Is the mercurial Trinamul Congress supremo, Ms Mamata Banerjee, contemplating resigning from the Union Cabinet to concentrate completely on next year’s Assembly elections in West Bengal?
Speculation has intensified about this after her party’s landslide victory in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections and its impressive showing in the civic polls across the rest of the state. She is likely to take a final call on this later this year, with the state election — which she is widely expected to win — likely to take place in early 2011.
But even if she resigns from the Manmohan Singh government, she will still remain a “trusted ally” of the Congress in the UPA for its full five-year term, and has no intention of relinquishing control over the railway ministry.
She has made it extremely clear that if she steps down, she would insist that her party retain the railway portfolio at the Centre. In her absence, either Mr Dinesh Trivedi or Mr Mukul Roy, both of whom are ministers of state at the Centre, are likely to be considered for the railway portfolio.
The sources close to Ms Banerjee said that “following criticism that she was not able to give adequate time to her ministerial duties in New Delhi, Didi intends to quit.
Showing posts with label West Bengal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label West Bengal. Show all posts
Monday, June 7, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Didi leaves Left red-faced
The Trinamul Congress inflicted a crushing defeat on the Left Front in Sunday’s civic elections across West Bengal and won a landslide victory in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, bagging 95 seats in the 141-member body. Its first-ever victory in the municipality of upscale Salt Lake came as the icing on the cake.
The Trinamul Congress also won a big chunk of the 81 municipalities across the state which went to the polls, but there was a “hung” outcome in a large number.
The Trinamul won 27 of the 81 municipalities, with the Left getting 18 and the Congress seven. The results were “hung” in 29 municipalities.
The civic polls, projected as the “semi-finals” before the elections to the state Assembly, due next year, established the Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s supremacy on the state’s polity. Describing the results as a clear mandate against the Left Front, she demanded immediate Assembly elections.
“This is a historic and revolutionary victory. It proves that the people of Bengal are impatient for change,” she said.
The Trinamul Congress also won a big chunk of the 81 municipalities across the state which went to the polls, but there was a “hung” outcome in a large number.
The Trinamul won 27 of the 81 municipalities, with the Left getting 18 and the Congress seven. The results were “hung” in 29 municipalities.
The civic polls, projected as the “semi-finals” before the elections to the state Assembly, due next year, established the Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s supremacy on the state’s polity. Describing the results as a clear mandate against the Left Front, she demanded immediate Assembly elections.
“This is a historic and revolutionary victory. It proves that the people of Bengal are impatient for change,” she said.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Bandh disrupts normal life in West Bengal, Kerala
Train services in the State were disrupted and are running 30-65 minutes late on Tuesday on account of the picketing by the LDF activists in support of the nation-wide dawn-to-dusk hartal called by 13 Opposition parties to protest against the price rise.
The bus services of the state-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation are also not plying since the hartal began at 6 a.m. Only the stay services of Attingal and Kattakada depots in the capital district operated. No untoward incident had been reported.
A KSRTC official said the services could not be operated as per schedule due to poor turnout of the drivers and conductors. “We will operate services with police protection once the staff arrive. Instructions had been given to this effect, he added.
The arrival and departure of the trains had been delayed on account of the picketing in Parasala, Thiruvananthapuram. Varkala, Kollam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam railway stations, a railway official said. Several trains were held up on account of the picketing that commenced after 6 a.m.
In Thiruvananthapuram Central, the agitators picketed the Thiruvanathapuram-Kozhikode Jan Shatabdi Express that was to depart from here at 6 a.m. The train finally left from here after a delay of 65 minutes.
However, the Parasuram Express bound for Mangalore was able to depart from here at 6.30 a.m. But, the train got stranded in Varkala due to picketing. The railways had to cancel some passenger trains, including the Kollam Passenger, on account of the stir.
Long distance commuters staying in the suburbs and far-flung areas and who had to proceed in mail and express trains later in the day were seen in the station before the hartal commenced. Those who arrived in the station in the trains were also stranded as autorickshaws and taxies are not plying. Many had to depend on two-wheelers.
PTI adds
Air and rail services were hit and normal life disrupted in the city and elsewhere in West Bengal as the 12-hour nationwide strike called by Left and some other non-BJP opposition parties to protest Centre’s “failure” to check price rise got underway.
Two train passengers were injured as a clash broke out between the passengers of Ganga Sagar Express and bandh supporters at Pandua station in Hoogly district this morning.
