly segment, also held by the BJP

The Congress on Thursday won an assembly seat in Rajasthan and had a major victory in two parliamentary bypolls. The Congress is ready to take the Ajmer and Alwar parliamentary seats from the BJP and has won the Mandalgarh assembly segment, also held by the BJP. Congress president Rahul Gandhi hailed the party’s Rajasthan unit for its impressive show in the bypolls for two Lok Sabha and one Assembly seats, calling the outcome a “rejection” of the BJP by the people. "Well done Rajasthan Congress! Proud of each and every one of you. This is a rejection of the BJP by the people of Rajasthan," tweeted Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Well done Rajasthan Congress! Proud of each and every one of you. This is a rejection of the BJP by the people of Rajasthan.#RajasthanByPolls — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) February 1, 2018 × The ruling BJP on Thursday conceded defeat in Rajasthan. “We respect the people’s mandate and we will analyse the reasons for our defeat. I am taking responsibility for the defeat,” Rajasthan BJP chief Ashok Parnami said. "We are going to study the reasons, but bypolls don't reflect the full picture," said BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya also said. All three seats are linked to Rahul Gandhi's top lieutenants in Rajasthan - Pilot, CP Joshi and Jitendra Singh Bhanwar. All the three seats fell vacant after the deaths of Ajmer MP Sanwar Lal Jat, Alwar MP Chand Nath and Mandalgarh MLA Kirti Kumari.

Bypoll results: Congress sweeps Rajasthan, setback for Raje's BJP

<p>Counting of votes for the by-polls of three Lok Sabha and two Assembly seats in Rajasthan and West Bengal began today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After completion of 80 per cent of counting in Alwar congress has maintained a lead of over 1.40 lakh votes and is winning in Ajmer as well with a margin of 80,204 votes.</p>

<p>In a big jolt to the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government,&nbsp;Congress&nbsp;candidate Vivek Dhakad on Thursday won the Mandalgarh Assembly seat by 12976 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Congress president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to congratulate fellow leaders Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot for their victory in the Rajasthan&nbsp;bypolls&nbsp;on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Forget trends now,<br />
<br />
We <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@INCIndia</a> have won all 3 seats , done and dusted!<br />
<br />
Let me take this opportunity to congratulate <a href="https://twitter.com/SachinPilot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SachinPilot</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ashokgehlot51?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ashokgehlot51</a> and every congress worker and every proud Rajasthani to believe in congress &lsquo; ideology.<br />
<br />
Big thanks ????????????????<br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanByPolls?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanByPolls</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@0ffice0ffRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/0ffice0ffRG/status/958963108332163072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>TMC&#39;s Sunil Singh has won the Naopara assembly seat in West Bengal with 1,11,729 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;Singh said, &ldquo;It is a great win and it shows people&rsquo;s faith in TMC. I will now work for the people. There was a rumour that former TMC leader and now a BJP leader&nbsp;Mukul Roy&nbsp;would be a factor in Noapara seat but he could not make a difference in reality.&rdquo;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Initial trends from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanByPolls?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanByPolls</a> are a mandate against the Govt, I hope our leads will increase even more. Vasundhara ji and her Govt have been totally rejected by people: Sachin Pilot,Congress <a href="https://t.co/UyW82Vhfvt">pic.twitter.com/UyW82Vhfvt</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/958929143130984448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;Meanwhile, many prominent figures took to Twitter to congratulate the winning party.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The real headline of the day is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanByPolls?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanByPolls</a> . Sorry Mr Jaitley, but your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jumlanomics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jumlanomics</a> is totally overshadowed. India has had enough of manipulated headlines. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Budget2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Budget2018</a></p>
&mdash; Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) <a href="https://twitter.com/JhaSanjay/status/958948646107648000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The sacrifice of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a>&#39;s &quot;i&quot; didn&#39;t go in vain ????<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanByPolls?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanByPolls</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanBypollsResult?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanBypollsResult</a></p>
&mdash; Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShirishKunder/status/958975784219303936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Big day for Congress. Looks set to take away BJP seats of Alwar and Ajmer. And now started leading in Mandalgarh assembly constituency too. Big message for BJP Govt. <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNnews18?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNNnews18</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanByPolls?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanByPolls</a></p>
&mdash; Arunoday Mukharji (@ArunodayM) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArunodayM/status/958937704942551040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The truth is staring in the faces of the BJP...<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Congress?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Congress</a> leading in all the 3 seats in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanByPolls?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanByPolls</a>..people learn from their mistakes..choosing BJP was a mistake.. <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficeOfRG</a> is the only compassionate leader with a large heart to lead the country..</p>
&mdash; khushbusundar (@khushsundar) <a href="https://twitter.com/khushsundar/status/958926828508360704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The polling in all the constituencies took place on Monda

