The Latest Breaking News from Bengal

Hafta letters: Bengal election coverage, app complaints, and live stream moderation

Jyotsna

Newslaundry · May 16

BJP MLA Rathindra Bose elected unopposed as West Bengal assembly Speaker

Rathindra Bose has been elected unopposed as the Speaker of the West Bengal assembly. He is the first legislator from North Bengal to hold this prestigious position. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari proposed his name. The BJP holds a strong majority in the assembly. This election marks a significant moment for…

The Economic Times · May 15

Ex-Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee appears before Calcutta HC to argue post-poll violence case

Kolkata: Former West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday appeared before the Calcutta High Court to argue a case in connection with alleged post-poll violence and attacks on party offices.

The Economic Times · May 14

Who is IITian Manoj Agarwal, West Bengal’s new chief secretary, and why is the opposition criticising his appointment?

Senior IAS officer Manoj Agarwal has been appointed as the new chief secretary of West Bengal. This appointment has sparked controversy, with opposition parties alleging political favouritism due to Agarwal's recent role as Chief Electoral Officer during the state's Assembly elections.

The Economic Times · May 12

Can't intimidate us with barbed wire, says Bangladesh, puts border force on alert

Bangladesh's foreign affairs adviser stated the nation will not be intimidated by border fencing, questioning the new West Bengal government's approach to governance. Dhaka warned of action against "push-back" incidents and asserted it would not remain silent if killings along the border continue, while Border Guard Bangladesh remains on high…

The Times of India · May 11

‘Someone who is TMC in the morning can become BJP by night’: Bengal’s week of violence

On Monday morning, fresh reports of arson emerged from Khejuri, the second such incident in as many nights. The BJP called it an electrical fault. The TMC called it arson. The competing versions have continued to sound the same – in the days after Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as…

Newslaundry · May 11

Bengal’s ‘Paribartan’: A victory built on opposition fractures

BJP’s historic win in Bengal raises a question worth examining. Of the 207 seats the party won, 54 were secured by margins under 15,000 votes. Had the INDIA bloc – TMC, Congress, and Left parties – contested as a united front, the combined anti-BJP vote share (~7 percent) might have…

Newslaundry · May 11

BJP serves fish curry and rice in West Bengal to counter food politics jibe

Newly sworn-in BJP legislators in West Bengal are hosting fish festivals. These events aim to counter accusations that the BJP is against Bengali food culture. MLAs are serving traditional Bengali meals, including fish curry and rice. This initiative is seen as a cultural outreach and political symbolism. The BJP seeks…

The Economic Times · May 11

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari may move into new Alipore residence near Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat home

West Bengal's new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is considering a move to the Soujanya complex in Alipore. This high-security residence was built for chief ministers but has remained unoccupied. The Public Works Department is assessing the complex for its suitability. The move would signify a significant shift in the state's…

The Economic Times · May 11

PM Modi slams 'authoritarian' TMC, claims Bengal was 'shackled' by hybrid political vices

He argued that upon its formation, the TMC did not break from its Congress roots but rather "imbibed" all its negative traits and claimed that the TMC integrated the "negative habits" of the Left, likely referring to political violence and grassroots intimidation, following the end of the 34-year Marxist rule…

The Economic Times · May 10