Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, June 24, 2025, Kolkata :  Kalyanmoy Gangopadhyay, the former President of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), was granted bail on Tuesday by Justice Suvra Ghosh of the Calcutta High Court in the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) cash-for-jobs case linked to the massive school recruitment scam. However, his release from custody will not follow, as he remains behind bars due to ongoing judicial custody in a separate case lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is conducting a parallel probe into the same scam.

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, June 22, 2025, New Delhi : Tamluk’s BJP Member of Parliament, Abhijit Ganguly, has been admitted to Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after battling a severe case of gastrointestinal sepsis for over a week. The 63-year-old MP was first rushed to a private hospital in New Alipore, Kolkata, after falling critically ill on June 14. After doctors diagnosed him with gastrointestinal sepsis, a medical board was immediately formed to start his treatment. However, as his condition worsened, it was decided to airlift him to AIIMS on June 19 for specialized care.

Sources from AIIMS have confirmed that Ganguly’s condition remains critical but has shown slow improvement due to the ongoing treatment. Hospital officials report that he has responded to medical intervention, but he remains under intensive care in the ICU. The doctors, including gastroenterologists and anesthesiologists, are closely monitoring his progress. It is understood that fluid was drained from his body upon his admission, both in Kolkata and now at AIIMS, which has contributed to some improvement in his condition.

Despite the positive developments, doctors have indicated that Ganguly is not yet stable enough to be moved to the general ward and will remain in the ICU for the time being. However, a bed in the general ward has been prepared in case of further improvement, and it is anticipated that, with time, he may be transferred there.

The situation has been followed closely by BJP leadership in both Delhi and Kolkata. Dibyendu Adhikari, former MP, has been stationed in Delhi to provide support to the family during this critical period. BJP MP from Bishnupur, Soumitra Khan, has also been entrusted with assisting Ganguly’s family. His brother and brother’s wife arrived in Delhi from Kolkata shortly after the airlift, and they have been in constant touch with the hospital.

Reports from sources within BJP indicate that Ganguly has shown gradual improvement under the care of doctors at AIIMS, with health officials confirming that he is now stable enough to be moved out of the ICU. Ganguly’s nephew and personal assistant are also in Delhi, ensuring that all necessary arrangements are in place for his family.

The BJP leadership has expressed their ongoing concern and support for Ganguly’s recovery, with JP Nadda, the party president and Union Health Minister, personally overseeing the situation. Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of Law and Justice, and other key members of the party have been in touch with medical personnel at AIIMS, while the Lok Sabha Secretariat has been receiving regular updates.

Although his condition has improved slightly, doctors caution that the road to recovery will be long. Ganguly, a former judge, is expected to stay in the hospital for several months, undergoing treatment and careful monitoring. His family, including his brother, is thankful for the support being extended to them during this difficult time. The medical team at AIIMS has made it clear that Abhijit Ganguly’s progress is encouraging, but he will require continuous and long-term medical care to ensure full recovery.

As his condition stabilizes, BJP leaders and his family are hopeful that his health will continue to improve in the coming weeks. The incident has prompted a flurry of calls from concerned BJP leaders and colleagues across the country, all eager to receive updates about the health of the Tamluk MP.

Banerjee took strong exception to the letter issued by the Raj Bhavan of Uttar Pradesh, which announced that June 20 would be officially observed as Bangla Day not just in that state, but across several others. The announcement has triggered a fresh political storm in West Bengal, where the state government had earlier passed legislation to designate Poila Boishakh (1st Baishakh)—the Bengali New Year—as Bangla Pratishtha Divas (Bengal Foundation Day).

“Why should another state decide our foundation day? Why should Uttar Pradesh or the BJP dictate Bengal’s cultural and historical observances?” Banerjee asked in a press conference, accusing the Centre of undermining state rights and cultural autonomy. “Our state has a specific day, recognised by law. That is Poila Baishakh. Why are they trying to impose June 20 instead? Will they also decide when we celebrate Rabindra Jayanti, Nazrul Jayanti, or what we wear and eat?” she asked sharply.

