Latest news with #TMC
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
TMC MLA Humayun Kabir threatens to float new party, vows to contest 50+ seats in 2026 polls
In an act of defiance ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections , Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir threatened to form a new political outfit , if the TMC fails to "rectify" its district-level leadership in Murshidabad by August 15, a move that could shake the party's minority vote base in the region. The TMC, unfazed by the ultimatum, said Kabir has been show-caused multiple times for breaching party discipline, and he can leave anytime. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Operations Management Project Management Others Finance Healthcare healthcare Degree CXO Leadership PGDM Technology Digital Marketing Data Science Artificial Intelligence MBA Design Thinking MCA Public Policy Data Analytics Data Science others Product Management Cybersecurity Management Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details "I will wait till August 15. If there is no change or course correction in the district leadership, I have no option but to listen to the people, both Muslims and some Hindus, who are urging me to chart an alternative path," Kabir, TMC MLA from Bharatpur in Murshidabad district told reporters. He also indicated that the formation of a Muslim-majority regional party could alter equations in Murshidabad, Malda, North Dinajpur, and parts of Nadia and South Dinajpur districts. "There will not be just one Humayun Kabir, there will be many," he said, suggesting his new platform may attract disgruntled TMC elements and community leaders. Live Events Kabir, a former Congress and BJP member who has frequently courted controversy within the TMC, said his new party would officially launch on January 1, 2026, and contest 50 to 52 seats across Bengal, primarily targeting the minority-dominated belts. Issuing a sharp rebuttal, TMC state vice-president Joyprakash Majumdar dismissed the "August 15 deadline" as a stunt. "If he wants to float a new party, no one is stopping him. But first, he must resign. The party doesn't care for self-imposed deadlines. He can leave tomorrow if he wants," Majumdar said, adding that Kabir had already been show-caused multiple times and warned for breaching party discipline. "A party has rules. If you want to stay, follow them. Otherwise, the road is open," Majumdar said pointedly. Kabir, however, appeared unshaken. "If I am forced to do this, I will not only win my seat, but several of my colleagues will also win. And when we do, we will negotiate with Mamata Banerjee from a position of strength," he said, hinting at post-poll bargaining in case of a fractured mandate in 2026. Kabir's rebellion has drawn sharp reactions from the opposition. "He has no credibility. He has made tall claims before and done nothing. His effigies are being burnt in his own constituency. TMC workers are throwing shoes at his posters. Let him act first, then we'll talk," BJP leader Rahul Sinha said. Sujan Chakraborty, CPI(M) central committee member, also ridiculed Kabir's political flip-flops. "He has been in Congress, then BJP, then TMC, back to Congress, and again TMC. Now he's talking about a new party? This is not politics, it's opportunistic deal-making," Chakraborty said. "He says he is with Mamata Banerjee and also Abhishek Banerjee . So, if he is with both, then who is he rebelling against? This is just bargaining before ticket distribution," Chakraborty quipped. Kabir's latest salvo comes at a time when Mamata Banerjee is working to consolidate her minority vote base amid growing discontent and visible cracks in the TMC's organisational structure in north Bengal. Murshidabad, Malda and parts of Dinajpur account for a large chunk of Muslim voters, often seen as the TMC's reliable electoral base. A breakaway faction led by a prominent Muslim leader could create vote splits in multi-cornered contests, especially if the BJP and the Left-Congress alliance manage to retain their footholds. Kabir, however, clarified he has "no personal animosity" toward Mamata Banerjee or Abhishek Banerjee. "My fight is with the district-level leaders who are corrupt and autocratic," he said, echoing the complaints of several disgruntled leaders within the party's lower rungs. Political observers say Kabir's gambit is a high-risk, high-return strategy. His ability to wean away TMC votes depends largely on his organisational muscle in Murshidabad and whether his proposed platform can gain traction beyond local discontent. However, his checkered past, shifting loyalties between Congress, BJP, and TMC, may work against him, as critics label him untrustworthy and politically restless.
