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Mamata Banerjee Slams Chief Election Commissioner, Calls Him ‘Arrogant and Dishonest’ After Meeting in Delhi

3Feb

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Politics, State, West Bengal

Mamata Banerjee Slams Chief Election Commissioner, Calls Him ‘Arrogant and Dishonest’ After Meeting in Delhi

Kolkata/New Delhi – February 2, 2026: Ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at the Election Commission of India headquarters in New Delhi on Monday. Accompanied by TMC leaders including National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata voiced strong criticism of the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the state. Speaking to reporters outside the EC office, Mamata said, “In my long political career, I have never seen a Chief Election Commissioner like him—so arrogant and dishonest. I have been a Union Minister four times and an MP seven times, yet I have never encountered such behavior. I told him plainly that no position is permanent. Every...

Railway Minister Announces First Bullet Train for West Bengal: Siliguri–Varanasi Journey in Under 3 Hours

3Feb

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State, West Bengal

Railway Minister Announces First Bullet Train for West Bengal: Siliguri–Varanasi Journey in Under 3 Hours

Mumbai/Kolkata – February 3, 2026: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that West Bengal will soon get its first bullet train, connecting Siliguri to Varanasi via Patna. The high-speed rail corridor was among seven new corridors unveiled during the Union Budget 2026–27 presentation by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha. Addressing the press, Vaishnaw confirmed that the bullet train on this corridor will reduce travel time from Varanasi to Siliguri to just 2 hours and 55 minutes. In the future, the high-speed rail line is expected to extend to Guwahati, strengthening connectivity across North-East India. Budget Allocation and Investments for West BengalFor the fiscal year 2026–27, the Rail Ministry has been allocated ₹2,78,000 crore, a 10.8% increase ove...

Mamata Blasts Chief Election Commissioner as ‘Arrogant and Liar’ After Meeting

3Feb

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Politics, State, West Bengal

Mamata Blasts Chief Election Commissioner as ‘Arrogant and Liar’ After Meeting

Kolkata/New Delhi – February 3, 2026: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp verbal attack on the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, following a meeting at the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in New Delhi. The meeting, which lasted over an hour, ended with Mamata walking out, citing the CEC’s arrogance and disrespect toward her delegation. Addressing the media after the meeting, Mamata said, “In my long political career, I have seen many Chief Election Commissioners, but I have never encountered one as arrogant and dishonest as him. I have been a Member of Parliament seven times and a Union Minister four times, yet I have never met a CEC like this. He is extremely arrogant and deceitful. I told him plainly—no one stays in their positio...

Tragic Accident on Vande Bharat Express: Two Young Men Die While Taking Selfie Near Tracks in Rajkot

3Feb

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Gujarat, State

Tragic Accident on Vande Bharat Express: Two Young Men Die While Taking Selfie Near Tracks in Rajkot

Rajkot, Gujarat – February 2, 2026: A shocking accident occurred near Rajkot on Monday evening when two migrant workers lost their lives while taking a selfie close to the railway tracks, as the Vande Bharat Express train passed by. Another individual was critically injured in the incident. The police confirmed that all three victims were residents of Uttar Pradesh. According to Sub-Inspector A.R. Rathod of the Aji Dam police station, the incident took place around 4:45 PM near a railway crossing between Bhaktinagar and Ribda stations, while the Veraval–Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express was speeding through the area. The three men had approached the tracks to take a group selfie when they were struck by the train. The victims, aged between 20 and 29, were working in factories in Rajkot ...

Who Will Be Mumbai’s 78th Mayor? Election Likely on February 11

3Feb

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Maharashtra, Politics, State

Who Will Be Mumbai’s 78th Mayor? Election Likely on February 11

Mumbai: The suspense over who will become Mumbai’s 78th mayor continues to grip the city. The new mayoral election is likely to take place on February 11, when all 227 elected BMC corporators will cast their votes to select the city’s next mayor. Following the mayoral election, voting for chairpersons of key committees such as Standing and Improvement Committees may take place on February 16. All 227 corporators completed their registration by Monday evening. As of last week, all parties except BJP and Shiv Sena had registered their corporators. How the Election Will Be ConductedThe mayoral election will be held in the BMC Corporation Hall, where all corporators will vote. Each party will nominate candidates based on their strength in the BMC and in accordance with reservation rules. Th...

