Trinamool Congress (TMC) | Business Upturn

Ration Scam: ED arrests TMC minister Jyotipriya Mallick in money laundering case

Shreyansh Raghuvanshi — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 21:14:36 +0000

On Friday, the central probe agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested the Trinamool Congress leader and cabinet minister in the state government, Jyotipriya Mallick in the alleged Ration Scam case for doing money laundering. ED has accused Jyotipriya Mallick of doing corruption in the process of ration distribution.

“I am the victim of a grave conspiracy,” said TMC minister over corruption allegations.

#WATCH | Kolkata: West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick has been arrested by ED in connection with an alleged case of corruption in rationing distribution.

He says, "I am the victim of a grave conspiracy." pic.twitter.com/gARyddVT41

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2023

The search began early on Thursday at around 7:30 am following which the arrest of the minister was made on Friday.

Reacting to ED’s action, TMC General Secretary Kunal Ghosh told news agency PTI: “We are going to start our agitation again once it is announced by Abhishek Banerjee. So, to divert the issue, the BJP is totally politically motivated, they have arrested Jyotipriya Mallick by misusing the agencies.”

VIDEO | "We are going to start our agitation again once it is announced by Abhishek Banerjee. So, to divert the issue, the BJP is totally politically motivated, they have arrested Jyotipriya Mallick by misusing the agencies," says TMC General Secretary Kunal Ghosh as ED arrests… pic.twitter.com/3mnNzPf439

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 27, 2023

The TMC has accused BJP of “weaponising ED-CBI”.

“@BJP4Bengal is residing in a hoax paradise to assume their growing relevance in North 24 Parganas by weaponizing ED-CBI to arrest Jyotipriya Mallick. Their deplorable tactic to interfere and attack the non BJP ruling states and misuse Central Investigating teams will be strongly revenged by the people of Bengal in 2024 elections,” said TMC in a social media post on X (formerly Twitter).

Cash For Query Row: BJP on attack mode as TMC keeps silence on Mahua Moitra

Shreyansh Raghuvanshi — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 17:03:51 +0000

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra currently jostling amid the Cash For Query, brings BJP to attack the party over the statement issued by TMC spokesperson and West Bengal general secretary Kunal Ghosh. He said: “No comments. Regarding this issue, the All India Trinamool Congress will not say a word. We have nothing to say. The person (Ms Moitra) may explain or answer the issue. We are observing the issue and gathering information, but we don’t want to comment now,” said ANI.

#WATCH | West Bengal | Allegations of bribery against TMC MP Mahua Moitra: TMC State General Secretary Kunal Ghosh says, "…No comments…Regarding this issue, the TMC will not say anything… The related person may answer this, not the TMC party…" pic.twitter.com/uIqFZSeDE1

— ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2023

Soon, the BJP’s National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla throws out several questions to the party. He asked on X, “TMC’s official stand on Mahua Moitra is that “We won’t comment. Said MP will defend herself”. Does it mean 1) TMC accepts Mahua Moitra has made serious breaches including giving her log in to be operated from foreign soil by a rival corporate entity in exchange for kickbacks? 2) If so, then why is TMC still retaining her rather than sacking her? 3) Is the TMC afraid of taking this action because the party itself has something to hide? Perhaps people in the party knew or endorsed it?”.

TMC’s official stand on Mahua Moitra is that “We won’t comment. Said MP will defend herself”

Does it mean

1)TMC accepts Mahua Moitra has made serious breaches including giving her log in to be operated from foreign soil by a rival corporate entity in exchange for kickbacks ?…

— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) October 22, 2023

After Poonawalla, BJP’s National IT Cell Head Amit Malviya also lashed out at Mamata Banerjee’s party and wrote on X, “It is not surprising that Mamata Banerjee has abandoned Mahua Moitra. She will defend no one else but Abhishek Banerjee, who is no less delinquent. Several TMC leaders are in jail on serious corruption and criminal charges but Mamata Banerjee has maintained radio silence.”

It is not surprising that Mamata Banerjee has abandoned Mahua Moitra. She will defend no one else but Abhishek Banerjee, who is no less delinquent… Several TMC leaders are in jail on serious corruption and criminal charges but Mamata Banerjee has maintained radio silence.

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) October 21, 2023

TMC MP Mahua Moitra is accused of taking luxury items along with gifts from Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani citing the submitted affidavit. She also gave him her parliament login credentials, said the affidavit. All these started soon after frequent questions made by her against Gautam Adani.

ED summons TMC National General Secretary Abhishek on Oct 9

United News of India (UNI) — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:19:33 +0000

Kolkata, Oct 4 : The Enforcement Directorate, probing the alleged teachers’ recruitment irregularities in the West Bengal government sponsored schools across the state, on Wednesday freshly summoned Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, asking him to attend before its investigation officials on October 9, official sources said.

