Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, March 7, 2025, Kolkata :  As part of its preparations for the 2026 Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress has ramped up efforts to ensure accuracy in the voter list, separating legitimate voters from those whose names might belong to other states. Party supremo Mamata Banerjee and other party leaders have consistently raised concerns about the inclusion of voters from other states in West Bengal’s electoral roll. This issue was addressed with urgency during the mega meeting held on February 27, where a strong message was sent regarding the matter.

A 36-member committee, led by Trinamool state president Subrata Bakshi, was formed to oversee the revision and scrutiny of the voter list across the state. The committee met on Thursday at Trinamool Bhavan to review progress and discuss further steps. However, Abhishek Banerjee, one of the key members of the committee, was not present at the meeting due to prior commitments. Despite this absence, the leadership confirmed that he would lead a virtual meeting with party officials on March 15 to review the work done so far.

Sources revealed that during the meeting on Thursday, it was announced that the virtual discussion with Abhishek Banerjee would be held at 4 pm on March 15. All members of the state committee, district presidents, and leadership from various branches have been instructed to attend the meeting, where reports from each district will be evaluated and presented to the party leader.

While there was speculation surrounding Abhishek Banerjee’s absence from Thursday’s meeting, Trinamool spokesperson Jayaprakash Majumdar clarified that the meeting scheduled for March 15 would be virtual, and hence, there was no need for Abhishek to be physically present at Trinamool Bhavan. Majumdar emphasized that each member of the committee has been assigned specific districts to focus on for the revision of the voter list. Subrata Bakshi will personally oversee the work in South Kolkata, while Abhishek Banerjee is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the voter list in South 24 Parganas district.

This move by the Trinamool Congress signals the party’s heightened focus on ensuring the integrity of the voter list ahead of the 2026 elections, reinforcing their commitment to fair and transparent electoral processes.

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, March 7, 2025, Kolkata :  Bengal is setting a significant example of women’s empowerment across India, thanks to the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. From the increased participation of women in the state’s political landscape to the record-breaking presence of female representatives in Parliament, the progress is undeniable. Under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, women in Bengal have found a stronger voice, and as the state prepares for the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections, the ruling Trinamool Congress is leaving no stone unturned to maintain this momentum.

On the eve of International Women’s Day, March 8, the Mahila Trinamool wing of the party is gearing up for a major street procession to celebrate the achievements of women in Bengal and to pay tribute to Mamata Banerjee, who is aiming for a historic fourth term as Chief Minister. This show of strength is part of the party’s broader strategy, which has already gained traction after their impressive performance in the 24th Lok Sabha elections. The procession, which will take place across the state, will be a unified expression of women’s empowerment, with women’s MLAs and MPs including Chandrima Bhattacharya and Shashi Panja at the forefront.

According to Trinamool sources, the procession will begin at 4 pm, following a gathering at Rabindra Sadan at 3 pm on Saturday. The march will stretch from Rabindra Sadan to Dorina Crossing. However, with the ongoing higher secondary exams in the state, the procession will be conducted with utmost sensitivity to the examination schedule. The women’s Trinamool will forgo the usual slogans and speeches via microphone, instead focusing on a peaceful demonstration with posters and hoardings.

The procession will not be confined to Kolkata alone. Similar events will unfold in districts across the state, with the same posters, slogans, and themes, showcasing a unified effort to honor the contribution of women, led by the Chief Minister.

This initiative comes at a time when the state’s political narrative is focusing heavily on women’s issues, with the party planning new slogans and posters that reflect the growing empowerment of women in Bengal. As the Trinamool Congress intensifies its preparations for the next assembly elections, this demonstration is a clear statement of their commitment to continuing the progress they have made under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. The party is determined to further strengthen its base, particularly among female voters, in the lead-up to 2026.

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, March 7, 2025, Kolkata :  In the aftermath of the events at Jadavpur University last Saturday and Sunday, a growing debate has emerged about whether these incidents were mere coincidences or part of a larger, more purposeful unrest. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh has criticized the failure of both the intelligence department and the police administration in handling the situation, expressing concerns that if left unchecked, such chaos could escalate across the state. The judge’s warnings are particularly significant, given that the upcoming assembly elections are fast approaching, with the police needing to remain highly vigilant.

Baby Chakraborty, 

 KalimNews, February 26, 2025, Kolkata : A war of words erupted within the Trinamool Congress as Jorasakho constituency MLA Vivek Gupta expressed his frustration with certain new leaders and workers within the party. He accused them of being self-styled leaders with personal agendas, saying, “There are some self-styled leaders. They had many problems. There are some outside groups in Chittaranjan. They are people from the Trinamool. They are new. They have entered this party for their own gain. They do not follow Mamata’s ideology. They have entered for their own gain.”

Vivek Gupta’s comments quickly sparked a response from fellow party leader Kunal Ghosh, who was not willing to remain silent. Ghosh released a video in which Gupta’s secretary was heard claiming control over Jorasakho’s politics. Using this video, Kunal Ghosh questioned Vivek Gupta’s leadership, asking, “What is Vivek doing if that girl is running Jorasakho?”

In his statement, Ghosh pointed out that Vivek should have addressed any party issues within the party structure, rather than airing grievances publicly. He said, “Vivek is a Trinamool MLA. If you have any problem, talk to the party leadership. If you feel something objectionable anywhere, talk to the party directly. You should not say it outside the party. And secondly, there is a communication gap somewhere.”

The situation became even more heated when a young woman, Payal Nag, was mentioned on social media as having control over the politics of Jorasakho. However, Payal Nag quickly clarified, stating, “I work under Vivek Guptaji. He is my MLA. And I follow the instructions he gives me.”