Counting of votes for the by-polls of three Lok Sabha and two Assembly seats in Rajasthan and West Bengal began today. After completion of 80 per cent of counting in Alwar congress has maintained a lead of over 1.40 lakh votes and is winning in Ajmer as well with a margin of 80,204 votes. In a big jolt to the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government, Congress candidate Vivek Dhakad on Thursday won the Mandalgarh Assembly seat by 12976 votes. Congress president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to congratulate fellow leaders Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot for their victory in the Rajasthan bypolls on Thursday. Forget trends now, We @INCIndia have won all 3 seats , done and dusted! Let me take this opportunity to congratulate @SachinPilot @ashokgehlot51 and every congress worker and every proud Rajasthani to believe in congress ‘ ideology. Big thanks ???????????????? #RajasthanByPolls — Office of RG (@0ffice0ffRG) February 1, 2018 × TMC's Sunil Singh has won the Naopara assembly seat in West Bengal with 1,11,729 votes. Singh said, “It is a great win and it shows people’s faith in TMC. I will now work for the people. There was a rumour that former TMC leader and now a BJP leader Mukul Roy would be a factor in Noapara seat but he could not make a difference in reality.” Initial trends from #RajasthanByPolls are a mandate against the Govt, I hope our leads will increase even more. Vasundhara ji and her Govt have been totally rejected by people: Sachin Pilot,Congress pic.twitter.com/UyW82Vhfvt — ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2018 × Meanwhile, many prominent figures took to Twitter to congratulate the winning party. The real headline of the day is #RajasthanByPolls . Sorry Mr Jaitley, but your #Jumlanomics is totally overshadowed. India has had enough of manipulated headlines. #Budget2018 — Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) February 1, 2018 × The sacrifice of #Padmaavat's "i" didn't go in vain ????#RajasthanByPolls #RajasthanBypollsResult — Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) February 1, 2018 × Big day for Congress. Looks set to take away BJP seats of Alwar and Ajmer. And now started leading in Mandalgarh assembly constituency too. Big message for BJP Govt. @CNNnews18 #RajasthanByPolls — Arunoday Mukharji (@ArunodayM) February 1, 2018 × The truth is staring in the faces of the BJP...#Congress leading in all the 3 seats in #RajasthanByPolls..people learn from their mistakes..choosing BJP was a mistake.. @OfficeOfRG is the only compassionate leader with a large heart to lead the country.. — khushbusundar (@khushsundar) February 1, 2018 ×

Bypoll results: Forget trends now, we have won all 3 seats, done and dusted, says Rahul Gandhi

<p>Congress has taken a massive leap and grabbed Mandalgarh Assembly seat and is now on a path to take over Ajmer and Alwar Lok Sabha in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bypoll-results-tmc-wins-naopara-assembly-in-west-bengal-congress-leads-in-ajmer-alwar-31424">Rajasthan </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bypoll-results-tmc-wins-naopara-assembly-in-west-bengal-congress-leads-in-ajmer-alwar-31424">bypolls</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bypoll-results-tmc-wins-naopara-assembly-in-west-bengal-congress-leads-in-ajmer-alwar-31424">.&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>Congress is on the verge of winning the Alwar bypoll as after 90 per cent of counting of votes, Congress is leading with a massive margin of over 1.6 lakh votes. BJP could only manage 4,42,502 votes.</p>

<p>Trinamool candidate Sajda Ahmed wins Uluberia Lok Sabha constituency and defeated BJP candidate Anupam Mallick by 4,74,023.</p>

<p>The BJP meanwhile emerged second in both the seats pushing Left Front to the third position. In Uluberia, BJP received 1,68,805 votes while CPM bagged 85,244 votes. In Noapara, BJP registered 38,711 votes while CPM managed to get 35,497 votes. The Congress meanwhile came fourth in both the seats and lost its deposits.</p>

<p>Congress&#39;s Karan Singh wins Alwar Lok Sabha constituency seat and defeated BJP&#39;s Jaswant Yadav by 1,56,319 votes.</p>

<p>The Trinamool Congress under&nbsp;Mamata Banerjee has won West Bengal&#39;s Naopara seat and is maintaining a steady lead in Ulluberia constituency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, BJP has been lagging behind in Rajasthan but still running close in West Bengal relegating the Left Front to third and Congress to the fourth position.</p>

<p>The counting of votes for the Rajasthan bypolls in two Lok Sabha and one assembly constituency &mdash; a crucial contest ahead of the state elections due later this year &mdash; began at 8am on Thursday.</p>


The polling in all the constituencies took place on Monday

Congress has taken a massive leap and grabbed Mandalgarh Assembly seat and is now on a path to take over Ajmer and Alwar Lok Sabha in Rajasthan bypolls. Congress is on the verge of winning the Alwar bypoll as after 90 per cent of counting of votes, Congress is leading with a massive margin of over 1.6 lakh votes. BJP could only manage 4,42,502 votes. Trinamool candidate Sajda Ahmed wins Uluberia Lok Sabha constituency and defeated BJP candidate Anupam Mallick by 4,74,023. The BJP meanwhile emerged second in both the seats pushing Left Front to the third position. In Uluberia, BJP received 1,68,805 votes while CPM bagged 85,244 votes. In Noapara, BJP registered 38,711 votes while CPM managed to get 35,497 votes. The Congress meanwhile came fourth in both the seats and lost its deposits. Congress's Karan Singh wins Alwar Lok Sabha constituency seat and defeated BJP's Jaswant Yadav by 1,56,319 votes. The Trinamool Congress under Mamata Banerjee has won West Bengal's Naopara seat and is maintaining a steady lead in Ulluberia constituency. However, BJP has been lagging behind in Rajasthan but still running close in West Bengal relegating the Left Front to third and Congress to the fourth position. The counting of votes for the Rajasthan bypolls in two Lok Sabha and one assembly constituency — a crucial contest ahead of the state elections due later this year — began at 8am on Thursday.