United News of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Trinamool welcomes stay order on eviction of Bengali-speaking people from Delhi colony
Kolkata, July 24 (UNI) West Bengal ruling Trinamool Congress today welcomed the Patiala House Court's stay order on eviction of Bengali-speaking people from Delhi's Jai Hind Colony, saying it was a significant step forward for the ongoing fight for justice. "The eviction of Bengalis in Jai Hind Colony of Delhi's Vasant Kunj has been stayed by the Patiala House Court, marking a significant step forward in our ongoing fight for justice," TMC said in a statement. "This is a direct and decisive response to the continued targeting of Bengali-speaking citizens by the Modi-led government," the All India Trinamool Congress said in a statement. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently accused the BJP of unleashing 'linguistic terrorism' on Bengalis, asserting that the fight for identity and language would continue until the saffron party is defeated. She said the Bengali-speaking people have been harassed in the name of identifying illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in different parts of India, particularly in the BJP-led NDA-ruled states. " Under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, we reaffirm our stand: every Bengali will be protected, and every act of injustice will be resisted. This is just the beginning. Our fight for dignity, recognition, and justice for Bengali-speaking Indians will continue with full force. Joy Bangla!" the TMC statement said after the Delhi court stayed eviction of people from Jai Hind Colony today. The TMC also said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar was a sinister attempt to disenfranchise millions, especially the poor and vulnerable people of the country. "This is NRC by stealth, a back door citizenship verification drive masquerading as voter list update. With the ECI acting as a willing enabler, the BJP is plotting to redraw the voter base in its favour," the TMC alleged. "We will oppose every attempt to undermine democracy and strip rightful Indian citizens of their voice and vote. The cornerstone of any functioning democracy is the conduct of free and fair elections," the party said. UNI PC PRS
News18
4 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Courts overflooded: Delhi HC asks Lakshmi Puri, Saket Gokhale to resolve row
New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) In the defamation case filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri against TMC MP Saket Gokhale, the Delhi High Court on Thursday urged them to settle the issue saying 'courts are overflooded". A bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar proposed a meeting to settle the matter after noting that Gokhle tendered an apology, which was accepted by Puri. 'You're in public life, respected public figures. If both parties can see sit together and try to resolve the dispute. Please take into consideration court are already overflooded," the bench said. The court was dealing with Gokhale's appeal against a single judge's July 1, 2024 verdict restraining the TMC leader from publishing further on social media or any online platform against Puri. The single judge directed him to apologise to her and pay Rs 50 lakh in damages. The bench on Thursday noted that besides apology, property had also been attached in regard to the payment. 'Attachment to continue," the bench said. Both senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing Puri, and senior advocate Amit Sibal, appearing for Gokhale, told the bench that they will talk to their clients and consider court's proposal of settlement. PTI UK AMK AMK view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 13:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
INDIA bloc MPs protest in Parliament complex against SIR in Bihar
NEW DELHI: Several MPs of the INDIA bloc parties, including Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, protested in Parliament House complex on Thursday against the Election Commission's voter roll revision in Bihar and demanded its rollback as well as a discussion on the issue in both houses. Ahead of the start of the day's proceedings, top leaders and MPs of the opposition, including those of the Congress, DMK, TMC, Samajwadi Party, JMM, RJD and Left parties, assembled outside the Makar Dwar of Parliament and raised slogans against the government and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls Top leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Congress general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal, Samajwadi Party's Ziaur Rahman Barq, TMC's Kirti Azad, DMK's A Raja, besides others, raised slogans like "Save democracy" and "Stop vote-bandi." There was a huge banner in front of them that read 'SIR - Loktantra par Vaar' as they lined up on the steps of the Makar Dwar of Parliament and staged a protest for the third consecutive day. The opposition has been protesting in both houses of Parliament against the SIR, alleging the EC's exercise was aimed at disenfranchising voters in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections.