The choice of Uttar Pradesh—a politically significant state governed by the BJP—as the centrepiece for this observance has added to Banerjee’s fury. She viewed it as a calculated move by the Centre to push a homogenised political narrative, using a non-Bengali state to redefine Bengal’s identity.

“Celebrating Bangla Day from Uttar Pradesh is a direct insult to the people of Bengal. This is not unity—it is a forced narrative, a distortion,” she said. “Poila Boishakh is rooted in our history, our language, and our people. What authority does the Raj Bhavan in UP have to rename our day?”

Simultaneously, Banerjee lambasted the Centre’s plans to observe June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, calling it a “mockery of democracy.” She accused the BJP of hypocrisy, claiming it was the very party undermining the Constitution while pretending to honour it. “Those who don’t respect the Constitution are now talking about upholding it. It’s a mockery,” she stated, referring to the Centre’s alleged attacks on federalism and civil liberties.

Taking aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Banerjee said, “Who is actually running the country? Modi is always travelling and Shah handles everything else. He might as well declare Shah the Prime Minister.” She also questioned the BJP’s democratic credentials, citing its role in the collapse of elected governments in Maharashtra and Bihar as clear violations of constitutional values.

The chief minister further criticised the Centre’s handling of internal dissent, alleged manipulation of institutions, and refusal to respond to the Trinamool Congress’s questions on the recent Pahalgam attack. “When anything happens in Bengal, 155 teams are sent. But what happens during Gujarat riots or when a BJP MP insults women after a terror attack? No answers,” she said.

Banerjee also reignited criticism of the 2016 demonetisation, claiming that over 140 people died and branding November 8 as “Economy Destruction Day.”

With Uttar Pradesh’s Raj Bhavan now positioned as a national stage for redefining Bengal’s cultural markers, Banerjee’s statements reflect a fierce resistance to what she calls the Centre’s repeated attempts to “erase regional identity under the garb of national unity.”

Her remarks have once again highlighted the growing friction between the West Bengal government and the BJP-led Centre, particularly over cultural autonomy, federalism, and political control. As preparations for the 2026 Assembly elections gather momentum, these tensions are likely to fuel further confrontations.

Baby Chakraborty | KalimNews | June 19, 2025 | Kolkata : The political battleground in West Bengal is once again abuzz as preparations quietly begin for the 2026 Assembly elections. In what many are calling Bengal’s ‘political World Cup’, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has begun laying strategic groundwork to consolidate its position as the principal opposition and mount a formidable challenge to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

While the BJP is yet to officially declare its chief ministerial candidate, the name of Suvendu Adhikari has emerged prominently in the internal discourse. Though West Bengal BJP president and newly appointed Union minister Sukanta Majumdar is also considered a contender, it is Adhikari who appears to be leading the race. A senior BJP leader has reportedly said, “There is no alternative to Suvendu Adhikari,” indicating a strong leaning within the party’s central leadership toward projecting him as the face of the party in the upcoming elections.

Adhikari’s political journey is as striking as it is strategic. Once a key figure within the Trinamool Congress, he switched allegiance to the BJP ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections. His biggest political coup came when he defeated Mamata Banerjee herself in the high-stakes Nandigram constituency by a margin of 1,956 votes. This victory not only cemented his position within the BJP but also led to his appointment as the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly.

Over the past four years, Adhikari has consistently positioned himself as a vocal critic of the TMC government. From raising concerns about corruption and administrative irregularities to highlighting law-and-order issues, he has spearheaded several campaigns against the state administration. His political experience within the TMC, coupled with his combative stance, has made him a strong contender in the eyes of many within the BJP.