Rajasthan, West Bengal bypolls: More wins for Congress, TMC

<p>TMC&#39;s Sunil Singh has won the Naopara assembly seat in West Bengal with 1,11,729 votes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanByPolls?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanByPolls</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a>: Congress leading in Ajmer Lok Sabha by 45321 votes, in Alwar Lok Sabha by 72101 votes and in Mandalgarh assembly by 11136 votes</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/958967791150878720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Congress&#39;s Vivek Dhakad has won Mandalgarh assembly seat by 12976 votes.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajasthanByPolls?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajasthanByPolls</a> : Congress&#39;s Vivek Dhakad has won Mandalgarh assembly seat by 12976 votes</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/958970906839277568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>As of now, the Congress leads in Ajmer and Alwar parliamentary seats in Rajasthan. TMC leads in West Bengal&#39;s&nbsp;Uluberia.</p>

<p>The counting began at 8 am today amid tight security.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Naopara assembly seat by-poll: TMC candidate Sunil Singh wins with 1,11,729 votes</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/958933052180312064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>According to reports, Congress&#39; Karan Singh Yadav was leading by 61,500 votes over BJP&#39;s Jaswant Yadav in Alwar.</p>

<p>In Ajmer, Congress&#39;s Raghu Sharma was ahead of BJP&#39;s Ram Swaroop Lamba by 3,398 votes, they said.</p>

<p>In Mandalgarh, BJP candidate Shakti Singh Hada was ahead of independent candidate Gopal Malviya by over 3,000 votes. Congress&#39; Vivek Dhakad was trailing.</p>

<p>Chief Election Officer Ashwani Bhagat said the results would be declared before noon.</p>

<p>The polling in all the constituencies took place on Monday.</p>

<p>The election was held for Ajmer and Alwar Lok Sabha seats and Mandalgarh Assembly constituency in Rajasthan.</p>

<p>All the three seats fell vacant after the death of Ajmer MP Sanwar Lal Jat, Alwar MP Chand Nath and Mandalgarh MLA Kirti Kumari, who all were from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).</p>

<p>While in West Bengal, by-polls were held for Uluberia Lok Sabha Constituency in Howrah district and Noapara Assembly Seat in North 24 Parganas.</p>

<p>The election was necessitated due to the death of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sultan Ahmed and the Congress party MLA Madhusudan Ghosh.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


TMC's Sunil Singh has won the Naopara assembly seat in West Bengal by 1,11,729 votes

TMC's Sunil Singh has won the Naopara assembly seat in West Bengal with 1,11,729 votes. #RajasthanByPolls #UPDATE: Congress leading in Ajmer Lok Sabha by 45321 votes, in Alwar Lok Sabha by 72101 votes and in Mandalgarh assembly by 11136 votes — ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2018 × Congress's Vivek Dhakad has won Mandalgarh assembly seat by 12976 votes. #RajasthanByPolls : Congress's Vivek Dhakad has won Mandalgarh assembly seat by 12976 votes — ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2018 × As of now, the Congress leads in Ajmer and Alwar parliamentary seats in Rajasthan. TMC leads in West Bengal's Uluberia. The counting began at 8 am today amid tight security. Naopara assembly seat by-poll: TMC candidate Sunil Singh wins with 1,11,729 votes — ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2018 × According to reports, Congress' Karan Singh Yadav was leading by 61,500 votes over BJP's Jaswant Yadav in Alwar. In Ajmer, Congress's Raghu Sharma was ahead of BJP's Ram Swaroop Lamba by 3,398 votes, they said. In Mandalgarh, BJP candidate Shakti Singh Hada was ahead of independent candidate Gopal Malviya by over 3,000 votes. Congress' Vivek Dhakad was trailing. Chief Election Officer Ashwani Bhagat said the results would be declared before noon. The polling in all the constituencies took place on Monday. The election was held for Ajmer and Alwar Lok Sabha seats and Mandalgarh Assembly constituency in Rajasthan. All the three seats fell vacant after the death of Ajmer MP Sanwar Lal Jat, Alwar MP Chand Nath and Mandalgarh MLA Kirti Kumari, who all were from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While in West Bengal, by-polls were held for Uluberia Lok Sabha Constituency in Howrah district and Noapara Assembly Seat in North 24 Parganas. The election was necessitated due to the death of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sultan Ahmed and the Congress party MLA Madhusudan Ghosh. (With inputs from agencies)

Bypoll results: Congress wins in Mandalgarh, Rajasthan; TMC leads in West Bengal

<p>The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has won the Sabang Assembly constituency bypoll.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Trinamool candidate&nbsp;Gita Rani Bhunaia won by a margin of 64,192 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate Rita Mondal secured 41,987 votes, losing out to Gita Rani Bhunaia who secured 1,06,179 votes.</p>

<p>Though the BJP candidate secured only 37,476 votes, the party acquired a substantial increase in the number of votes in this election.</p>

<p>The BJP received about 5,000 votes in the 2016 Assembly elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted expressing his happiness on the significant rise in the BJPs vote share in Sabang.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy to see a significant rise in the BJP&rsquo;s vote share in Sabang, West Bengal. I thank the people for their support and assure them that BJP will leave no stone unturned in serving West Bengal. I appreciate the <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4Bengal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BJP4Bengal</a> Karyakartas for their effort.</p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/944918455362371586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bypoll&nbsp;results&nbsp;made a major dent on the Congress party as&nbsp;it lost the seat it had won in the 2016 Assembly polls. Congress candidate Chiranjib Bhowmick secured only 18,060 votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Secretary-General of the winning party said that the people voted for them because of the development they carried.</p>

<p>The opposition CPI(M) party has accused the winning party of indulging in a&nbsp;massive rigging.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Antara Bhattacharyya, the BJP candidate in the election has also accused that the elections were not &quot;free and fair&quot;.</p>

<p>The bypolls in the constituency were conducted after sitting Congress legislator Manas Bhunia resigned and moved over to the Trinamool Congress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trinamool candidate Gita Rani is Manas Bhunia`s wife.</p>


The Trinamool candidate won by a margin of 64,192 votes

The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has won the Sabang Assembly constituency bypoll. The Trinamool candidate Gita Rani Bhunaia won by a margin of 64,192 votes. Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate Rita Mondal secured 41,987 votes, losing out to Gita Rani Bhunaia who secured 1,06,179 votes. Though the BJP candidate secured only 37,476 votes, the party acquired a substantial increase in the number of votes in this election. The BJP received about 5,000 votes in the 2016 Assembly elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted expressing his happiness on the significant rise in the BJPs vote share in Sabang. Happy to see a significant rise in the BJP’s vote share in Sabang, West Bengal. I thank the people for their support and assure them that BJP will leave no stone unturned in serving West Bengal. I appreciate the @BJP4Bengal Karyakartas for their effort. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2017 × The bypoll results made a major dent on the Congress party as it lost the seat it had won in the 2016 Assembly polls. Congress candidate Chiranjib Bhowmick secured only 18,060 votes. The Secretary-General of the winning party said that the people voted for them because of the development they carried. The opposition CPI(M) party has accused the winning party of indulging in a massive rigging. Antara Bhattacharyya, the BJP candidate in the election has also accused that the elections were not "free and fair". The bypolls in the constituency were conducted after sitting Congress legislator Manas Bhunia resigned and moved over to the Trinamool Congress. Trinamool candidate Gita Rani is Manas Bhunia`s wife.

