States

17

Sep

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

Congress confident of Datia bypoll win: Jitu Patwari

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari on Sunday exuded confidence over the party's prospects in the upcoming Datia Assembly by-election, stating that the Congress would "100 per cent" win the seat. Addressing reporters, Patwari noted that Ghanshyam Singh had been given the ticket with the consensus of all senior leaders and workers, adding that the party was entirely certain of a victory.   The Congress had announced Ghanshyam Singh as its candidate for the Datia Assembly by-election on July 11. He is pitted against BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari in what has become a high-stakes contest. Following his nomination, Singh accused…

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16

Sep

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

Three ex-TMC leaders file RS nominations as BJP candidates

Three defected prominent leaders — Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik — filed their nomination papers on Monday as candidates of the BJP for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election. The trio was accompanied during the nomination process by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and state BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya.   The development comes days after the three former MPs of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) formally joined the BJP at the party’s Salt Lake office last Thursday in the presence of Bhattacharya. Soon after, the BJP’s central leadership in Delhi announced their candidature for the Rajya Sabha by-polls scheduled later…

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15

Sep

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

Sudip Banerjee named NCPI leader in LS as ‘rebel’ TMC MPs align with NDA

Sudip Banerjee has been designated as the leader of the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) in the Lok Sabha, following a major political shift in the aftermath of the Trinamool Congress’s Assembly election defeat. Twenty ‘rebel’ MPs, who broke ranks with the party while levelling serious allegations including corruption, are now functioning under the NCPI banner and have aligned with the BJP-led NDA with the approval of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. On Monday, Sudip Banerjee, along with Kakali Ghosh Dastidar, met Speaker Om Birla and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss procedural matters related to their new…

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14

Sep

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

Mamata targets defectors, BJP at fiery July 21 rally amid TMC split

Launching a sharp and combative attack from the July 21 ‘Martyrs’ Day’ rally, Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday targeted both defectors from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP, signalling an escalation in the political battle following the party’s recent split. Without naming him directly, Mamata described the faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee as the BJP’s “B-team,” alleging that the breakaway group was indirectly aiding the saffron party under the guise of forming a separate political platform.   “We are better off; the thieves are moving to the BJP. There is no need to act as a mere prop for them—join…

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09

Sep

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

Prashant Kishor alleges misuse of ‘Jeevika Didis’ in Bihar bypolls

Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) chief Prashant Kishor on Sunday accused the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-led Bihar government of exploiting women from the Jeevika self-help group network, popularly known as ‘Jeevika Didis’, during campaigning for the ongoing by-elections.   Kishor, who is also the JSP candidate from the Bankipur assembly constituency, alleged that members of the ruling alliance were using administrative machinery to influence voters. He warned that if corrective action is not taken within 24 hours, he would stage a sit-in protest outside the Election Commission’s office.   “Even the Patna District Magistrate is misusing Jeevika Didis via tweets. We…

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06

Sep

By The Press Editor

Entertainment, States

National award for Angen puts Santhali cinema in spotlight

The Santhali film “Angen” has brought national recognition to Jharkhand after its director, Ravi Raj Murmu, won the 72nd National Film Award for Best Debut Film Director. The award celebrates the filmmaker's remarkable contribution in presenting the Santhali language, culture, and storytelling to audiences across the country.   Chief Minister Hemant Soren congratulated Ravi Raj Murmu on the prestigious honour, describing the achievement as a moment of pride not only for the filmmaker but also for the people of Jharkhand and the entire Santhali-speaking community. In his congratulatory message, the chief minister said the National Film Award marked a significant…

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04

Sep

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

Bankipur Assembly bypoll: Prashant Kishor remains ahead of BJP’s Neeraj Kumar Sinha as Round 4 concludes

Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor has opened up a lead over the Bharatiya Janata Party's Neeraj Kumar Sinha following the fourth round of counting in the Bankipur Assembly by-election in Patna.   According to official figures from the Election Commission, Kishor has polled 6,269 votes against Sinha's 5,124, giving the election strategist-turned-politician an early lead of 1,145 votes. Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Rekha Kumari sits a distant third with 884 votes.   The by-election, which took place on July 30, represents Kishor's first personal foray into direct ballot politics. The Bankipur constituency has long been regarded as an unassailable…

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04

Sep

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

Congress delays action against Punjab dissidents amid defection fears

Fearing defections, the Congress high command has postponed action against Punjab party leaders over defection concerns. Sources on Monday claimed that infighting between party members once again came out in the open in recent days.   Party workers favouring former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi raised slogans during party events in Sangrur and Barnala amid growing rift speculations between the two factions.   Channi’s supporters demand the recognition of their leaders as the face of the Punjab Congress and chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming assembly polls scheduled for early next year.   The rift came out in public after the…

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03

Sep

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

Jagan slams Naidu over ‘vendetta’ politics

Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a scathing attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, alleging that the state has descended into "lawlessness" and a "jungle raj" characterised by a "politics of vendetta" against the opposition.   In an extensive statement shared on social media platform X, the YSRCP chief questioned the recent midnight police raids and arrests of party leaders, specifically highlighting the case of Alur MLA Virupakshi. "Lawlessness at its peak under Nara Chandrababu Naidu regime. Protection for the attackers, criminal cases against the victims: Politics of Vendetta. Chandrababu Naidu,…

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03

Sep

By The Press Editor

Politics, States

Mamata’s silence over Kishor’s Bankipur victory raises eyebrows

The BJP suffered a significant setback in its long-standing stronghold of Bankipur in Bihar, as Prashant Kishor defeated the party’s candidate to clinch the Assembly by-election seat previously held by saffron camp’s national president Nitin Nabin. While the result has sent ripples through national politics despite being a by-election, what has drawn equal attention is the conspicuous silence from West Bengal’s former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The election outcome was effectively sealed by 4 pm on Monday, with Kishor receiving his certificate of victory by 6:45 pm. Yet, even hours later, there…

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