Purba Medinipur (West Bengal):

The Kanthi Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 42 parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal and holds significant importance in the 2024 elections, especially for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

This constituency is the hometown of the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, who is the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal.

BJP has fielded Suvendu Adhikari’s brother, Somendu Adhikari. as its candidate for Kanthi Lok Sabha seat against TMC’s Uttam Barik and Congress’ Urbashi Bhattacharya.

Local residents acknowledge the development work done by the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee. However, the local influence of ‘Dada’ (Suvendu Adhikari) is also relevant.

When discussing local issues, people said that while ‘Didi’ (Mamata Banerjee) has done well, corruption within her party is a major issue.

According to Sukumar Patra, a local, “the development work has been commendable, but the party’s corruption and scams are the main problems.”

Another local, Mirza Darbar, expressed that “there are no issues, and they want an MP who works for their basic needs – ‘roti’ (food), ‘kapda’ (clothing), and ‘makaan’ (shelter).”

Narayan Chandra Das, a senior citizen, stated that “their current ability to provide for their family is due to Mamata Banerjee, and thus, their faith lies with ‘Didi’.”

A local auto driver, Biswajit Panda, expressed a desire for more development in Kanthi and West Bengal under the Modi government.

The election in the Kanthi constituency will take place in the sixth phase on May 25.

Suvendu Adhikari’s family members held key political positions in the past and continue to wield substantial power in the region.

Sisir Adhikari and his sons Suvendu, Dibyendu, and Soumendu, have held key political positions within the TMC in the region. In December 2020, months ahead of the state assembly polls, Suvendu defected from TMC to BJP.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Suvendu Adhikari’s father, Sisir Adhikari, won the seat as a TMC candidate, defeating the BJP’s Dr Debasish Samanta. Sisir Adhikari, who had been loyal to the TMC for 23 years, joined the BJP in March 2021, following his son Suvendu’s switch from the TMC to the BJP. Sisir Adhikari had also represented the Kanthi Lok Sabha constituency in 2009 and 2014.

Polling in West Bengal is being held in seven phases of Lok Sabha polls. Polling has already been done in five phases and the voting for the remaining two phases will be held on May 25 and June 1. Votes will be counted on June 4.

In the sixth phase, polling will be held on May 25 in Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Bishnupur.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accused the TMC government in West Bengal of “looting” power consumers, asserting that the state-run utility has “rearranged” tariff slabs, which resulted in an increase in electricity bills during the current summer season.

Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly, termed the alleged move by WBSEDCL as “shrewd and cunning” to “extract more” from consumers.

According to him, the tariff rate hasn’t been increased, while the existing slabs have been rearranged in such a manner that consumers will end up paying significantly higher bills.

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDCL) has been accused of rearranging tariff slabs, potentially resulting in an increase in bills by 20 per cent for consumption of 300 units.

The utility has a consumer base of 2.03 crore.

In a post on X, Adhikari also claimed that the revised tariff slabs for the quarterly electric bills for the May-July period reveal inconsistencies, with consumers receiving different slab structures.

To illustrate the potential impact, Adhikari provided two scenarios based on the revised tariff slabs.

“Scenario 1 – where the electricity consumption is 300 units. Consumers would have paid Rs 1,948.60 according to the old slab. But due to the rearrangement of slab, consumers would end up paying Rs 2,351.18,” he said on X.

Similarly, in scenario 2, where consumption is 1000 units, consumers would have paid Rs 7,456.04 under the old slab but would now get a bill of Rs 8,805.18.

Neither state power secretary Santanu Basu nor the WBSEDCL spokesperson responded to the allegation when contacted.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

Bengal’s northern region will be the first to vote on April 19 as the general elections begin in the country. But weeks before the election, a massive storm has hit the region, blowing away homes and disrupting thousands of lives. Locals say there has been a delay in relief — a responsibility that lies with the local administration now that the Model Code of Conduct has been announced.

A political war has now started over the issue between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress.