However, the state BJP unit is not without internal friction. A notable power struggle is underway between Suvendu Adhikari and Sukanta Majumdar. This rivalry came to the fore during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to West Bengal on May 31 and June 1. While Adhikari’s camp saw Shah’s public praise—stating that “whenever Adhikari stands up, Didi feels scared”—as a major endorsement, Majumdar’s supporters highlighted that he was the only leader to accompany Shah on the flight to Kolkata, interpreting it as a sign of deeper proximity to the central leadership.

The jostling for influence has created a visible rift within the state BJP. Despite the high-profile visit by Shah and the announcement of new organisational initiatives such as Tiranga Yatras and the promotion of Operation Sindoor, the party continues to suffer from a lack of unity and leadership clarity. The state unit has been headless for over a year since Majumdar’s elevation to the Union Cabinet after winning the Balurghat seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. No successor has been named, leaving the party directionless at a critical juncture.

Compounding these issues is the BJP’s waning electoral performance in the state. After securing 18 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, the party managed to win only 12 in 2024. The tally of 77 assembly seats in 2021 has since fallen to under 70, and the party has failed to win any by-elections since. Key grassroots structures like booth committees remain incomplete, a factor widely seen as contributing to the BJP’s poll setbacks.

Despite the internal discord, the central leadership appears determined to rally the state unit. While intra-party rivalries have taken centre stage for now, the party’s broader objective remains unambiguous: to present a united and strong opposition to Mamata Banerjee in 2026. With Suvendu Adhikari increasingly emerging as the central figure in the party’s plans, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the BJP can overcome its internal challenges and mount a serious electoral offensive in West Bengal.

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews | June 15, 2025 | Kolkata : The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has issued a strong directive to senior leaders Anubrata Mondal and Kajal Sheikh to put aside personal differences and work cohesively to strengthen the party’s organizational base in Birbhum ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. At a high-level party meeting held on Saturday in Bhawanipore, Kolkata, the state leadership emphasized that any internal discord affecting electoral performance will not be tolerated and could result in consequences for those responsible.

State party president Subrata Bakshi chaired the meeting, which included the presence of key leaders such as Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, and Asish Banerjee. Members of the Birbhum and North Kolkata core committees, along with district presidents and chairpersons, were summoned to assess preparedness for the upcoming July 21 Martyrs’ Day rally and to address organizational matters in the politically sensitive Birbhum district.

According to party sources, a separate closed-door discussion was held with both Anubrata Mondal and Kajal Sheikh prior to the main session. During this conversation, the two leaders were explicitly warned against continuing their public feud. The party leadership conveyed that mutual cooperation is essential for the success of TMC in the forthcoming elections and that any public disagreements, especially those involving derogatory language, would not be condoned.

This firm stance follows recent controversies involving Anubrata Mondal, who was caught in a viral audio clip allegedly using abusive language during a phone call with a police officer. Within hours of the incident gaining traction on social media, the party directed Mondal to issue a public apology, which he complied with. Law enforcement has since registered a criminal case against him under non-bailable charges.

The party also expressed concern over statements made in the media by both leaders and urged them to refrain from making any comments that could reflect poorly on the organization. Senior leaders such as Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay and Firhad Hakim reiterated the party’s commitment to maintaining internal discipline and contrasted TMC’s swift action against such behavior with what they described as inaction by other political parties in similar situations.

Amid ongoing efforts to revamp the party’s structure in Birbhum, the Trinamool Congress recently dissolved the post of district president, forming instead a seven-member core committee to manage district affairs. This organizational reshuffle is part of a broader strategy to decentralize leadership and avoid factional dominance in key regions.

Saturday’s developments underscore the TMC leadership’s intent to present a unified front and avoid any perception of internal division as the state heads toward a crucial electoral contest. The emphasis on discipline, cooperation, and accountability signals a clear message from the party’s top brass that electoral success hinges on collective effort and cohesion.