India Today
7 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Dugga Dugga: BJP, Trinamool battle for Bengal's presiding deity Durga
After years of invoking "Ram" in West Bengal, the BJP has swiftly shifted to chants of "Jai Maa Kali" and "Jai Maa Durga". Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the TMC supremo once targeted with "Ram slogans", has mega-plans around Durga. The presiding deity of Bengal has now turned the 'Dugga Dugga' chant into a means of political counterattack ahead of the Assembly election in West Bengal in announcement this week to set up a "Durga Angan", a courtyard dedicated to the goddess, in Bengal, similar to the Jagannath temple she inaugurated in Digha in April, has sparked a political storm. The BJP has called the move "unconstitutional", claiming that Mamata was trying to promote religion with taxpayer West Bengal inching closer to the 2026 Assembly polls, the tussle over religious and cultural symbolism is hotting up. The BJP, which has long accused the TMC of Muslim appeasement, now claims the party's moves are a political ploy to counter its influence among Bengal's religious DITCHED 'JAI SHRI RAM' FOR 'JAI MAA DURGA' IN BENGAL RALLY That the BJP was realigning from "Jai Shri Ram" to "Jai Maa Durga" and "Jai Maa Kali" was evident during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in West Bengal's Durgapur on July began his address with chants of "Jai Maa Durga" and played up his commitment to Bengali pride."For the BJP, Bengali 'ashmita' (pride) is supreme. Wherever there is a BJP government, Bengalis are respected," PM Modi was quoted as saying by news agency PTI."We will not allow this conspiracy against Bengali 'ashmita' to succeed. The BJP is the only party that truly respects it," Modi BJP's embrace of goddess Durga is being viewed as a strategic move to align with Bengal's cultural and religious sentiments. Deities like Durga and Kali command immense reverence in the eastern see this shift in narrative as a reaction to the party's repeated Assembly poll setbacks in the the 2021 Assembly polls, where the TMC won 215 of 292 seats with 48.02% votes, the BJP could just manage 77 seats even with 37.97%, after claiming that it would bag a the 2024 Lok Sabha poll too, the BJP faced a similar TO SET UP DURGA ANGAN, FOR ROUND-THE-YEAR CELEBRATIONDays after Modi's address in Durgapur and BJP leaders echoing the tone, Mamata Banerjee countered the emerging narrative during the TMC's Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata on July the grand plan for the 'Durga Angan', Mamata questioned the BJP's sudden devotion to the deity, saying, "Why is it that you suddenly start remembering Ma Kali and Ma Durga only during the elections? Ma Durga is our revered goddess, and Durga Puja has even received international recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage [from Unesco]"."Now listen, just as we developed Jagannath Dham, we will create 'Durga Angan' so that people can visit and experience it throughout the year," she Mamata Banerjee didn't share other details about the proposed 'Durga Angan', a Trinamool source said she had long considered setting it up near Kolkata. The space is expected to serve as an open-air museum showcasing Durga Puja idols, traditions, and Bengal's festive heritage, reported Kolkata-based English daily, The SLAMS DURGA ANGAN' OVER USE OF PUBLIC FUNDSSuvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, labelled it a violation of constitutional norms, reported news agency PTI."No religious institution, temple, mosque, church, or gurudwara, can be built using taxpayers' money," he said, accusing Mamata Banerjee of misusing public funds to woo Hindu voters traditionally perceived to be aligned with the hasn't read the Constitution, nor does she understand her own religion," Adhikari further claimed, framing the project as a desperate electoral BJP's in its criticism latched on to its broader narrative of accusing the TMC of "minority appeasement" while now attempting to reclaim Hindu voters. This follows the BJP going for a leadership overhaul in the state, appointing Samik Bhattacharya as state president, who has shown signs of slight policy divergence by speaking to Muslims and the Communists of CALLS 'DURGA ANGAN' A SYMBOL OF CULTURAL PRIDE, NOT RELIGIOUS OVERREACHTMC leaders have defended Mamata's 'Durga Angan' proposal as a celebration of Bengal's cultural heritage, not a religious overreach."She [Mamata Banerjee] organises the annual Durga Puja Carnival. Does that not count? BJP mocks Jagannath Dham as a 'theme park' and now questions her faith, people will judge them,"TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta was quoted as saying by The Times of TMC has argued that the project reinforces Bengali identity, countering the BJP's narrative of minority West Bengal gearing up for the 2026 Assembly polls, the battle with Durga at the centre reflects a contest for both cultural appropriation and electoral supremacy. The BJP turned to the presiding deity while vowing to oust the TMC, and Mamata proposed the 'Durga Angan' while predicting a two-thirds majority for her signals that the stage is set for a high-stakes contest next year.- EndsMust Watch