Abdul Razzak and Shanti Devi were injured when they along with other passengers tried to stop bandh supporters from stopping the train and putting up a banner.
The bandh shut businesses and disrupted transport services by road, rail and flight operations. Metro railways spokesperson said their services were normal.
Airport sources said ten out of 25 domestic and international flights took off this morning. While fights of Air-India, Jet Airways and Jetlite took off as scheduled in the morning, services of other private airlines were badly hit with many passengers stranded at the airport.
CPI(M)’s workers’s union CITU affiliated-Airports Authority of India Employees Union office-bearers had said that they would impose strike in the airport.
Eastern Railway spokesperson told PTI that due obstructions put up by bandh supporters at several stations, train services were disrupted at Howrah and Sealdah division.
Long-distance trains were stranded at various stations as bandh supporters sat on the railway tracks.
The streets in Kolkata wore a deserted look with state-run buses, private vehicles, taxis, auto-rickshaws remaining off the road since 6 am as the bandh began. Shops and educational institutions were closed, officials said.
Left Front Chairman Biman Bose said the bandh has been a spontaneous protest against price rise.
Leader of the Opposition and senior Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee said the Left Front government itself had failed to control price rise and take action against hoarding and black marketing in the state.
State Transport Minister Ranjit Kundu said buses and trams would run if drivers and conductors report for duty. “I cannot give any assurance. It depends on the employees and do not feel any extra arrangement needs to be made,” he said.
The SUCI(C), a Left opposition in West Bengal and Trinamool Congress poll-partner, has called a 24-hour nationwide bandh today.
Trinamool Congress, Congress and BJP have opposed the bandh.
The bus services of the state-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation are also not plying since the hartal began at 6 a.m. Only the stay services of Attingal and Kattakada depots in the capital district operated. No untoward incident had been reported.
A KSRTC official said the services could not be operated as per schedule due to poor turnout of the drivers and conductors. “We will operate services with police protection once the staff arrive. Instructions had been given to this effect, he added.
The arrival and departure of the trains had been delayed on account of the picketing in Parasala, Thiruvananthapuram. Varkala, Kollam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam railway stations, a railway official said. Several trains were held up on account of the picketing that commenced after 6 a.m.
In Thiruvananthapuram Central, the agitators picketed the Thiruvanathapuram-Kozhikode Jan Shatabdi Express that was to depart from here at 6 a.m. The train finally left from here after a delay of 65 minutes.
However, the Parasuram Express bound for Mangalore was able to depart from here at 6.30 a.m. But, the train got stranded in Varkala due to picketing. The railways had to cancel some passenger trains, including the Kollam Passenger, on account of the stir.
Long distance commuters staying in the suburbs and far-flung areas and who had to proceed in mail and express trains later in the day were seen in the station before the hartal commenced. Those who arrived in the station in the trains were also stranded as autorickshaws and taxies are not plying. Many had to depend on two-wheelers.
PTI adds
Air and rail services were hit and normal life disrupted in the city and elsewhere in West Bengal as the 12-hour nationwide strike called by Left and some other non-BJP opposition parties to protest Centre’s “failure” to check price rise got underway.
Two train passengers were injured as a clash broke out between the passengers of Ganga Sagar Express and bandh supporters at Pandua station in Hoogly district this morning.
Abdul Razzak and Shanti Devi were injured when they along with other passengers tried to stop bandh supporters from stopping the train and putting up a banner.
The bandh shut businesses and disrupted transport services by road, rail and flight operations. Metro railways spokesperson said their services were normal.
Airport sources said ten out of 25 domestic and international flights took off this morning. While fights of Air-India, Jet Airways and Jetlite took off as scheduled in the morning, services of other private airlines were badly hit with many passengers stranded at the airport.
CPI(M)’s workers’s union CITU affiliated-Airports Authority of India Employees Union office-bearers had said that they would impose strike in the airport.
Eastern Railway spokesperson told PTI that due obstructions put up by bandh supporters at several stations, train services were disrupted at Howrah and Sealdah division.
Long-distance trains were stranded at various stations as bandh supporters sat on the railway tracks.
The streets in Kolkata wore a deserted look with state-run buses, private vehicles, taxis, auto-rickshaws remaining off the road since 6 am as the bandh began. Shops and educational institutions were closed, officials said.
Left Front Chairman Biman Bose said the bandh has been a spontaneous protest against price rise.