Despite the clarification, the back-and-forth continued, with both sides expressing their frustrations. This internal party squabble has become the talk of the town, with many Bengalis following the drama with great interest. It remains to be seen how this will affect the party’s cohesion in the lead-up to future elections.

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, February 26, 2025, Kolkata :  As the 26th assembly elections approach, the Trinamool Congress is taking significant measures to ensure that its booth-level party workers can attend the state convention and watch the speech of leader Mamata Banerjee at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, which will outline the party’s overall strategy. The state convention, set for Thursday, February 27, will host over 19 thousand delegates, including the party’s MPs, public representatives from the panchayat level, and district-level leadership from all branch organizations.

To facilitate the participation of workers who cannot attend in person, more than 20 giant screens will be set up around the Netaji Indoor Stadium and the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra. These screens will broadcast Mamata Banerjee’s speech directly to workers across the city and district offices of the Trinamool Congress. The conference will begin at 11 am and conclude at noon with the leader’s speech, with the goal of ensuring delegates from distant districts can return home the same day.

Delegates from various districts began arriving in Kolkata on Wednesday, where they are reaching out to Trinamool Bhavan to collect their delegate cards. On Tuesday, state leadership, including state president Subrata Bakshi, visited Netaji Indoor Stadium to finalize the seating arrangements for the main stage and representatives from various levels of the party. Bakshi also designated the seating for the state leadership, including MPs, MLAs, district presidents, and branch organization leaders.

In addition to the previously listed delegates, instructions have been sent to district presidents to include members from the SC and OBC cells, ST cells, minority cells, farmers and agricultural laborers cells, as well as the Trinamool Youth, Women’s, and INTTUC presidents of Kolkata. Furthermore, members of the state committees of the Trinamool Youth Congress, Trinamool Mahila Congress, State Education Cell, INTTUC, SC-ST-OBC, Kisan Khet Majur, Minority Cell, Media Cell, and IT Cell will also be able to access the indoor venue as representatives. This extensive participation is aimed at unifying the party’s various branches and ensuring that all members are informed and involved in the party’s ongoing strategy.

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, February 23, 2025, Kolkata :  Concerns over fake voters have emerged in West Bengal, following previous reports of similar issues in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Authorities have noted an unexpected surge in voter numbers across multiple panchayat areas, raising suspicions of electoral malpractice. In response to a complaint from the Chief Minister, Nabanna has issued stringent directives to rectify voter lists and ensure accuracy in the electoral rolls. The state’s Chief Secretary, Manoj Pant, has ordered District Magistrates to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to prevent fraudulent voter registrations.

The Uttar Pradesh administration is also under pressure regarding this issue. On Saturday, the Chief Secretary convened a virtual meeting with District Magistrates from all districts and secretaries of various departments to address the matter. Officials have been instructed to meticulously verify all voter applications. In cases where an unusual surge in voter card applications is observed within a specific area, additional scrutiny must be conducted to rule out any irregularities.

The controversy has fueled political tensions between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), with both parties accusing each other of electoral fraud. The BJP claims that TMC is orchestrating the influx of minority voters from Bangladesh to manipulate voter demographics, whereas TMC alleges that BJP is bringing in fraudulent voters from Bihar to gain an electoral advantage.

According to sources, authorities have already identified some fraudulent voters. A particularly suspicious case was discovered in the Champahati panchayat of Baruipur. During the last Lok Sabha elections, the number of registered voters in the area ranged from 18,500 to 19,000. However, recent data indicates a sharp increase, with the voter count reaching 22,400. This unexpected rise has raised serious concerns, prompting Nabanna to issue an urgent warning and implement corrective measures to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, February 23, 2025, Kolkata : The political landscape of West Bengal is abuzz with speculation regarding BJP leader and Nandigram MLA Shuvendu Adhikari’s increasing focus on Bhabanipur. His repeated visits, meetings, processions, and rallies in the constituency have raised questions about his political strategy and future electoral plans.

On Sunday, Adhikari attended the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program in the Theater Road area of the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency. His continuous presence in the region has led political analysts to believe that he may have a strategic interest beyond his current constituency. Adhikari has previously stated that contesting from Bhabanipur would be more favorable for him compared to Nandigram, citing the significant presence of non-Bengali voters in the area.

His recent activities include leading a procession in the Rash Behari-Tollygunge area, adjacent to Bhabanipur, in protest against alleged attacks on party workers. Furthermore, he raised the issue of Bhabanipur during a speech at the Assembly gates, urging Hindu voters to unite and participate actively in the political process.

Will Shuvendu contest from Bhabanipur constituency in 2026? This question is also circulating in the political circles. Although the opposition leader has not explicitly stated that he will contest from Bhabanipur, he has hinted at an interest in Mamata Banerjee’s constituency. At one time, Shuvendu primarily held 90 to 95 percent of his programs in Nandigram, occasionally conducting events outside. Regarding this, Shuvendu remarked, “We were holding a procession. In front of Taj Bengal and the Animal Hospital. There were no Trinamool people there. I came here and saw the reading room of the National Library. I had tea and snacks. For me, Bhabanipur is much easier than Nandigram.”

Adhikari’s repeated engagements in Bhabanipur have led to speculation about whether he intends to contest from this key constituency in the future. Political circles are closely watching his moves, as his potential candidature from Bhabanipur could significantly impact the state’s political dynamics. However, no official announcement has been made regarding his electoral plans, leaving room for further conjecture and debate within West Bengal’s political corridors.