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, June 15, 2025, Kolkata :   Sudeep Banerjee has informed that this time the poster of the July 21 rally will have only the face of Supremo Mamata Banerjee. There will be no picture of the All India General Secretary.

The Trinamool Congress has called for preparations for the July 21 rally on Saturday. In response to questions from journalists, MP Sudeep Banerjee said, “The poster of the July 21 program has been given on a pen drive from the Camac Street office. There is only Mamata Banerjee’s picture there.” At the same time, he said, “Abhishek himself said that he was not in the July 21 program. That is why only the Chief Minister’s picture will be there. Mamata’s picture was also in the Netaji Indoor meeting. The Chief Minister has repeatedly said that she is the last word of the organization. She will lead the party for another ten years.”

Did the leader want to emphasize once again that Mamata alone has the final say in the party?

The Trinamool Congress has decided that only the image of party supremo Mamata Banerjee will feature on all official posters for the July 21 Martyrs’ Day rally, as national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has opted out, stating he wasn’t part of the original movement in 1993.

The decision of Banerjee, Mamata’s nephew and widely regarded as the party’s second-in-command, to opt out of the poster has raised eyebrows across political circles, sparking speculation about internal party dynamics.

Senior TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay confirmed the move on Saturday following a meeting held at the party’s Bhabanipur office here. “The poster for the July 21 rally contains only Mamata Banerjee’s photograph. Abhishek Banerjee himself said his photo should not be there as he was not part of the original movement in 1993,” Bandyopadhyay, the party’s leader in Lok Sabha, told reporters.

According to party leaders, Banerjee entered politics as a member of the TMC in 2011 and was eventually made the president of Trinamool Yuva, which was later merged with Trinamool Youth Congress.

The announcement comes amid a history of intra-party debates over the prominence of leaders in posters. The controversy dates back to November 2023 when only Mamata’s image featured in the background of a major rally at Netaji Indoor Stadium. At that time, party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh had publicly questioned the omission of Abhishek’s image, stirring internal debates.

Earlier this year, the issue flared up again over a TMC calendar distributed among various party offices. Abhishek’s image was subsequently omitted from major party events, including the February rally at Netaji Indoor Stadium.

“This time, we aim for a record-breaking turnout. We will set a benchmark for how a single party can organise such a massive rally in the heart of a city,” Bandyopadhyay said, adding that party leaders, including state president Subrata Bakshi, have issued clear directives to district units to ensure maximum mobilisation.

The July 21 ‘Martyrs Day’ rally is observed annually by TMC to commemorate the killing of 13 people in police firing in 1993, when Mamata Banerjee, then a Youth Congress leader, had launched a march to the secretariat, demanding that voters’ card be made the sole document to allow people to exercise their franchise.

Amid preparations for the rally, another political subplot unfolded on Saturday as two heavyweight leaders from Birbhum, Anubrata Mondal and Kajal Sheikh, were asked to attend a closed-door meeting with top TMC leaders. Both leaders have been embroiled in a factional feud in the politically volatile Birbhum district. While Kajal Sheikh arrived earlier, Anubrata — popularly known as ‘Kesto’ — joined the meeting shortly before 1 PM.

Baby Chakraborty | KalimNews  | Kolkata | June 13, 2025 : Fresh political unrest has erupted in West Bengal following communal clashes in Maheshtala, South 24 Parganas, where allegations surfaced of vandalism at a local temple and an adjacent Tulsi platform. The incident has triggered strong reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whose top leaders were detained by police while attempting to protest near Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat on Thursday.

According to reports, BJP’s West Bengal unit president and Union Minister of State Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, General Secretary Jagannath Chatterjee, Purulia MP Jyotirmoy Mahato, and other party workers were intercepted en route to Maheshtala by the Kolkata Police. The group was later detained in Kalighat during a demonstration outside the CM’s residence. They were released hours later.