Leader of the Opposition and senior Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee said the Left Front government itself had failed to control price rise and take action against hoarding and black marketing in the state.
State Transport Minister Ranjit Kundu said buses and trams would run if drivers and conductors report for duty. “I cannot give any assurance. It depends on the employees and do not feel any extra arrangement needs to be made,” he said.
The SUCI(C), a Left opposition in West Bengal and Trinamool Congress poll-partner, has called a 24-hour nationwide bandh today.
Trinamool Congress, Congress and BJP have opposed the bandh.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
120 killed as Nor'wester strikes Bihar, West Bengal
A sudden, violent tropical storm mauled east Bihar late on Tuesday night, killing 77 people, besides rendering thousands homeless.
Government sources said the Nor'wester, which also ripped through the North Dinajpur district in West Bengal killing 39 people there, severely hit Purnia, Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj and Supaul districts of eastern Bihar around 11 p.m. on Tuesday. According to PTI reports, four persons were killed in Dhubri district of Assam.
While officials indicated that they expected the death toll to rise due to people being buried under the debris, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said 54 people were reported to have lost their lives in the storm, which lasted about an hour.
However, latest reports gathered from the affected districts place the toll at 77, with Purnia recording the highest number of casualties (33), followed by Araria (33), Katihar (7) and two each in Kishanganj and Supaul.
Though the exact number of people rendered homeless is yet to be ascertained, authorities said the figure could run into thousands as a majority of the population in these districts resided in houses which had asbestos roof.
While unconfirmed reports stated destruction of crops in Purnia district, officials said operations were on to ascertain human casualties. Speaking to The Hindu, Purnia District Magistrate N. Shravan Kumar said the storm rendered more than 500 people homeless in the district.
The sheer ferocity of the storm caused a significant portion of the jail wall to collapse in Araria district. Six hundred odd jail inmates were transferred to the Purnia jail.
Speaking to journalists after an aerial survey of east Bihar, the Chief Minister expressed his condolences and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs.1.5 lakh for the kith and kin of the deceased.
Mr. Kumar said the administrations of the storm-affected districts had been directed to start relief operations immediately on a war-footing.
“I have already directed district officials to begin relief operations. The government will give full assistance to the families of the deceased,” he said. In addition, the affected people were also being given one quintal rice, Rs.250, and asbestos sheets to rebuild their dwellings.
Kolkata Staff Reporter writes:
At least 39 people were killed and over 100 injured when the storm wreaked havoc in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal. It is feared that the death toll may rise as reports from many remote villages are not available yet.
The Nor'wester that struck the region with a wind speed of over 120 km an hour lasted half an hour, devastating four blocks of the district and affecting more than a lakh families.
Although no alert for a storm of such magnitude was given by the Regional Meteorological Department on Tuesday, rain or thunderstorms had been predicted for the next 24 hours.
“It was a tornado that struck the region, and no warnings are given for tornadoes,” said G.C. Debnath, director of the weather section of the Department.
Huts and shanties were crushed under trees uprooted by the fierce winds. As the storm struck late in the night, several victims were asleep in their homes when their roofs caved in on them.
Several roads, including National Highway 34, were blocked by trees, impeding rescue operations. Telephone and power lines snapped, resulting in a blackout in the affected areas.
It will take about 48 to 72 hours to restore power in the affected areas, District Magistrate Ramanuj Chakrabarti told The Hindu over telephone.
“The storm also took its toll on the Kulik Bird Sanctuary [at Raiganj], but we are still assessing the extent of the damage. Fortunately, migratory birds have not yet come to the sanctuary and no birds were killed,” said Divisional Forest Officer of Raiganj Asit Sen.
The Centre has enquired about the devastation and expressed its willingness to assist the State government, Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty told journalists at the Secretariat.
The State government has released Rs.5 lakh, a metric ton of rice and 30,000 tarpaulin sheets as relief for the victims, he added.
In a written statement, Chairman of the West Bengal State Committee of the Left Front, Biman Bose, requested people to stand by the victims, irrespective of party affiliation, and aid the relief and rescue operations.
Government sources said the Nor'wester, which also ripped through the North Dinajpur district in West Bengal killing 39 people there, severely hit Purnia, Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj and Supaul districts of eastern Bihar around 11 p.m. on Tuesday. According to PTI reports, four persons were killed in Dhubri district of Assam.
