West Bengal
Trinamool isolated politically in its fight against probe agencies
The ruling TMC is fighting a lonely political battle against these central agencies' probes under which the roles of several TMC leaders including the party’s national general secretary and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee have come under the scanner. While the BJP is going hammer and tongs highlighting the central probe agencies against the TMC, the other anti- BJP opposition parties in the state like the Congress and the Left Front too are welcoming the CBI and ED probes in a big way.
Trinamool not to take onus of FIRs against Mahua Moitra
On behalf of the party, veteran Trinamool Congress leader and three-time party Lok Sabha member, Saugata Roy issued a statement saying that the onus is on Moitra and not on the party to take care of the FIRs.
Fresh row as another turncoat BJP Bengal MLA appointed PAC Chairperson
Kalyani, the MLA from Raigunj assembly constituency in North Dinajpur district, officially continues to be an elected BJP legislator, several media reports, and video clippings of news channels show Kalyani joining Trinamool Congress in October last year. Already, a petition filed by the BJP is pending in the Calcutta High Court demanding disqualification of party legislators joining the ruling Trinamool Congress after the 2021 Assembly elections. The post of the PAC Chairman became vacant after Mukul Roy, officially still a BJP legislator, resigned from the chair on health grounds on June 27.
Mukul Roy resigns as Chairman of Bengal Assembly's PAC
Although Roy cited health grounds as the reason for his resignation, political observers feel that through this, he wanted to bring an end to the already shrouding controversies over his moral authority to stick to the chair of the PAC Chairman. As per tradition, the post of the Chairman of PAC in West Bengal assembly is always offered to a legislator from the opposition bench.
Bengal passes bill to replace guv with minister as visitor of private varsities
The Bill was passed by a simple voice vote on the floor of the House as the BJP legislators staged a walkout. Soon after state Education Minister Bratya Basu rose to explain the state government's logic behind passing the Bill, the BJP legislators started protesting. Basu asked them to occupy their seats. But they kept on protesting and shouting 'shame, shame' slogans and then staged a walkout.
Mamata, Yechury meet Pawar to discuss candidate for President
Mamata Banerjee has called a meeting of opposition parties on Wednesday (June 15) to discuss strategy for a joint opposition candidate for President. Yechury along with D. Raja of the CPI and P.C. Chacko of the NCP met Pawar where NCP leader Praful Patel was also present. After the meeting, Yechury said, "I have been informed that Sharad Pawar has refused to become a opposition candidate but have discussed some names and those are under considerations."
Bill to replace Guv with CM as state varsities' chancellor passed in Bengal assembly
However, on Monday, a bill pertaining only to the universities under the state education department was passed. In the coming days of the monsoon session of the West Bengal assembly, similar bills for replacement of the governor with the chief minister as chancellors for universities under other departments namely health, agricultural, animal husbandry and fishery will also be passed.
Entire focus of Mamata is on opposition, not on those on rampage: BJP
West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar was arrested on Saturday afternoon while he was on his way to Howrah where tension has been brewing for the past few days over remarks made against Prophet Muhammad by two now suspended BJP spokespersons. Malviya also shared a letter addressed to Adhikari by Inspector In-charge of Contai Police Station.
Is declining state expenditure for north Bengal's development fuelling separate statehood demand?
A quick look through the budget allotment and subsequent expenditure figures by the state government behind north Bengal's development during the last few years shows how the expenditure to budget allotment ratio has declined over the last few years. As per state budget documents during the last financial year 2021-22, the budget allocation for north Bengal's development was nearly Rs 776.51 crore. However, the estimated expenditure during the same period under that head is nearly Rs 271 crore, which is just around 34 per cent of the budget allocation.
Prophet Row: Bengal BJP chief arrested enroute tensed Howrah
On Saturday morning, the police did not allow Majumdar to come out of his residence in New Town on the northern outskirts of Kolkata. However, after a lot of arguments, he stepped out of his house headed towards the tensed pockets in Howrah district. But as soon as his vehicle reached the toll plaza on the Vidyasagar Setu, the principal connecting point between Kolkata and Howrah, it was stopped by a large team from the Howrah Police Commiserate.
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