West Bengal by-polls: Congress loses Sabang assembly seat to Trinamool Congress

<p>Ex-Trinamool Congress(TMC) <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/senior-tmc-leader-mukul-roy-quits-party-amid-reports-of-likely-crossover-to-bjp-20596">leader Mukul Roy joined the BJP on Friday, just over a month after leaving</a>&nbsp;West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee&#39;s party.</p>

<p>Once a close aide of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mukul-roy-resigns-as-tmc-mp-gives-up-rajya-sabha-membership-21287">Mamata, the former Railway </a>minister joined the BJP in presence of Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya.</p>

<p>Trinamool Congress had&nbsp;suspended Mukul Roy for six years after he&nbsp;announced his decision to quit the party amid reports that he was planning to join the BJP.</p>

<p>Roy had resigned from the Rajya Sabha last month.</p>

<p>There was widespread speculation in the corridors of power in Delhi that the former TMC heavyweight was set to join the party. In fact, he was said to be meeting BJP leaders secretly.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Former Railway minister Mukul Roy was once a close aide of Mamta Banerjee

Ex-Trinamool Congress(TMC) leader Mukul Roy joined the BJP on Friday, just over a month after leaving West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's party. Once a close aide of Mamata, the former Railway minister joined the BJP in presence of Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. Trinamool Congress had suspended Mukul Roy for six years after he announced his decision to quit the party amid reports that he was planning to join the BJP. Roy had resigned from the Rajya Sabha last month. There was widespread speculation in the corridors of power in Delhi that the former TMC heavyweight was set to join the party. In fact, he was said to be meeting BJP leaders secretly.

Former TMC leader Mukul Roy joins BJP

<p>Mukul Roy has resigned&nbsp;as Trinamool Congress(TMC)&nbsp;MP and given up his Rajya Sabha membership, reports said.</p>

<p>&quot;Today I am resigning from Rajya Sabha membership elected as a member of TMC, also resigning from all posts of TMC as a primary member,&quot;&nbsp;Mukul Roy said.</p>

<p>Last month, Trinamool Congress had suspended Mukul Roy for six years after the senior party leader had announced his decision to quit the party amid reports that he was planning to join the BJP.</p>

<p>&quot;The day CBI went after him, he realised that other than BJP he has no respite,&quot; TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said on Mukul Roy&#39;s resignation.</p>

<p>The former TMC heavyweight had met senior BJP leaders fuelling speculation that he was getting close to the party.</p>

<p>Talking to reporters later, Mukul Roy had said TMC would not have tasted success without the backing of the BJP at the national level in its initial years.</p>

<p>&quot;Back then, no one called it (BJP) a communal party. Then how come, all of a sudden, you (TMC) change your stand?&quot; Roy had told reporters.</p>

<p>&quot;It was the alliance with the BJP which helped the TMC to taste success in its initial years, be it the 1998 or 1999 Lok Sabha polls,&quot; he asserted.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a>: Mukul Roy submits his resignation from Rajya Sabha as TMC MP, to Vice President and RS Chairman Venkaiah Naidu <a href="https://t.co/qZ9GwA6pDv">pic.twitter.com/qZ9GwA6pDv</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/918061037873594368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/untitled%20design%20(26)-20171011105502.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Mukul Roy&#39;s Rajya Sabha resignation letter. (Others)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Mukul Roy had said TMC would not have tasted success without the backing of the BJP at the national level in its initial years.

Mukul Roy has resigned as Trinamool Congress(TMC) MP and given up his Rajya Sabha membership, reports said. "Today I am resigning from Rajya Sabha membership elected as a member of TMC, also resigning from all posts of TMC as a primary member," Mukul Roy said. Last month, Trinamool Congress had suspended Mukul Roy for six years after the senior party leader had announced his decision to quit the party amid reports that he was planning to join the BJP. "The day CBI went after him, he realised that other than BJP he has no respite," TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said on Mukul Roy's resignation. The former TMC heavyweight had met senior BJP leaders fuelling speculation that he was getting close to the party. Talking to reporters later, Mukul Roy had said TMC would not have tasted success without the backing of the BJP at the national level in its initial years. "Back then, no one called it (BJP) a communal party. Then how come, all of a sudden, you (TMC) change your stand?" Roy had told reporters. "It was the alliance with the BJP which helped the TMC to taste success in its initial years, be it the 1998 or 1999 Lok Sabha polls," he asserted. #Delhi: Mukul Roy submits his resignation from Rajya Sabha as TMC MP, to Vice President and RS Chairman Venkaiah Naidu pic.twitter.com/qZ9GwA6pDv — ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2017 × Mukul Roy's Rajya Sabha resignation letter. (Others) ×

