The Supreme Court of India on Monday directed the Election Commission (EC) to freeze the electoral rolls for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections by midnight, rejecting the state government’s plea for an extension. The decision was made by a Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant to ensure the administrative timeline for the April 23 polling remains intact, despite nearly 20 lakh voters remaining excluded following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) aimed at clearing “logical discrepancies.” The court emphasized that while aggrieved individuals may still approach 19 special appellate tribunals, a definitive “line must be drawn” to facilitate the election process.
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India and senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will launch the party’s election campaign in West Bengal today from Cooch Behar.
In a major escalation ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a blistering attack on the Election Commission (EC) and the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), alleging a coordinated attempt to “import” voters and tilt the electoral balance.
Seeking to return to power for a fourth term, Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee has placed her poll strategy on three planks.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday warned that widespread use of microwaves and induction cooktops owing to the ongoing LPG cylinder shortage could trigger frequent power outages across the state and potentially the country as summer sets in and the power infrastructure is already burdened by rising consumption thanks to ACs and other cooling appliances.
A high-profile visit by President Droupadi Murmu to West Bengal has turned into a fierce political battle after she publicly criticized the state government for shifting a tribal conference to a remote venue. While PM Modi slammed the move as a deliberate insult to tribal culture, Mamata Banerjee dismissed the claims as BJP propaganda, sparking a national debate on constitutional decorum and state-centre relations.
In a surprise move, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has fast-tracked the first installment of the “Banglar Yuva Sathi” scheme, beginning direct bank transfers today, March 7, 2026. Originally set for April, the monthly ₹1,500 allowance for unemployed youth aged 21–40 aims to provide immediate financial relief for job seekers across the state
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) alleged that a high-level meeting convened to take forward the SIR process in West Bengal, as mandated by the Supreme Court, was attended by unauthorised persons, including former Chief Secretary Manoj Pant.
Senior politician and former Union railway minister Mukul Roy, once considered West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s closest aide and a key strategist of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), passed away early Monday following a cardiac arrest. He was 71.