The Trinamool has argued that the loss would have been limited if the BJP had not withheld funds for building homes. “If the people got funds under the Awas Yojana at the right time, maybe many of them would have had the shelter of pucca homes,” said Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.

“The BJP-run central government has deliberately not given funds under the 100-day job guarantee scheme and Awas Yojana and this is the result of that,” he added.

The BJP has claimed the Trinamool is corrupt and relief material will be looted. “If there is a storm, the Trinamool is excited. Whatever comes, they will loot it. They want floods, storms and earthquakes, so they can earn from it,” said senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh.

“It is the duty of the government to ensure that the affected people are helped, given strength and compensation so they to return to normalcy,” he added.

The trigger to the political battle was Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s immediate visit to the area. The BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, who also rushed to the area, attacked her, alleging that her visit was only meant for a photo-op.

“There are more photo sessions happening. Rescue and relief work is not happening properly. What is the work that has to be done at midnight? What is the hurry to visit the hospital and visit the family of the dead victims? It could have happened in the morning,” he said.

Trinamool’s Abhishek Banerjee hit back, asking what stopped the BJP from reaching early.

“If he is claiming that the Chief Minister has come all the way from Kolkata at midnight to turn this incident into a media spectacle, what stopped the PM from following the same principle?” he said.

“The BJP should be last ones to talk about publicity and photo ops. Their entire politics have been revolving around PR and photo ops,” he added.

Coochbehar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri will vote in the first phase of election on April 19 and as the BJP attempts to consolidate its base here, the Trinamool is attempting to regain lost ground.

Last time, the BJP won all the seats in north Bengal, taking its tally to 18. Reaching its target of 25 seats in this election makes it essential for the BJP to retain its grasp over the region.

Kolkata:

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Friday triggered a controversy after he apparently made a mockery of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s injury.

Ms Banerjee on Thursday evening suffered a gash on her forehead and had to be admitted to a hospital for a few hours, the Trinamool Congress said.

After being administered stitches and undergoing medical tests at the hospital, the TMC chief was deemed stable and discharged, subsequently returning home.

While addressing a rally in West Bengal’s Khejuri, Mr Adhikari without naming anyone said, “TMC’s pressure has gone down and it is falling. The fall of the TMC has just begun from the top, it will percolate to the grassroots levels.” His remarks drew sharp condemnation from the ruling TMC, which said the remarks reflect the anti-women mindset of the BJP.

“Such remarks against the only woman chief minister of the country reflect the anti-women mindset of the BJP. We condemn such remarks and demand an apology,” West Bengal Women and Child Development Minister Shashi Panja said.

West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said the verbal attack against Banerjee reflects the misogynist mindset of the BJP.

“Attacking the only female CM is not just despicable, it’s a display of contemptible misogyny. Smt. @Chandrimaaitc vehemently condemned @SuvenduWB ‘s shameful assault on Smt. @MamataOfficial , while she’s receiving treatment. His words reeks of desperation and an utter lack of basic human decency. He must issue a sincere APOLOGY NOW,” she posted on X.

The BJP on Friday demanded a thorough probe into claims that Ms Banerjee had a fall at her residence “due to some push from behind” leading to injuries, drawing a sharp retort from the ruling TMC which asked the saffron camp not to politicise the matter.

A day after stating that Ms Banerjee had a fall at her Kalighat residence “due to some push from behind” leading to injuries on her forehead and nose, state-run SSKM Hospital director Manimoy Bandyopadhyay on Friday clarified that all he meant was that the CM may have felt “a sensation of push”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition (LoP), Suvendu Adhikari, has raised eyebrows over the arrest of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan, stating, “This is not an arrest; this is a mutual adjustment.”

“Bhaskar Mukherjee (DIG, Malda Range), took him (Sheikh Shahjahan) in the car to Palta and then to Bhushi Ratil. This is not arrest, this is a mutual adjustment. Unless the central agencies take him into their custody, the people there won’t get justice. There is no protection from the court and this is not an interlocutory stay. This misconception has been created by the leaders of TMC and the police. I am again and again saying that it’s not an arrest; it’s a mutual adjustment,” Suvendu Adhikari said.