Mukul Roy resigns as TMC MP, gives up Rajya Sabha membership

<p>The Trinamool Congress swept today the municipal polls in West Bengal capturing all the seven civic bodies while the BJP finished second in most places relegating the Left to the third position.<br />
<br />
The BJP won six seats in three municipalities which included four in Dhupguri in north Bengal and one each in Buniyadpur (north Bengal) and Panskura in south Bengal, according to the results of the August 13 civic elections.<br />
<br />
The TMC bagged also seats in Panskura and Haldia in East Midnapore district, Nalhati in Birbhum, Buniyadpur in South Dinajpur and Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri districts.<br />
<br />
The party also registered a massive victory in Durgapur Municipal Corporation in Burdwan West district capturing all the 43 wards, besides Cooper&#39;s Camp where it won all the 12 seats.<br />
<br />
In Haldia municipality also, the TMC got elected in all the 29 seats, according to the results declared today.<br />
<br />
The election results were indicative of a paradigm shift in the state politics with the BJP emerging as the main challenger to the TMC, according to poll watchers.<br />
<br />
The Left put up a poor show with the Forward Bloc, a front partner, winning a seat in Nalhati municipality.<br />
<br />
The Congress failed to win even a single seat in the polls.<br />
<br />
In Haldia municipality, once considered as a Left bastion, the TMC won all the 29 wards securing more than 50 per cent of the total votes polled.<br />
<br />
Of the 16 seats in Dhupguri municipality in north Bengal, the TMC won 12 seats while the BJP captured four.<br />
<br />
Out of the 14 wards in Buniyadpur, also in north Bengal, the TMC won 13 wards and the BJP bagged one seat.<br />
<br />
In Nalhati municipality, the TMC won 14 of the 16 wards, while the Left Front and an independent candidate won one ward each.<br />
<br />
In 18-member Panskura municipality, the TMC won 17 wards and the BJP managed to secure one ward.<br />
<br />
The TMC also won the by-election in a ward in Jhargram municipality.<br />
<br />
&quot;The results are a reflection of people&#39;s faith in the TMC government and a befitting reply to the canards spread against us,&quot; TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said, reacting to the outcome of the civic polls.<br />
<br />
On the BJP&#39;s performance, senior TMC leader Gautam Deb said, &quot;The Left Front has shifted its vote to the BJP. The vote share of the TMC is intact, rather we have increased our vote share. I<br />
<br />
&quot;It is the Left which is having a tacit understanding with the BJP,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
State BJP president Dilip Ghosh, however, said, &quot;We all know that the TMC used money and muscle power to win the elections. We have seen how democracy was subverted by the TMC.<br />
<br />
&quot;In spite of a reign of terror, we have managed to win seats and come up to the second position,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
The opposition called the civic election results a &quot;farce&quot;, with the Congress and the Left stressing that it was &quot;not a real reflection&quot; of the people&#39;s mandate.</p>

<p>State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said the TMC was ruling was &quot;autocratically&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;What is the use of conducting elections in Bengal? The TMC doesn&#39;t allow free and fair elections. If an opposition candidate manages to win, they poach on him,&quot; he said.<br />
<br />
&quot;We feel these results are not the reflection of people&#39;s mandate. After the elections were held, we had demanded cancellation of the entire elections as it was not free and fair,&quot; senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said.</p>


The TMC bagged also seats in Panskura and Haldia in East Midnapore district, Nalhati in Birbhum, Buniyadpur in South Dinajpur and Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri districts

The Trinamool Congress swept today the municipal polls in West Bengal capturing all the seven civic bodies while the BJP finished second in most places relegating the Left to the third position. The BJP won six seats in three municipalities which included four in Dhupguri in north Bengal and one each in Buniyadpur (north Bengal) and Panskura in south Bengal, according to the results of the August 13 civic elections. The TMC bagged also seats in Panskura and Haldia in East Midnapore district, Nalhati in Birbhum, Buniyadpur in South Dinajpur and Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri districts. The party also registered a massive victory in Durgapur Municipal Corporation in Burdwan West district capturing all the 43 wards, besides Cooper's Camp where it won all the 12 seats. In Haldia municipality also, the TMC got elected in all the 29 seats, according to the results declared today. The election results were indicative of a paradigm shift in the state politics with the BJP emerging as the main challenger to the TMC, according to poll watchers. The Left put up a poor show with the Forward Bloc, a front partner, winning a seat in Nalhati municipality. The Congress failed to win even a single seat in the polls. In Haldia municipality, once considered as a Left bastion, the TMC won all the 29 wards securing more than 50 per cent of the total votes polled. Of the 16 seats in Dhupguri municipality in north Bengal, the TMC won 12 seats while the BJP captured four. Out of the 14 wards in Buniyadpur, also in north Bengal, the TMC won 13 wards and the BJP bagged one seat. In Nalhati municipality, the TMC won 14 of the 16 wards, while the Left Front and an independent candidate won one ward each. In 18-member Panskura municipality, the TMC won 17 wards and the BJP managed to secure one ward. The TMC also won the by-election in a ward in Jhargram municipality. "The results are a reflection of people's faith in the TMC government and a befitting reply to the canards spread against us," TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said, reacting to the outcome of the civic polls. On the BJP's performance, senior TMC leader Gautam Deb said, "The Left Front has shifted its vote to the BJP. The vote share of the TMC is intact, rather we have increased our vote share. I "It is the Left which is having a tacit understanding with the BJP," he said. State BJP president Dilip Ghosh, however, said, "We all know that the TMC used money and muscle power to win the elections. We have seen how democracy was subverted by the TMC. "In spite of a reign of terror, we have managed to win seats and come up to the second position," he said. The opposition called the civic election results a "farce", with the Congress and the Left stressing that it was "not a real reflection" of the people's mandate. State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said the TMC was ruling was "autocratically". "What is the use of conducting elections in Bengal? The TMC doesn't allow free and fair elections. If an opposition candidate manages to win, they poach on him," he said. "We feel these results are not the reflection of people's mandate. After the elections were held, we had demanded cancellation of the entire elections as it was not free and fair," senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said.