In a post on social media platform X, Dr. Majumdar criticised the police, writing, “Just yesterday, the same West Bengal Police were forced to wave white cloths in surrender before radical elements in Rabindranagar — spineless, helpless, and humiliated. And today, suddenly, they appear as warriors — zealously following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s orders with blind obedience.”

Majumdar further alleged that “radical fundamentalists run amok” in the state, and accused the administration of suppressing dissent through police action. He wrote that BJP leaders and karyakartas were “shamelessly arrested — a naked display of administrative tyranny.”

The BJP’s protest was in response to incidents that occurred a day earlier in Maheshtala, where clashes reportedly resulted in the vandalism of a Shiva temple, damage to vehicles, and injuries to police personnel. BJP leaders claimed the violence was targeted and communal in nature, and demanded the immediate reconstruction of the Tulsi stage near the Rabindranagar police station.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari also met with Governor C.V. Ananda Bose at Raj Bhavan to brief him on the situation. In a post on X, Adhikari alleged that police deliberately failed to contain the violence for fear of political backlash. “Instead, they stood by as miscreants attacked Hindus, vandalised a Shiva temple, torched bikes and vehicles, and pelted stones under the nose of Rabindranagar Police Station,” he wrote.

Adhikari dismissed the official description of the violence as a local dispute over illegal construction and called the incident a continuation of communal unrest that has plagued areas like Malda and Murshidabad in recent months. “Where is the accountability for your failure?” he asked.

The BJP claimed that the Chief Minister has remained silent on the issue, accusing her of appeasement politics and neglecting the safety of the Hindu community. Attempts to reinstall a symbolic Tulsi Manch by BJP workers were reportedly blocked by police, leading to further political friction.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Police confirmed that 40 people had been arrested in connection with the Maheshtala incident. Authorities have filed three separate cases under relevant legal provisions and said that they are closely monitoring the situation to prevent further escalation.

In a statement on X, West Bengal Police urged political leaders to refrain from visiting the violence-hit zones, stating, “The situation is under control. Any provocative action may disrupt peace and order.”

As political tensions rise, Maheshtala remains under increased security surveillance. The broader implications of the violence and the state’s response continue to fuel debate between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP, highlighting the deepening polarisation in Bengal’s political landscape.

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, June 9, 2025, Kolkata: With West Bengal heading toward Assembly elections next year, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has begun early preparations for its annual July 21 Martyrs’ Day event. Recognized as a key moment on the party’s political calendar, this year’s observance carries added weight as it sets the stage for what could become the opening of a high-stakes electoral campaign.

Organized primarily by the student and youth wings of the party in consultation with senior leaders, Martyrs’ Day commemorates the death of 13 individuals during a political rally on July 21, 1993. Preparations this year have commenced earlier than usual. A key preparatory meeting is scheduled at the party’s Bhabanipur office next week, with invitations already extended to district presidents, chairpersons, and the core committees from Kolkata North and Birbhum organizational districts.

Every year, the program draws significant attention from across the state. Held at Dharmatala Square in Kolkata, the central gathering typically features prominent student and youth leaders, along with party supremo Mamata Banerjee and All India General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee. The occasion is marked by political messages, organizational mobilization, and reaffirmation of the party’s political vision.

The origin of Martyrs’ Day dates back to July 21, 1993, when a protest march led by Mamata Banerjee—then a Youth Congress leader—demanded the mandatory use of photo voter ID cards in elections. The rally, organized against the backdrop of political unrest and internal conflict within the Congress party, was directed toward the Writers’ Building, the administrative headquarters of the West Bengal government. It culminated in a violent confrontation with law enforcement, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals following police firing. The event had a profound impact on the political landscape of the state and played a crucial role in shaping Banerjee’s subsequent political trajectory.

Over the years, the narrative surrounding the 1993 incident has remained contentious. The official justification for the protest was electoral reform—specifically the implementation of voter ID cards, which falls under the purview of the Election Commission of India, not the state government. However, analysts and critics have long questioned the true intent of the rally, suggesting it may have stemmed more from intra-party rivalries within the Congress than from democratic demands.