While officials indicated that they expected the death toll to rise due to people being buried under the debris, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said 54 people were reported to have lost their lives in the storm, which lasted about an hour.
However, latest reports gathered from the affected districts place the toll at 77, with Purnia recording the highest number of casualties (33), followed by Araria (33), Katihar (7) and two each in Kishanganj and Supaul.
Though the exact number of people rendered homeless is yet to be ascertained, authorities said the figure could run into thousands as a majority of the population in these districts resided in houses which had asbestos roof.
While unconfirmed reports stated destruction of crops in Purnia district, officials said operations were on to ascertain human casualties. Speaking to The Hindu, Purnia District Magistrate N. Shravan Kumar said the storm rendered more than 500 people homeless in the district.
The sheer ferocity of the storm caused a significant portion of the jail wall to collapse in Araria district. Six hundred odd jail inmates were transferred to the Purnia jail.
Speaking to journalists after an aerial survey of east Bihar, the Chief Minister expressed his condolences and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs.1.5 lakh for the kith and kin of the deceased.
Mr. Kumar said the administrations of the storm-affected districts had been directed to start relief operations immediately on a war-footing.
“I have already directed district officials to begin relief operations. The government will give full assistance to the families of the deceased,” he said. In addition, the affected people were also being given one quintal rice, Rs.250, and asbestos sheets to rebuild their dwellings.
Kolkata Staff Reporter writes:
At least 39 people were killed and over 100 injured when the storm wreaked havoc in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal. It is feared that the death toll may rise as reports from many remote villages are not available yet.
The Nor'wester that struck the region with a wind speed of over 120 km an hour lasted half an hour, devastating four blocks of the district and affecting more than a lakh families.
Although no alert for a storm of such magnitude was given by the Regional Meteorological Department on Tuesday, rain or thunderstorms had been predicted for the next 24 hours.
“It was a tornado that struck the region, and no warnings are given for tornadoes,” said G.C. Debnath, director of the weather section of the Department.
Huts and shanties were crushed under trees uprooted by the fierce winds. As the storm struck late in the night, several victims were asleep in their homes when their roofs caved in on them.
Several roads, including National Highway 34, were blocked by trees, impeding rescue operations. Telephone and power lines snapped, resulting in a blackout in the affected areas.
It will take about 48 to 72 hours to restore power in the affected areas, District Magistrate Ramanuj Chakrabarti told The Hindu over telephone.
“The storm also took its toll on the Kulik Bird Sanctuary [at Raiganj], but we are still assessing the extent of the damage. Fortunately, migratory birds have not yet come to the sanctuary and no birds were killed,” said Divisional Forest Officer of Raiganj Asit Sen.
The Centre has enquired about the devastation and expressed its willingness to assist the State government, Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty told journalists at the Secretariat.
The State government has released Rs.5 lakh, a metric ton of rice and 30,000 tarpaulin sheets as relief for the victims, he added.
In a written statement, Chairman of the West Bengal State Committee of the Left Front, Biman Bose, requested people to stand by the victims, irrespective of party affiliation, and aid the relief and rescue operations.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Stephen Court fire toll rises to 34
The toll in the Stephen Court fire here on Sunday rose to 34 as one more body was found under the rubbles in the fifth floor of the fire-raged building.
Fire brigade sources said the decomposed body was recovered from under the debris in the fifth floor and it has been sent to the SSKM Hospital for postmortem.
“The charred body is beyond recognition and we cannot say even whether it is male or female,” the sources said.
Meanwhile, a family from Jharkhand has lodged a complaint with the police, saying a member of it has been missing from Tuesday, the day the fire broke out.
The family said in the complaint lodged on Saturday night that Vineet came to the city to appear in an examination at Stephen Court on that day and did not return.
Following this complaint, the number of missing persons relating to the fire rose to three.
“There is every possibility that some bodies are still there under the debris. But the condition of the bodies is very very bad. The bodies cannot be pulled out unless the entire debris is cleared,” said a senior police officer.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation workers working round the clock have to be very careful in clearing the debris and that was why it was taking so much time, a KMC official said.
“Nearly 75 per cent of the work of removing the rubble is finished and the rest will be done tonight. So there is a possibility that some bodies might be recovered tonight,” the KMC official said.
To clear the confusion regarding identification of bodies, a notice was put up at the State-run SSKM Hospital yesterday.
