Browsing: Mamata Banerjee

In a decisive crackdown on the unrest following the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, state police have arrested 433 individuals and registered 200 FIRs across various districts since results were announced on May 4. Acting Director General of Police (DGP) Siddh Nath Gupta confirmed on Wednesday, May 6, that these actions were taken to curb reports of intimidation, assault, and arson that erupted shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was declared the winner. In addition to the specific arrests, over 1,100 people have been placed under preventive detention to restore law and order.

A close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was shot dead in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district late on Wednesday night, triggering fresh political tensions in the state. The deceased, identified as Chandranath Rath, was reportedly attacked by motorcycle-borne assailants near Madhyamgram while travelling in an SUV. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene.

The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has faced a significant political setback in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, as visible cracks emerged in its long-standing Muslim support base, reshaping the state’s electoral landscape. For over a decade, Muslim voters,who constitute nearly a third of the state’s population, had largely remained consolidated behind the TMC, playing a decisive role in its repeated electoral successes.

In the wake of the 2026 Assembly election results, security arrangements outside key residences and offices linked to the Trinamool Congress leadership have been significantly eased across West Bengal. The move follows the party’s electoral defeat, marking a visible shift in administrative priorities and political authority.

In a defiant stand following the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) significant setback in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has categorically rejected calls for her resignation. Addressing a packed press conference at her Kalighat residence on Tuesday, a resilient Banerjee declared that she would not step down, claiming a “moral victory” despite the electoral numbers favoring the BJP.

Mamata Banerjee has stunned the political world by refusing to resign after the 2026 Bengal elections. Despite the BJP winning a two-thirds majority and Banerjee losing her own seat, she has alleged massive EVM tampering and a conspiracy by the Election Commission, vowing to fight on from a national stage.

High-voltage drama unfolded in Kolkata on the night of April 30 and early May 1, 2026, as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally inspected the EVM strong room at Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhabanipur. Citing “suspicious activity” seen on CCTV, the TMC supremo warned of a “life-and-death battle” if any attempt is made to tamper with the machines before the May 4 counting date. While the Election Commission dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” clarifying that officials were merely segregating postal ballots in the presence of observers, the visit has intensified the prestige battle in Bhabanipur, where Banerjee faces a fierce challenge from BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.

West Bengal has created electoral history in the 2026 Assembly elections by recording an unprecedented voter turnout of nearly 92.9%, the highest since Independence. The remarkable participation highlights a surge in democratic engagement and reflects the intensity of the political contest across the state.

In a major pre-election crackdown, security forces across West Bengal have arrested over 1,500 individuals ahead of the final phase of the Assembly elections, aiming to ensure a peaceful and fair voting process. The large-scale operation was carried out jointly by state police and central forces, reflecting heightened concerns over law and order in the concluding stage of polling.

In a show of regional solidarity, Arvind Kejriwal and Tejashwi Yadav descended upon Kolkata on Sunday, April 26, 2026, to campaign for Mamata Banerjee ahead of the decisive second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Addressing rallies in Beleghata and Jorasanko, Kejriwal framed the election as a battle for “Bengali culture and pride,” accusing the BJP of turning the state into a fortress. The visit comes at a precarious time for the AAP chief, following the defection of seven Rajya Sabha MPs—including Raghav Chadha—to the BJP just days prior. Despite the united front from the RJD and AAP, the INDIA bloc remains divided on the ground; Rahul Gandhi simultaneously launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress, accusing Banerjee’s government of “paving the way for the BJP” through corruption. With 142 seats heading to the polls on April 29, the rivalries within the opposition and the aggressive BJP push have turned Bengal into the ultimate theater of Indian politics.