West Bengal Assembly Elections highlights: Will join BJP if they ask me, says Suvendu Adhikari's father

Mamata Banerjee released TMC's election manifesto on Wednesday, promising special aid to students, the poor in the state and a pension of Rs 1000/month for the widows. Meanwhile, the TMC leader and father of Suvendu Adhikari, who is now with the BJP, has said that he will join the saffron party if he is asked. Elections to the 294-member assembly will be held in eight phases between March 27 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 2.

Follow all the live updates of West Bengal Assembly elections here.

EC transfers senior Bengal cop as his wife contests polls

The Election Commission on Wednesday transferred Superintendent of Police, Howrah (Rural) Saumya Roy to a non-election related post since his wife has been declared Trinamool Congress's candidate for Sonarpur Dakshin assembly seat.

The poll panel has now posted Shrihari Pandey, an IPS officer of 2011 batch, as SP, Howrah (Rural).

Bengal polls: Jhargram's elderly woman casts first vote through doorstep facility

Eighty-two-year-old Basanti Shit in West Bengal's Jhargram district was among the first to have exercised her franchise in the assembly elections through doorstep voting facility, an official said on Wednesday.

The octogenarian cast her vote from the comfort of her home on Tuesday as the Election Commission has made provision for voting through postal ballot for senior citizens above 80 years of age and persons with disability.

Will join BJP, if party asks me: Suvendu's father

Sisir Adhikari will support the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is a senior leader of the area, said son Suvendu Adhikari, who moved to BJP from TMC.

"I will support my son. If they tell me to go to PM Modi's public meeting, I will definitely go," saidSisir Adhikari, a TMC leader adding, "If they tell me to join BJP, I will do so."

Turncoats turn the tables on old-timers in Bengal polls

The ruling TMC and the opposition BJP in Bengal might be pulling out all the stops to go for each other's jugular in the assembly polls, but the rivals share something in common when it comes to their choice of candidates in several high-profile seats - turncoats over tried-and-tested leaders.

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Ram worshipped Devi Durga as she is superior to him: Mamata at poll rally

Claiming that the BJP will not allow people to chant "Jai Siya Ram" (Glory to Sita and Ram), Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that Lord Ram worshipped Goddess Durga as she is much superior to him.

Addressing the people of Jhargram and Binpur constituencies at a poll rally here in Jhargram district which has a sizeable Adivasi population, she claimed that the BJP will not allow them to take the name of 'Marang Buru', whom the Santhals consider as the supreme source of power, but they will have to chant "Jai Shri Ram" (Glory to Lord Ram). "They (BJP) are saying that you will not be able to practise your religion, you will have to chant Jai Shri Ram. But you will not be able to say Jai Siya Ram," Banerjee said.

BJP wheelchair rally in Kolkata

BJP took out a rally in the city on Wednesday with five of its members in wheelchairs apparently mocking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has taken to campaigning that way after being injured in Nandigram.

The procession moved from Rabindra Sadan to Hazra crossing, a distance of about 2.5 km, to protest against the alleged killing of about 130 BJP activists in West Bengal.

PM Modi set to address rally in Purulia, West Bengal

Rajya Sabha accepts Swapan Dasgupta's resignation

The Rajya Sabha accepted the resignation of nominated member Swapan Dasgupta on Wednesday.

Dasgupta tendered his resignation from the Upper House of Parliament on Tuesday after being named as a BJP candidate in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls.

Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh said the chairman has received Dasgupta's resignation letter dated March 16 and accepted his resignation with effect from March 17.

Mamata Banerjee reaches out to farmers in the election manifesto

• Farmers will receive Rs 10,000 under 'Krishak Bandhu' scheme.
• TMC if relected will create a task force for inclusion of Mahisyas, Tilis in the OBC list

Mamata Banerjee releases TMC election manifesto

• Mamata Banerjee says the election manifesto is for all religions and castes across the state.
• We will decrease unemployment. A total of 5 lakh new jobs will be created in the West Bengal.
• There are provisions for monetary assistance to the poor and widows in the state. A widow pension for Rs 1000/month will be provided.
• TMC wants to create a new path for the youth of Bengal.
• Student credit card for meritorious students. Will provide aid to those students who want to go abroad for studies.
• TMC also promises Rs 500 fixed income for the poor.
• Rations will be provided at the door-step.

TMC manifesto is Ma, Mati, Manush, says Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee releases Trinamool Congress' election manifesto for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls

Another police observer for assembly polls arrives in Bengal

Another police observer for the assembly elections in West Bengal Anil Kumar Sharma arrived here on Wednesday to oversee preparedness for the polls, a source at the CEO's office said.

TMC writes to EC demanding cancellation of Suvendu's nomination

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday demanded the cancellation of the nomination of BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari, who is pitted against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram, as his name also "seems to appear" in the electoral roll of Haldia constituency. This development came barely days after Adhikari, once a close aide of Banerjee, demanded cancellation of the TMC supremo's nomination from Nandigram.