Father Kills Daughter to Circumvent Two-Child Rule for Maharashtra Panchayat Elections

3Feb

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State, Telangana

Father Kills Daughter to Circumvent Two-Child Rule for Maharashtra Panchayat Elections

Hyderabad/Nanded: In a chilling case that has shocked both Telangana and Maharashtra, a father allegedly killed his six-year-old daughter to pursue political ambitions. The man, who has three children, wanted to contest the upcoming Maharashtra Panchayat elections. Under the state’s law, candidates with more than two children are disqualified from contesting. The CrimePandurang Kondamangale, a resident of Kerur village in Nanded, was arrested on Monday. He is accused of drowning his daughter Prachi in the Nizamsagar Canal on January 29. Prachi was one of his twin daughters; later, he had a son. Authorities allege that Kondamangale, seeking to meet his political aspirations, planned and executed the murder. Ganesh Shinde, the current Sarpanch of Kerur, was also arrested for allegedly aid...

Bulldozer Action Intensifies: BMC Clears Encroachments on Mohammed Ali Road and Surrounding Areas

3Feb

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Maharashtra, State

Bulldozer Action Intensifies: BMC Clears Encroachments on Mohammed Ali Road and Surrounding Areas

Mumbai: In a major anti-encroachment drive on Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) undertook large-scale demolition and clearance operations across Mohammed Ali Road and nearby streets in South Mumbai. Unauthorized stalls, structures, and street vendors occupying footpaths were removed to ease pedestrian and vehicular movement. Targeted Areas and LeadershipMohammed Ali Road and Ibrahim Merchant Road, two of the busiest commercial corridors connecting Bhindi Bazaar, Masjid Bandar, Byculla, Nagdevi, and Mandvi, were at the center of the operation. Unauthorized occupations on footpaths had long hindered smooth movement for pedestrians and traffic. The drive was conducted under the directions of Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. Ashwini Joshi, led by Deputy Commis...

Maharashtra Gets ₹23,926 Crore Boost in Rail Projects: Focus from Local Trains to Bullet Train

3Feb

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Maharashtra, State

Maharashtra Gets ₹23,926 Crore Boost in Rail Projects: Focus from Local Trains to Bullet Train

Mumbai: The Union Railway Budget 2026–27 has sanctioned ₹23,926 crore for Maharashtra, covering multiple projects across the state, including two high-speed rail corridors. Key initiatives include doubling the existing single-line track between Mumbai and Goa, upgrading suburban networks, expanding AC local trains, constructing new tracks, and completing the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. MUTP 3 and Local Network UpgradesUnder the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) 3, five major suburban projects are underway, receiving an allocation of approximately ₹462 crore. These include quadrupling the Virar-Dahanu track under Western Railway, developing the Panvel-Karjat corridor on Central Railway, constructing the Airoli-Kalwa elevated double line, introducing 238 AC locals with up to 12 coach...

Coastal Road Project Gains Momentum: Forest Department Clears Versova-Dahisar Route, Link Roads to Provide Faster Commute

3Feb

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Maharashtra, State

Coastal Road Project Gains Momentum: Forest Department Clears Versova-Dahisar Route, Link Roads to Provide Faster Commute

Mumbai: The long-awaited Versova-Dahisar Coastal Road project is set to accelerate, with the Forest Department granting the necessary permissions for work in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). This approval clears the way for construction to begin in sensitive areas, ensuring a smoother and faster commute along Mumbai’s western corridor. Route and DesignMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is working on a 22-km stretch between Versova and Dahisar, which will feature a combination of double-elevated roads and tunnels beneath creeks. The project will also connect to the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road, providing relief to commuters on the Western and Eastern Expressways. The entire Coastal Road project will be executed in six phases, with an estimated cost of ₹16,621 crore. BMC UpdateAccording...

Merger Between Two NCP Factions in Limbo, Sunil Tatkare Makes It Clear: ‘We Are Part of NDA’

3Feb

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Maharashtra, Politics, State

Merger Between Two NCP Factions in Limbo, Sunil Tatkare Makes It Clear: ‘We Are Part of NDA’

Mumbai: Speculation over a possible merger between Ajit Pawar’s NCP and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) has hit a dead end. Maharashtra State President Sunil Tatkare of Ajit Pawar’s NCP clarified that his party is part of the NDA, while Sharad Pawar’s faction has instructed its leaders not to make any statements regarding a merger. Merger Talks Put on HoldSunil Tatkare said that anyone discussing a merger should first clarify whether they are personally in favor of it. He emphasized that Ajit Pawar’s NCP remains committed to the NDA alliance. On the other hand, Sharad Pawar’s leaders have been directed to avoid giving comments on merger talks and to speak only after consulting senior party leadership. Merger Rumors DismissedFollowing Ajit Pawar’s tragic death in a plane crash, reports emerge...