Eyewitness accounts and later investigations revealed that parts of the crowd engaged in violence, vandalism, and arson. Security personnel were severely injured, and weapons including loaded pipe guns and bombs were recovered from the scene. Despite the widespread disruption and ensuing casualties, no senior leaders were ultimately held accountable after multiple inquiries. A commission led by retired Justice Sushanta Chatterjee—set up by the Trinamool Congress government after assuming power in 2011—did not attribute direct responsibility to the leadership of the then Left Front government or the police. Its report, submitted in 2014, controversially concluded that at least one of the deceased died from cirrhosis of the liver, not police action.

The political fallout from the incident was substantial. Mamata Banerjee, who had briefly held a ministerial role in the P.V. Narasimha Rao-led central government, went on to form the All India Trinamool Congress after distancing herself from the Congress party. Over time, July 21 became a symbolic cornerstone of her political movement. Every year since, the event has been commemorated as Martyrs’ Day, serving both as a remembrance and a rallying cry for party workers.

However, the legacy of the day continues to evoke debate. While the Trinamool Congress portrays the 13 deceased individuals as martyrs of a democratic cause, others contest this characterization due to the violence associated with the protest. Questions linger about the planning, intent, and aftermath of the demonstration. The fact that Manish Gupta, the then Home Secretary who authorized the police firing, later joined the Trinamool Congress and became a cabinet minister, adds another complex layer to the historical narrative.

As July 21, 2025, approaches, the Trinamool Congress seeks not only to honor the memory of the 1993 protest but also to galvanize its youth base and reaffirm its political direction in anticipation of the upcoming Assembly elections. With attention again turning to Dharmatala, the event is expected to serve as both a tribute and a strategic political platform in the shifting landscape of West Bengal politics.

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kolkata, June 8, 2025: The Calcutta High Court has directed Trinamool Congress state general secretary Kunal Ghosh to appear in person before a specially constituted three-judge bench on June 16 at 12:30 p.m. in connection with a contempt of court case arising from a controversial protest near the court premises.

The notice, served through Narkeldanga Police Station, clearly states that Ghosh must remain present in court until permitted to leave and must explain why punitive action, including imprisonment, should not be initiated against him. Legal experts have noted that failure to appear or provide a satisfactory explanation could result in immediate imprisonment from the courtroom, should the court find sufficient grounds under contempt laws.

The contempt proceedings stem from a protest held in April by a group of job aspirants for upper-primary teaching positions. The demonstrators staged their protest outside the chamber of CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, accusing him of legal actions that allegedly led to the cancellation of several school job appointments in West Bengal. During the protest, derogatory remarks were reportedly made against Justice Biswajit Basu, whose judicial observations in related cases had drawn public attention.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam of the Calcutta High Court ordered the Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma to investigate the incident and identify the individuals involved. A contempt case was subsequently initiated, and a special bench comprising Justices Arijit Banerjee, Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, and Rajarshi Bharadwaj was constituted to hear it.

Ghosh, along with six other individuals, had been directed to file reply affidavits. However, none of them complied within the stipulated timeframe, prompting the court to issue contempt rules against all seven. Ghosh has now officially received the rule notice.

Ghosh’s legal counsel, Biswaroop Bhattacharya and Ayan Chakraborty, have stated that their client was not present during the protest in question. They added that while their affidavit is ready, the recent submission of a police report compelled them to delay filing it, as they wish to reference the report in their submission.

This case adds to a growing list of contempt matters being closely monitored by the judiciary. Recently, the Calcutta High Court ordered a four-day jail term for an advocate for making slanderous remarks against a judge—setting a precedent that highlights the court’s zero-tolerance approach to acts undermining judicial dignity.

As of now, the court awaits Kunal Ghosh’s appearance and explanation on June 16, which could prove pivotal in determining the next legal course of action.