I know BJP rigged two booths in the Goaltore area and won in the last Lok Sabha elections. All mothers, sisters and brothers, do not let them rig any of the booths this time, cast your vote on your own: Mamata Banerjee in Jhargram.

BJP wanted me to stay indoors before polls, they injured my leg, alleges Mamata Banerjee

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that the opposition BJP wanted her to keep indoors ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections, which apparently resulted in her injury.

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Turncoats turn the tables on old-timers in Bengal polls

The ruling TMC and the opposition BJP in Bengal might be pulling out all the stops to go for each other's jugular in the assembly polls, but the rivals share something in common when it comes to their choice of candidates in several high-profile seats - turncoats over tried-and-tested leaders.

Read more here

Don’t vote for BJP otherwise, you won't be able to follow your 'dharma'. You will have to say 'Jai Shree Ram', you will not be able to say 'Jai Siya Ram'. Lord Ram used to worship Maa Durga because she is much bigger in stature: Mamata Banerjee.

TMC government has eradicated poverty from Jhargram. On the other hand, BJP has implemented demonetisation and other laws to burden the common people: Mamata Banerjee.

Game on. You will play the game of ousting BJP from the West Bengal. Tell their leaders to go home: Mamata Banerjee.

Dada over Didi? Rajnath says BJP will hit the sixer in Bengal

Till a few weeks ago, rumours were rife that Sourav Ganguly would join BJP. The hype was great, for Ganguly is one of the biggest 'son of the soil' celebrities Bengal has borne. Many speculated that Ganguly would join BJP during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Brigade Ground rally on March 7, and he would be declared the party's chief ministerial candidate.

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Poll battle between Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikari is poetic justice: Laxman Seth

The agrarian backwaters of Nandigram in East Midnapore district has become the centre of the high octane battle for West Bengal this time but its once uncrowned king is missing from action. Laxman Chandra Seth, believed by the vast population of the area to have been the villain of the historic anti- farmland acquisition movement in 2007, is away from the cacophony of the high decibel poll campaign.

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I have been beaten up many times in my life. Earlier the CPM used to beat me up and now the BJP has started doing the same. However, the people of CPM have now become BJP. Some of the traitors, greedy people have also joined the BJP: West Bengal CM and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee.

Narendra Modi promised to vaccinate the people of Bihar after coming to power, during elections. But did they provide vaccines? No, they did not, they lied: West Bengal CM and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee. (ANI)

TMC may publish election manifesto today evening: Reports.

Abhishek Banerjee: The rise of Mamata Banerjee's nephew in Bengal politics

The upcoming West Bengal Assembly election is turning out to be one of the most fiesy competitions between ruling parties - one at the centreof Bengal and the other at the Centre of India. As both the TMC and BJP engage in fierce campaigning, one person has particularly been caught in the eye of the storm.

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Rajnath Singh slams Mamata over law & order, says BJP will play 'khela' of peace and development

Slamming the Mamata Banerjee government over alleged slide in the law and order situation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday the "khela" (game) that will be played in West Bengal after the BJP's victory in the assembly election will be that of development and peace.

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BJP, TMC lock horns over legacy of Nandigram land agitation

Fourteen years after being pitchforked into West Bengal's political history following the death of 14 people in police firing in 2007, Nandigram is now witnessing a battle over the legacy of the land agitation which catapulted the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to power in 2011 Assembly elections.

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Besides coal smuggling, Bengal is also known to be a notorious place for cow smuggling. Our mother, daughter and sisters are also smuggled into Bengal. TMC and bureaucracy do this together hence no one gets caught: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (ANI)

West Bengal Polls 2021: Modi vs Didi

Change brought by BJP compelling Mamata to visit temples, chant 'Chandi Path', says Yogi Adityanath

Taking a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that she was compelled to visit temples and recite ‘Chandi Path’ (a system of chanting Hindu religious mantras) in public after the BJP came to power at the Centre.

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Mamata Banerjee accuses Amit Shah of plotting to harass TMC leaders

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banejee on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Union Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of conspiring against the Trinamool Congress (TMC). She also sought to know whether Shah was running the Election Commission.

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Mamata left out many Hindu OBC castes out of reserved category for appeasement politics: Nadda

BJP president J P Nadda on Tuesday said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has left out several Hindu OBC castes out of the reserved category due to appeasement politics.

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BJP's war machine carpet-bombs Bengal, Mamata snipes at Amit Shah

BJP's star campaigners Tuesday carpet-bombed West Bengal with rallies, ridiculing Mamata Banerjee for her recent visit to temples and her new-found love for 'Chandi path', provoking retaliatory fire from the TMC boss who accused Home Minister Amit Shah of hatching a conspiracy against her party.

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Do not belittle institution with repeated innuendos, EC warns Mamata Banerjee

In a stern message to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Election Commission on Tuesday said that it was not proper to belittle the institution by calling it as being close to the ruling party and asserted that it would not like to be repeatedly "put in the dock" with innuendos and averments.

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