The LoP’s statements add a layer of controversy to the arrest, with Adhikari alleging that Shahjahan would enjoy “5-star facilities in jail.”

“He will get 5-star facilities in jail. He will use his mobile phone inside and control the area from there. He will engage in illegal activities and thuggery from inside the jail,” Suvendu Adhikari said.

Amid tension in Sandeshkhali, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested by West Bengal police today in the morning in connection with allegations of ‘sexual assault and land grab,’ officials said.”

Shahjahan was arrested from Minakhan in the North 24 Parganas district,” Minakhan SDPO Aminul Islam Khan told ANI.”

He will be produced before the Basirhat Court at 2 pm today,” the SDPO added.

Shahjahan had been evading arrest by both state and central agencies for over a month.

Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district has been witnessing widespread protests against TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh this month as a section of women were seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by the TMC leader.

A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had accused Shajahan Sheikh and his close aides of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion.

The arrest comes three days after the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice ordered the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan in the Sandeshkhali case.

Meanwhile, Suvendu Adhikari, along with BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh, is on the way to Sandeshkhali after Calcutta High Court on Wednesday allowed them to visit the area.

On Wednesday, the Calcutta High Court allowed the six members of an independent fact-finding team by the Centre, led by a former judge of the Patna High Court, to go to battleground Sandeshkhali on Friday.

The six-member team, headed by Justice Narsimha Reddy, former Chief Justice of Patna High Court, also comprised of fellow members Charu Bali Khanna, Bhavna Bajaj, OP Vyas, Rajpal Singh, Aparna Banerjee and Bandana Biswas.

The fact-finding team is scheduled to visit Majherpara, Natunpara, and Naskarpara localities in Sandeshkhali.

Justice Kaushik Chandra of the HC bench also allowed Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari to go to Sandeshkhali on Thursday on the condition that he should not be making any inflammatory comments during his visit.

Kolkata:

Representatives of the Sikh community on Thursday called on West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to protest against the alleged “Khalistani” remark at an IPS officer by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.

IPS officer Jaspreet Singh has claimed that Adhikari, leader of the opposition in the state assembly, had used the term “Khalistani” against him when he was halted by the police en route to restive Sandeshkhali on Tuesday. Though the BJP leader denied making any such comment, the matter escalated into a major row.

“The manner in which Suvendu Adhikari used the term Khalistani against the IPS officer is insulting. It hurt the sentiment of every member of the Sikh community,” a spokesperson of the community told reporters near Raj Bhavan after meeting Mr Bose.

Jaspreet Singh cannot be called a “Khalistani” just because he wears a turban, said the spokesperson, who represented members of seven Gurdwaras of Kolkata.

Referring to the importance and sacredness of turbans, he said an affront to any turban-wearing member of the community is tantamount to insulting the Sikh Gurus.

“Sikhs in the country will not take this lying down,” the spokesperson said.

He said that during their meeting, Mr Bose referred to the great contribution made by members of the Sikh community in nation-building, freedom battle, guarding the frontiers and in every sphere.

Mr Bose, as the constitutional head of West Bengal, was urged to write a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about the “humiliation caused to a Sikh IPS officer on duty and appropriately address the grievances of the community,” the spokesperson added.

He said that none should be done to hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh or any other community.

Mr Bose did not meet the media after the Sikh delegation’s visit to Raj Bhavan.

The Trinamool Congress youth and students wings took out rallies to protest against the jibe in Kolkata, Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman district and Siliguri in Darjeeling district.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Purba Medinipur:

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said that to stop ‘gundaraj’ (hooliganism) in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee needs to be ‘former’ Chief Minister and people from West Bengal’s Nandigram will show how it is done.

“Gundaraj going on here. To finish this, Mamata Banerjee needs to be ‘former’ (Chief Minister). The people of Nandigram might have got jobs if they had voted for Mamata Banerjee, but they voted against her for the sake of West Bengal. Their spirit needs to be accepted by the people. We (Nandigram) know how to stop them,” Suvendu Adhikari said speaking to reporters at West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur.

