
ABECA demands probe into Haldia energy's electoral bond purchases over tariff impact concerns
The SUCI (Communist)-backed body has urged the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) to examine whether the purchase of electoral bonds by Haldia Energy Limited (HEL) could result in additional financial burden on consumers.
According to the Election Commission of India's website, HEL a company under the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group purchased 395 electoral bonds worth ₹377 crore in 2019. In a letter addressed to the WBERC Chairman, ABECA alleged that it had identified several lapses in the Annual Performance Review (APR) orders of both HEL and CESC. CESC, also part of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, is the sole electricity distributor for nearly 40 lakh consumers in and around Kolkata.

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India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Bihar Is Set For Its 18th Assembly Election: From Revised Electoral Roll To Majority Run
The 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election is scheduled for October–November 2025, although the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not yet announced the official dates. The Bihar Assembly consists of a total of 243 seats, with 122 required for a majority. In recent elections, three major parties have maintained a strong presence in the state: the BJP, JD(U), and RJD. Currently, the BJP and JD(U) are part of the NDA alliance, while the opposition alliance, known as the Mahagathbandhan, includes RJD and Congress. There are also several smaller parties expected to play a significant role in the upcoming election, such as Jan Suraj and AIMIM. In preparation, ECI launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls on June 24, 2025. Voters were required to submit updated documentation by July 25, and 86 per cent of enumeration forms were submitted by mid‑July. Section 21 of the Representation of the People (RP) Act empowers the Election Commission (EC) to conduct a special revision of the electoral roll at any time, provided it records the reasons for doing so. The ECI discovered fake voters on the rolls, which triggered political controversy. The opposition is opposing the implementation of SIR while the BJP supports it. Additionally, urban and migrant voters are expected to play a pivotal role. The NDA has promised multiple benefits to win the election, including 35 per cent reservation for women in various sectors, aiming to garner support from key demographics. The Bihar Legislative Assembly has changed since its inception. After India's independence, the assembly first convened in 1952 with 331 members. Today, it comprises 243 members, known as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). From the above context answer the following question. Q: How many assembly seats does Bihar have? A: Bihar consists total of 243 seats. Q: When was the first Bihar assembly formed after independence? A: The assembly first convened in 1952 with 331 members. Q: When is the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election scheduled? A: October-November 2025 Q: How many seats are required for a majority in the Bihar Assembly? A: 122 seats. Q: Which parties are part of the NDA alliance in Bihar? A: BJP and JD(U). Q: What is the name of the opposition alliance in Bihar? A: Mahagathbandhan consists of RJD and Congress. Q: When did the ECI launch the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls? A: June 24, 2025. Q: Why did ECI launch the SIR process? A: To identify Fake voters on the rolls. Q: What percentage of reservations for women has the NDA promised? A: 35 per cent


Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘I'm listening, I'm learning': Zohran Mamdani opens up about battle with his ‘favourite' word in hilarious video
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The Print
a day ago
- The Print
Legs hacked by Left supporters, how RS entrant Sadanandan's case played out in the courts
Sadanandan, a former SFI member, was attacked by several men in January 1994, years after he left the communist party for the RSS. Sadanandan lost both his legs in the attack near Kannur district's Thalassery. The police arrested 12 people, all of them with links to the Communist party. Eight were convicted, while four were acquitted due to the lack of evidence. Nearly a decade later, Sadanandan's nomination to Rajya Sabha is a reminder of Kerala's long history of political violence and revenge murders, most of which involve the CPIM and the BJP. Thiruvananthapuram: At a rally in the run-up to the 2016 Assembly polls, Prime Minister Modi held up the hand of the BJP candidate from Kannur's Koothuparambu constituency, C. Sadanandan Master, highlighting the 'brutality committed by the communists' in the State. According to court documents, the attackers also set off a bomb to create an atmosphere of terror in the area. Analysts say that almost three decades later, the BJP is trying to use Sadanandan's Rajya Sabha entry to highlight Kerala's history of political killings, especially in Kannur district. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his life as an epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice. 'Violence and intimidation couldn't deter his spirit towards national development. His efforts as a teacher and social worker are also commendable,' the Prime Minister wrote on X. However, Joseph C. Mathew, a state-based political analyst, said: 'I don't think it's going to help the BJP in any way. They may try to create a parallel history and ideological base. They might have been victims of violence, but it was a local tussle and not for a larger cause,' Mathew said. Appeal for enhanced punishment turned down In 2014, Sadanandan approached the Kerala HC asking that the punishment for his attackers be increased, but the court turned it down in January this year, saying such an appeal could only be made by the state government. 'In light of the gravity of the offence committed, the sentence of seven years appears to be very light. However, the State, for reasons best known to them, has not filed an appeal,' the Kerala High Court observed while dismissing his appeal. However, the court enhanced the compensation payable by the eight convicted men from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 each. Pronouncing the verdict, the Kerala High Court said the accused as well as the Marxist party workers were maintaining a hostile attitude towards Sadanandan since he left the party. Quoting the trial court's judgment, the High Court noted that Sadanandan, 'a charismatic and efficient leader, was making his mark in the locality, and his efforts helped in spreading and strengthening the roots of his party in the area,' which the rival party could not accept. Of the accused, some had previously worked closely with Sadanandan in the party. The Principal Assistant Sessions Judge, Thalassery, sentenced the convicted to seven years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000. Though the convicted men approached the court challenging the verdict, their appeal was dismissed in 2013. The accused were found guilty under the charges of IPC section 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 342 (wrongful confinement), 326 (grievous hurt with dangerous weapons), and 307 (attempt to murder). 'The attack seems to have been premeditated and well planned. As noticed earlier and at the risk of repetition, it needs to be noted that not only had A1 to A8 hacked PW1 (Sadanandan) repeatedly leading to both his legs being severed, they also made sure that nobody approached PW1 to rescue/save him. This makes the offences all the more grave/severe,' the court observed. Attack and counter-attack Incidentally, Sadanandan's attack was followed by the murder of an SFI worker named K.V. Sudheesh in Kannur the same year. 'If I hadn't lost my legs, Sudheesh would not have died, that's the analysis. If you ask me if it's right, it's not when we think about humanity. But it was a normal reaction from the workers when they saw their district leader had been amputated. That might be the emotion behind Sudheesh's death,' Sadanandan later said in an interview given to local Malayalam TV channel Asianet News. As per court documents, one Janardhanan, a CPI(M) worker, was also attacked at Mattannur shortly after the attack, in which Sadanandan himself was an accused. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Kerala reported 42 political murders between 2016 and 2022. Of the total, 15 happened in 2016. Nationwide, this was the third highest after Jharkhand (92) and Bihar (85). (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: 26/11 prosecutor, ex-foreign secretary & Kerala poll violence victim: Stories of 4 Rajya Sabha nominees