According to the notice, 29 bodies had been found of which 16 had been disposed off. Of the 13 remaining, DNA tests have been conducted on four and the same would be done on the remaining nine tomorrow.
Hospital superintendent D. Bhattacharya told PTI that DNA tests generally took time.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Taxis threaten indefinite strike in Kolkata
The West Bengal government on Monday turned down a demand for increasing fares of taxis, triggering protests from cab owners who threatened to call for an indefinite strike in the city.
Bengal Taxi Association President Bimal Guha said Transport Minister Ranjit Kundu turned down the demand for an increase in fares, forcing them to consider an indefinite taxi strike in the city shortly.
“The BTA, Calcutta Taxi Association and Progressive Taximen’s Union will have a joint meeting later in the day to fix the date to start an indefinite strike,” Mr. Guha said after talks with Mr. Kundu failed.
The Minister was not available for comment.
He said a hike of Rs two at all stages was demanded as diesel price had increased by Rs 2.66 per litre in the State along with rise in price of petrol.
The BTA also suggested allowing installation of an alarm system in cabs to alert the police in case of hijack. The Minister has asked them to submit a plan to the government for consideration, Mr. Guha said.
There are about 35,000 cabs in the metropolis alone.
Bengal Taxi Association President Bimal Guha said Transport Minister Ranjit Kundu turned down the demand for an increase in fares, forcing them to consider an indefinite taxi strike in the city shortly.
“The BTA, Calcutta Taxi Association and Progressive Taximen’s Union will have a joint meeting later in the day to fix the date to start an indefinite strike,” Mr. Guha said after talks with Mr. Kundu failed.
The Minister was not available for comment.
He said a hike of Rs two at all stages was demanded as diesel price had increased by Rs 2.66 per litre in the State along with rise in price of petrol.
The BTA also suggested allowing installation of an alarm system in cabs to alert the police in case of hijack. The Minister has asked them to submit a plan to the government for consideration, Mr. Guha said.
There are about 35,000 cabs in the metropolis alone.
Friday, February 12, 2010
West Bengal ex-minister Chhaya Ghosh passes away
West Bengal’s former minister and Forward Bloc leader Chhaya Ghosh died here on Friday after a prolonged illness, her family said.
She was 70 and is survived by two daughters.
The widow of a lawyer, she had been suffering from old-age related ailments since 2006 and died in a local private nursing home at 9.30 am, family members said.
Ms. Ghosh was the Minister for relief from 1991 to 1996 and for agriculture marketing department from 2001 to 2005.
A former teacher of MMC Girls School, she was inducted into the party by late Hemanta Basu and was elected to the state legislature from Murshidabad Assembly constituency in 1977.
Her relation with FB soured after she was denied a ticket for the 2006 Assembly election which led her to join the Janabadi Forward Bloc, a break away group of the FB.
Her body will be kept at the Janabadi Forward Bloc office and cremated tomorrow.
She was 70 and is survived by two daughters.
The widow of a lawyer, she had been suffering from old-age related ailments since 2006 and died in a local private nursing home at 9.30 am, family members said.
Ms. Ghosh was the Minister for relief from 1991 to 1996 and for agriculture marketing department from 2001 to 2005.
A former teacher of MMC Girls School, she was inducted into the party by late Hemanta Basu and was elected to the state legislature from Murshidabad Assembly constituency in 1977.
Her relation with FB soured after she was denied a ticket for the 2006 Assembly election which led her to join the Janabadi Forward Bloc, a break away group of the FB.
Her body will be kept at the Janabadi Forward Bloc office and cremated tomorrow.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Narayanan sworn-in West Bengal governor
Former National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan was on Sunday sworn-in as governor of West Bengal in a brief ceremony at the Raj Bhavan here.
Mr. Narayanan replaces Bihar’s Governor Devanand Konwar, who had taken on the State’s additional charge after Gopalkrishna Gandhi ended his term in December.
The former NSA was administered the oath of office by Calcutta High Court’s Chief Justice M.S. Shah at a brief function in the Raj Bhavan at 4 p.m.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, his cabinet colleagues, assembly Speaker Hasim Abdul Halim, leader of opposition Partha Chattopadhyay of the Trinamool Congress and other dignitaries attended the swearing-in ceremony.
“The programme continued for almost half an hour at the Raj Bhavan’s Throne Room,” a Raj Bhavan official said.
Mr. Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s term ended Dec 13 last year. Mr. Konwar took over the additional charge from Dec 14.