Mr Adhikari said that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) cannot be stopped by holding talk shows or through speeches but with the help of people.

“We will stop them with the help of people. We cannot stop them by shouting at talk shows or giving speeches at public rallies,” he said.

Speaking about the rural-urban divide which will be an impediment to removing the TMC from power, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said, “People of Kolkata think Durgapuja is just a festival, we think Durgapuja is a belief and tradition of the Sanantan Hindus. There is a difference. Those who read Bartaman, Ananda Bazar won’t help us. They need time to wake up.”

Reminding the people that it used to be a popular notion that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) would not be removed from power, Mr Adhikari said that such a notion was proved wrong by people from Nandigram itself.

“At one time we used to think that CPM wouldn’t go. They have gone. The epicenter was Nandigram. In the future, they (Mamata Banerjee) will go as well and the way will be shown by the village,” the BJP leader said.

Speaking on the INDIA alliance, he said, “This is not Gatbandhan but Khatbandhan. Group 420 has conglomerated to take on India’s popular Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The people are with Narendra Modi. So they are irrelevant.”

On the Congress and CPI(M) which is in opposition in West Bengal joining hands with the TMC in the INDIA alliance, Mr Adhikari said, “Following the meeting at Patna and Mumbai, the CPM and the Congress has lost all its credibility in Bengal. You have seen in Dhugpuri that the Left and the Congress lost six per cent of its votes.”

“People have two paths before them- whether to keep thieves or remove them. If they want to keep them they will vote for Pishi-Bhaipo (aunt-nephew), if they want to remove them they will vote for BJP,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

The Trinamool Congress has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and demanded action against West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari for his “inappropriate comments” on a meeting between Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Dubai Airport. 

The Trinamool Congress has demanded the censure of Mr Adhikari, a BJP MLA, for “attempting to damage relations with Sri Lanka”. The party described his remarks as “malicious” and “a brazen attempt to damage India’s foreign relations”. 

It claimed Mr Adhikari had ridiculed the state of the Sri Lankan economy and the conversation of the chief minister with the leader of a foreign country. 

“We condemn LoP @SuvenduWB’s irresponsible and derogatory remarks on the Sri Lankan economy and his deliberate attempt to strain foreign ties,” the Trinamool Congress said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

We condemn LoP @SuvenduWB‘s irresponsible and derogatory remarks on the Sri Lankan economy and his deliberate attempt to strain foreign ties.

Parliamentary Party Leader, Rajya Sabha, Mr. @derekobrienmp wrote a letter to Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar seeking… pic.twitter.com/Ehoq2ZZea3

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) September 16, 2023

“Parliamentary Party Leader, Rajya Sabha, Mr. @derekobrienmp wrote a letter to Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar seeking immediate action against Mr. Adhikari for his vicious ploy to damage relations between the state of West Bengal and the Republic of Sri Lanka which also affects the diplomatic relations of the nation at large,” the party said.

In a post on X, Suvendu Adhikari had said, “I am guessing what conversation might have taken place between the two :- Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe – I have heard that you are leading your state towards an economic crisis like what Sri Lanka is facing?  Mamata Banerjee – If you can guide me how to borrow more money from the market, I will invite you to attend the next Bengal Global Business Summit.”

I am guessing what conversation might have taken place between the two :-

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe – I have heard that you are leading your state towards an economic crisis like what Sri Lanka is facing?

Mamata Banerjee – If you can guide me how to borrow more… https://t.co/MsLTJ00Txj

— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) September 13, 2023

“Ranil Wickremesinghe – But we are not in a position to invest? What good would happen by attending the Summit?  Mamata Banerjee – Don’t worry, you just come and enjoy for 2-3 days and sign an MOU. Anyways everyone comes and signs MOU and nobody invests. I am just concerned about good headlines,” the post read.

Ms Banerjee, who was on her way to Spain, had an impromptu meeting with Mr Wickremesinghe at the Dubai airport on Wednesday.