TMC sweeps civic polls in West Bengal, BJP emerges as main challenger

<p>Protests in the Darjeeling hills turned violent today as Trinamool Congress (TMC) office and a North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) ticket counter in Kalimpong were set on fire.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Visuals posted by ANI on Twitter show smoke coming out of the office.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
A local resident told WION buses were also burnt down in Kalimpong. She added that firing is currently underway near the town&rsquo;s main market and that all residents have been advised to stay indoors.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Darjeeling?src=hash">#Darjeeling</a>: TMC office and a North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) ticket counter set on fire in Kalimpong. <a href="https://t.co/BWwh8SWMZm">pic.twitter.com/BWwh8SWMZm</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/882524467372597249">July 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Protests erupted in Darjeeling after Banerjee decided to make Bengali compulsory for all schools in the state. An indefinite strike was announced by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on June 12.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Except for medicine outlets, all shops, schools and colleges are closed, and transport is off the road.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


A North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) ticket counter was also set on fire

Protests in the Darjeeling hills turned violent today as Trinamool Congress (TMC) office and a North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) ticket counter in Kalimpong were set on fire. Visuals posted by ANI on Twitter show smoke coming out of the office. A local resident told WION buses were also burnt down in Kalimpong. She added that firing is currently underway near the town’s main market and that all residents have been advised to stay indoors. #Darjeeling: TMC office and a North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) ticket counter set on fire in Kalimpong. pic.twitter.com/BWwh8SWMZm — ANI (@ANI_news) July 5, 2017 × Protests erupted in Darjeeling after Banerjee decided to make Bengali compulsory for all schools in the state. An indefinite strike was announced by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on June 12. Except for medicine outlets, all shops, schools and colleges are closed, and transport is off the road.

Darjeeling unrest: Fresh violence as TMC office torched in Kalimpong

<p>West Bengal&#39;s ruling Trinamool Congress will not attend the midnight programme in Parliament to mark the GST roll-out on June 30 as a mark of protest, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said Wednesday.</p>

<p>In a Facebook post, the TMC chief called the &quot;unnecessary disastrous hurry&quot; over the implementation of GST after demonetisation &quot;another epic blunder of the Centre.&quot;</p>

<p>Mamata Banerjee claimed the economy was not yet ready to face the GST roll-out from July 1.</p>

<p>&quot;After demonetisation, this unnecessary disastrous hurry is another epic blunder of the Centre. We have been for GST from the beginning but are very worried now with the way the Central Government is going ahead with the implementation. Our repeated suggestions to take some more time to properly implement GST have fallen in deaf ears. The entire business community, especially the small and medium ones, are scared and confused. Only 60 hours are left before this ill planned launch and no one knows for sure what&#39;s happening!,&quot; she wrote.</p>

<p>The West Bengal chief minister said it would take at least six more months to notify all rules and procedures and give enough time to the stakeholders, particularly the Small and Medium Enterprises for successfully implementing the landmark tax reform.</p>

<p><br />
&quot;Small business entities are not yet ready with the basic requirements like invoice, accounting system, IT system, etc. Another piece of evidence of unpreparedness comes from the fact that the &lsquo;Return Form&rsquo; had to be simplified for the first 6 months as all systems are not in place. It is shocking that the e-Waybill System is not yet designed and States are being asked to run their own systems as a stopgap arrangement,&quot; Mamata Banerjee wrote.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="249" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMamataBanerjeeOfficial%2Fposts%2F1489366191130717&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Mamata Banerjee claimed the economy was not yet ready to face the GST from July 1

West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress will not attend the midnight programme in Parliament to mark the GST roll-out on June 30 as a mark of protest, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said Wednesday. In a Facebook post, the TMC chief called the "unnecessary disastrous hurry" over the implementation of GST after demonetisation "another epic blunder of the Centre." Mamata Banerjee claimed the economy was not yet ready to face the GST roll-out from July 1. "After demonetisation, this unnecessary disastrous hurry is another epic blunder of the Centre. We have been for GST from the beginning but are very worried now with the way the Central Government is going ahead with the implementation. Our repeated suggestions to take some more time to properly implement GST have fallen in deaf ears. The entire business community, especially the small and medium ones, are scared and confused. Only 60 hours are left before this ill planned launch and no one knows for sure what's happening!," she wrote. The West Bengal chief minister said it would take at least six more months to notify all rules and procedures and give enough time to the stakeholders, particularly the Small and Medium Enterprises for successfully implementing the landmark tax reform. "Small business entities are not yet ready with the basic requirements like invoice, accounting system, IT system, etc. Another piece of evidence of unpreparedness comes from the fact that the ‘Return Form’ had to be simplified for the first 6 months as all systems are not in place. It is shocking that the e-Waybill System is not yet designed and States are being asked to run their own systems as a stopgap arrangement," Mamata Banerjee wrote. ×

Trinamool to skip Parliament's GST roll-out programme on June 30: Mamata Banerjee

<p>Two persons died and another was critically injured on Tuesday in alleged police firing on protesters agitating over the acquisition of their land for a power project in India&#39;s eastern state of West Bengal.<br />
<br />
One of those with bullet injuries, Mofizul Ali Khan, was rushed to SSKM Hospital in state capital Kolkata where he later died. Of the other two who were admitted in RG Kar hospital in Kolkata, Alam, also later succumbed to his injuries while the other patient continues to be critical.<br />
<br />
The state&#39;s chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who earlier assured agitating protesters that their land would not be acquired for a power project, later retracted her statement which was deleted from Twitter where it had been posted.</p>

