Political activity in West Bengal has intensified as parties step up preparations for the upcoming elections. Amit Shah, considered the BJP’s chief election strategist, is focusing on strengthening organisational coordination and energising the party cadre. According to party sources, Shah will begin his day by meeting elected BJP representatives at a city hotel around 11:30 am.

Later in the afternoon, at around 1:45 pm, he will address party workers at the Science City Auditorium. The interaction is expected to focus on booth-level preparedness, voter outreach, and election strategy. At around 3:30 pm, Shah will visit the Kalighat Temple to seek blessings from Goddess Kali before returning to New Delhi.

Earlier, during a press conference, Shah strongly criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led government. A video from the event went viral after he asked journalists to speak calmly, saying he had enough time. However, while leaving, he remarked that questions were being “fabricated,” sparking online discussion.

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Banerjee highlighted that the Chief Minister apologised publicly within an hour of the incident. He said such accountability sets a rare example in Indian politics. He added that the incident brought embarrassment to the State because of the actions of a few individuals. He stressed that the government has no ego and accepted responsibility where negligence occurred.

Banerjee said overenthusiasm ruined the experience for genuine fans who bought tickets with hard-earned money. He assured that the government will act against everyone responsible for the chaos.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari tried to enter the stadium on Wednesday to assess damage but police stopped him. Adhikari alleged financial irregularities and demanded an independent probe under money-laundering laws. He also sought the arrest of ministers present at the event.

A Special Investigation Team visited the stadium and continued its probe. Police have arrested seven people so far. Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigned earlier, while the government issued show-cause notices to top police and administrative officials and suspended a senior officer.

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The event, meant to celebrate Messi’s presence, witnessed severe crowd mismanagement. Several areas near the stadium saw vandalism and unrest. Questions soon emerged over administrative lapses and poor coordination by authorities.

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh confirmed through a social media post that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accepted Biswas’s resignation. The move signals accountability amid growing public criticism.

The state government has also initiated action against senior officials. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant issued a press release confirming show cause notices to top police officers. These include West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar and Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh Kumar. The notices seek explanations for security and crowd control failures.

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary of the Youth Affairs and Sports Department, has also received a show cause notice. The government wants detailed reports on planning gaps and response delays.

The incident has sparked intense debate over event preparedness in the state. Opposition parties have demanded stricter action. The government maintains that corrective steps will follow after reviewing responses.

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Questions surfaced soon after the event over planning failures and administrative lapses. Opposition leaders and sections of the public blamed the sports department for poor coordination. Pressure mounted on Arup Biswas as visuals of disorder spread rapidly on social media.

Sources said the chief minister was displeased with how the event unfolded. The programme, meant to celebrate football and inspire youth, instead became a political embarrassment. The situation overshadowed the international stature of Lionel Messi’s name linked to the event.

Arup Biswas submitted his resignation amid growing outrage. Party insiders said he chose to step down to contain damage to the government’s image. Senior leaders held multiple internal discussions before the decision was finalised.

The Trinamool Congress has not officially detailed the next steps. However, the resignation signals accountability within the government. The incident has reignited debate on crowd management and large-scale event planning in the state.

The episode also highlights the risks involved when high-profile events lack strict coordination. Political observers believe the fallout may influence future governance decisions related to sports and public events in West Bengal

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Kolkata Police arrested three men for attacking the vendors at the Paanch Lokkho Konthe Gita Paath at Brigade Parade Ground on December 7. The victims, from Topsia and Arambagh, went to the venue to sell patties. The accused allegedly threw away their stock and forced them to do sit-ups while holding their ears. A viral video helped the police track down the attackers.

Speaking at a rally in Krishnanagar, Mamata Banerjee said, “This is West Bengal, not Uttar Pradesh. They beat patty sellers, and we arrested all of them last night.” She accused the BJP of using religious texts for political mobilisation and warned that such tactics aim to divide people.

She added that faith belongs in the heart, not on political stages. She urged citizens to protect Bengal’s inclusive culture and reject forces that try to stoke communal tension.

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Political tension around SIR continues to rise across the state, with frequent protests, sloganeering, and repeated chaos at the CEO’s office. Recently, TMC-backed BLO groups staged demonstrations after a BLO from Namkhana suffered a brain stroke, which the family blamed on SIR-related workload.

During a Supreme Court hearing, the Election Commission informed that district offices and the CEO office are being surrounded by protestors. The Court issued a notice to the EC, seeking details on steps taken to ensure the safety of BLOs and officials working on SIR.

The post West Bengal SIR Fraud: Forging Documents Can Now Lead to 7 Years Jail and Heavy Fine appeared first on India Podcast.

She further addressed her absence from a grand Bhagavad Gita chanting event held in Kolkata on Sunday, which drew lakhs of participants and was viewed as a major Hindu identity mobilisation before the 2026 Assembly elections. Mamata said she skipped the event because it was directly linked to the BJP.

“If the programme had been neutral, I would have attended,” she said at the airport. She added that she respects all religions but cannot participate in events where Netaji is insulted or Gandhian principles are ignored. Mamata said her values do not permit her to stand with those who show disrespect towards Bengal or Bengali culture.

The post Mamata Banerjee Attacks BJP Over ‘Vande Mataram’ Debate, Questions Party’s Respect for Netaji, Tagore and Raja Ram Mohan Roy appeared first on India Podcast.

During a ceremony marking his three years in office, Governor Bose unveiled the new name by replacing the word “Raj” with “Lok,” symbolizing a shift from colonial-era terminology to a more people-centric identity.

In his statement, Governor Bose recalled that on March 27, 2023, President Droupadi Murmu had handed over a symbolic key of Raj Bhavan to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, signifying the beginning of a “people’s Raj Bhavan.”

The new name has been implemented with immediate effect across all official premises.

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