<p>A land acquisition drive for a power project in the Bhangar division in Bengal&rsquo;s South 24 Parganas district at the behest of a strongman of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party had culminated in violent clashes between protesting villagers and the police.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Villagers alleged police excesses and claim that the police opened fire on them today and also went on a rampage and barged into their houses, ransacking them last night. The police maintained that it was the other way round and that a few police officers were also injured in the incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The police also said they had restricted themselves to the use of rubber bullets, a non-lethal weapon.</p>

<p>&ldquo;We restricted ourselves to the use of tear gas shells and rubber bullets. These are non-lethal weapons, which cannot result in any injury or death,&rdquo;&nbsp;a senior police official, who refused to be named told WION.</p>

<p>The protests&nbsp;were over the acquisition of 13 acres of farmers&#39; land in Bhangar by a local TMC leader for a power project of the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, an enterprise of the federal government.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited has been informed that the work at the Bhangar unit will remain permanently suspended, sources in the state administration told WION.</p>

<p>In a&nbsp;statement, posted on her party&#39;s official Twitter account, Mamata Banerjee earlier said the proposed power grid would be relocated if required.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">No land will be acquired if people don&#39;t want to give away land. Proposed power grid will be relocated if required: <a href="https://twitter.com/MamataOfficial">@MamataOfficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bhangor?src=hash">#Bhangor</a></p>
&mdash; AITC (@AITCofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/AITCofficial/status/821339767279382528">January 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Protestors set ablaze two police vehicles and vandalised six others.Tension still prevails in the area.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sources at the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna, said a huge contingent of Kolkata Police force will be rushed at night to Bhangor to identify &quot;outsiders&quot;, who are reportedly spearheading the agitation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhangar witnessed large scale violence and battles with the district police throughout the day, shaking up the entire administration and police force. Villagers were spotted pelting stones and wooden sticks at the police who, in turn, fired tear-gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse agitating protestors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fierce resistance took place despite the government&rsquo;s assertion that work on the power grid substation will remain suspended.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trinamool Congress strongman from Bhangar, Arabul Islam, had reportedly acquired the land in 2013 for setting up a 440/220KV substation to transmit power between West Bengal and Purnea in the neighbouring state of Bihar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Farmers and villagers led by Kalu Sheikh have been protesting ever since, demanding that work on the substation be suspended and land be returned to them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bhangar has been on the boil on several occasions. However, the movement gained momentum over the last week when work on the substation was almost over and it was on the verge of getting functional.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The movement took a fierce turn last night, when Kalu Sheikh was allegedly picked up by police. Villagers of Machhidanga hit the streets demanding his immediate release. Within hours of witnessing clashes, Kalu Sheikh was released by the police after pressure mounted on them, according to the villagers.</p>

<p>The state administration has rushed two of its senior leaders, Abdur Rezzak Mollah and Mukul Roy to bring the situation under control.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The police have cordoned off the entire area in and around the main gate of the power grid substation and deployed the Rapid Action Force and a huge contingent of combat force.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The movement for the closure of the substation continues to gain momentum. The state power minister, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, said, &quot;Work has been suspended. Why is the agitation on? We have agreed to their demand. I will have a dialogue with them.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Ironically, the TMC was the party which spearheaded the protests over land acquisition for industrial purposes in West Bengal&#39;s Nandigram and Singur.</p>

<p>Many see a resemblance between the protests in Bhangar with the Nandigram movement of 2007.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The way the villagers blocked roads with uprooted trees to prevent police from entering the villages, the way they surrounded police from three sides and pelted stones at them in an organised manner, reminded many of the Nandigram movement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Observers close to the ruling party claim that this movement has been &lsquo;hijacked&rsquo; and is not led by villagers. Some even see a Maoist hand behind it.<br />
<br />
(WION)</p>


A land acquisition drive for a power project at the behest of a strongman from the ruling Trinamool Congress party led to violence

Two persons died and another was critically injured on Tuesday in alleged police firing on protesters agitating over the acquisition of their land for a power project in India's eastern state of West Bengal. One of those with bullet injuries, Mofizul Ali Khan, was rushed to SSKM Hospital in state capital Kolkata where he later died. Of the other two who were admitted in RG Kar hospital in Kolkata, Alam, also later succumbed to his injuries while the other patient continues to be critical. The state's chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who earlier assured agitating protesters that their land would not be acquired for a power project, later retracted her statement which was deleted from Twitter where it had been posted. A land acquisition drive for a power project in the Bhangar division in Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district at the behest of a strongman of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party had culminated in violent clashes between protesting villagers and the police. Villagers alleged police excesses and claim that the police opened fire on them today and also went on a rampage and barged into their houses, ransacking them last night. The police maintained that it was the other way round and that a few police officers were also injured in the incident. The police also said they had restricted themselves to the use of rubber bullets, a non-lethal weapon. “We restricted ourselves to the use of tear gas shells and rubber bullets. These are non-lethal weapons, which cannot result in any injury or death,” a senior police official, who refused to be named told WION. The protests were over the acquisition of 13 acres of farmers' land in Bhangar by a local TMC leader for a power project of the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, an enterprise of the federal government. The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited has been informed that the work at the Bhangar unit will remain permanently suspended, sources in the state administration told WION. In a statement, posted on her party's official Twitter account, Mamata Banerjee earlier said the proposed power grid would be relocated if required. No land will be acquired if people don't want to give away land. Proposed power grid will be relocated if required: @MamataOfficial #Bhangor — AITC (@AITCofficial) January 17, 2017 × Protestors set ablaze two police vehicles and vandalised six others.Tension still prevails in the area. Sources at the West Bengal state secretariat, Nabanna, said a huge contingent of Kolkata Police force will be rushed at night to Bhangor to identify "outsiders", who are reportedly spearheading the agitation. Bhangar witnessed large scale violence and battles with the district police throughout the day, shaking up the entire administration and police force. Villagers were spotted pelting stones and wooden sticks at the police who, in turn, fired tear-gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse agitating protestors. The fierce resistance took place despite the government’s assertion that work on the power grid substation will remain suspended. Trinamool Congress strongman from Bhangar, Arabul Islam, had reportedly acquired the land in 2013 for setting up a 440/220KV substation to transmit power between West Bengal and Purnea in the neighbouring state of Bihar. Farmers and villagers led by Kalu Sheikh have been protesting ever since, demanding that work on the substation be suspended and land be returned to them. Bhangar has been on the boil on several occasions. However, the movement gained momentum over the last week when work on the substation was almost over and it was on the verge of getting functional. The movement took a fierce turn last night, when Kalu Sheikh was allegedly picked up by police. Villagers of Machhidanga hit the streets demanding his immediate release. Within hours of witnessing clashes, Kalu Sheikh was released by the police after pressure mounted on them, according to the villagers. The state administration has rushed two of its senior leaders, Abdur Rezzak Mollah and Mukul Roy to bring the situation under control. The police have cordoned off the entire area in and around the main gate of the power grid substation and deployed the Rapid Action Force and a huge contingent of combat force. The movement for the closure of the substation continues to gain momentum. The state power minister, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, said, "Work has been suspended. Why is the agitation on? We have agreed to their demand. I will have a dialogue with them.” Ironically, the TMC was the party which spearheaded the protests over land acquisition for industrial purposes in West Bengal's Nandigram and Singur. Many see a resemblance between the protests in Bhangar with the Nandigram movement of 2007. The way the villagers blocked roads with uprooted trees to prevent police from entering the villages, the way they surrounded police from three sides and pelted stones at them in an organised manner, reminded many of the Nandigram movement. Observers close to the ruling party claim that this movement has been ‘hijacked’ and is not led by villagers. Some even see a Maoist hand behind it. (WION)

Bengal anti-land grab agitation: Two dead in alleged police firing on protesters

<p>Major clashes erupted at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party office in Kolkata, following the arrest of Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay.</p>

<p>Party cadres of Trinamool Congress clashed with BJP supporters, injuring several on both sides, including senior leaders of BJP.</p>

<p>A huge contingent of police officials was rushed to the BJP party office to bring the situation under control. Trinamool Congress supporters were seen pelting stones and hurling empty glass bottles at the party office.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the police is trying to push back Trinamool Congress supporters to prevent any further deterioration of the situation. Police have put up guard rails to prevent entry of any Trinamool Congress supporters near the BJP party office.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Rapid Action Force has been deployed near the BJP party office in Kolkata. All shops around the party office has been shutdown.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Officer-in-charge, Jorasanko Police Station, Amit Rakshit, has been injured in the stone pelting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Several cars parked near the party office have&nbsp;been vandalised.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


Trinamool Congress supporters were seen pelting stones and hurling empty glass bottles at the party office

Major clashes erupted at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party office in Kolkata, following the arrest of Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay. Party cadres of Trinamool Congress clashed with BJP supporters, injuring several on both sides, including senior leaders of BJP. A huge contingent of police officials was rushed to the BJP party office to bring the situation under control. Trinamool Congress supporters were seen pelting stones and hurling empty glass bottles at the party office. Meanwhile, the police is trying to push back Trinamool Congress supporters to prevent any further deterioration of the situation. Police have put up guard rails to prevent entry of any Trinamool Congress supporters near the BJP party office. Meanwhile, Rapid Action Force has been deployed near the BJP party office in Kolkata. All shops around the party office has been shutdown. The Officer-in-charge, Jorasanko Police Station, Amit Rakshit, has been injured in the stone pelting. Several cars parked near the party office have been vandalised. (WION)

BJP-TMC supporters clash at BJP party HQ

<p>Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Sudip Bandyopadhyay was arrested by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Rose Valley Chit Fund Scam on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes as a major blow to TMC chief Mamata Banerjee with the party&rsquo;s second MP being arrested within a week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, the&nbsp;CBI&nbsp;had arrested Tapas Pal in connection with the same chit fund scam.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bandyopadhyay was arrested after three and a half hours of interrogation by three officers of the CBI. Sources in the investigating agency reveal that he had been arrested after several inconsistencies surfaced in his statements.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was summoned twice in December last year by the agency, however, he had skipped the meeting stating prior engagements.</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, while arriving at the CBI&rsquo;s office, Bandyapadhyay had said, &ldquo;I will come to face CBI interrogation to know what is against me. This is a political vendetta against me and the Trinamool Congress party by the NDA-ruled Central government.&rdquo;</p>

<p>On the other hand, Pal will be produced before a court by CBI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


Sudip Bandyopadhyay was arrested by CBI in connection with the Rose Valley Chit Fund Scam

Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Sudip Bandyopadhyay was arrested by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Rose Valley Chit Fund Scam on Tuesday. This comes as a major blow to TMC chief Mamata Banerjee with the party’s second MP being arrested within a week. Earlier, the CBI had arrested Tapas Pal in connection with the same chit fund scam. Bandyopadhyay was arrested after three and a half hours of interrogation by three officers of the CBI. Sources in the investigating agency reveal that he had been arrested after several inconsistencies surfaced in his statements. He was summoned twice in December last year by the agency, however, he had skipped the meeting stating prior engagements. Earlier in the day, while arriving at the CBI’s office, Bandyapadhyay had said, “I will come to face CBI interrogation to know what is against me. This is a political vendetta against me and the Trinamool Congress party by the NDA-ruled Central government.” On the other hand, Pal will be produced before a court by CBI. (WION)

Bengal: Another Trinamool Congress legislator arrested over Chit Fund scam

Tmc, News on Tmc, stories on Tmc, articles on Tmc, Tmc stories at Wion, Tmc news, Tmc latest news