Banerjee, who was summoned to appear on Tuesday (October 3) at the ED’s CGO Complex office, skipped the date as the Diamond Harbour MP was leading the party’s agitational programmes in New Delhi to protest the alleged Central government blockade of 100 days job funds and other centre assisted schemes for Bengal.

Banerjee’s counsels on Tuesday moved a division bench of Calcutta high court against its single bench order asking the ED not to hamper the probe in view of Banerjee’s reported statement to skip Tuesday’s summon and he would be in New Delhi on October 2 and 3.

The division bench headed by justice Soumen Sen and justice Uday Kumar had asked Banerjee’s advocate Kishore Dutta if his client (Banerjee) had informed the ED officially whether he would not be able to attend the summon because of his political programs, court sources said.

” The judges told the Banerjee’s counsel that his client could have informed the ED officially and give another date for his appearance,” the sources added.

Accordingly the ED called Banerjee to appear before its investigation officials on October 9 with relevant documents and the central probe agency would submit its report before Calcutta High court on the following day (October 10).

Banerjee has been asked to appear on October 9 at 11 am at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake. Another source said the ED also sent summon notice to Banerjee’s wife Rujira Banerjee to appear on October 11.

The ED also summoned Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee ‘s parents — Amit Banerjee and Lata Banerjee — for questioning in connection with its investigation into the alleged school jobs on October 6 and 7 respectively.

The parents and wife of Banerjee are said to be directors of the Leaps and Bounds Pvt Ltd, which is under the scanner of the agency. Calcutta High Court’s single bench judge Justice Amrita Sinha in an order last week had directed the ED to submit the income reports and documents of all the directors of the Leaps and Bounds Pvt Ltd in which the TMC GS is the CEO, sources added.

CBI raids house of Trinamool MLA Tapas Saha

United News of India (UNI) — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 13:55:55 +0000

Kolkata, April 21: Within four days of Calcutta High Court order for a CBI inquiry, the Central Agency team on Friday raided the house of Trinamool Congress legislator Tapas Saha in connection with the cash-for-jobs scandal in the education sector in West Bengal.

CBI also raided the party office adjacent to Saha’s house.

On Tuesday Judge Rajashekhar Mantha pronounced the order for the CBI probe and also ordered immediate handover of the case to the CBI from police.

It may be mentioned that earlier three Trinamool Congress MLAs were arrested in connection with the scandal.

Party sources claim TMC to challenge ECI’s decision to withdraw “National Party” status

Sakshi Vats — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 17:20:16 +0000

The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) is exploring legal options to challenge the decision of ECI of withdrawing the national party status of TMC as claimed by Party Sources.

Earlier, the CPI, NCP, and Trinamool Congress of Mamata Banerjee have had their national party status revoked by the Election Commission (EC). Following its performance in Gujarat, when it secured five seats, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party was given the tag.

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh, Revolutionary Socialist Party in West Bengal, and Voice of the People Party in Meghalaya have also had their state party status revoked by the commission. Based on a set of criteria, the EC recognizes political parties as national parties.

For a general election for the Lok Sabha or the State Legislative Assembly, the party must receive at least 6% of the valid votes cast in any four or more states. Any state or states must give the party at least 4 seats in the Lok Sabha. The party must win at least 11 seats from at least three different states, or 2% of the total seats available in the Lok Parliament. At least four states must recognise the party as a state party.

TMC MP Saugata Roy stated while reacting to the move by the EC. “Trinamool Congress has overcome many obstacles, we will overcome this too. We will continue to do what we have to do, it will not make any difference.”

Election Commission of India recognises AAP as ‘National Party’; NCP, CPI & Trinamool Congress lose status

Sakshi Vats — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 16:22:55 +0000

The All India Trinamool Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Communist Party of India (CPI) all lost their national party status on Monday, while the Aam Aadmi Party acquired it.

RLD in Uttar Pradesh, BRS in Andhra Pradesh, PDA in Manipur, PMK in Pondicherry, RSP in West Bengal, and MPC in Mizoram all had their state party status revoked by the Commission in a Monday order.

The AAP has been recognized as a national party, according to the Commission, based on its election performance in the states of Delhi, Goa, Punjab, and Gujarat.

The NCP, CPI, and Trinamool Congress’ status as national political parties would be revoked, according to the poll panel.

National parties today include the BJP, Congress, CPI(M), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), National People’s Party (NPP), and AAP.

According to the Commission, the Trinamool Congress and NCP will be recognised as state parties in Meghalaya and Nagaland, respectively, on the basus of their performance from the recently concluded assembly elections.

Also, it gave the Voice of the People Party in Meghalaya, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) in Nagaland, and the Tipra Motha in Tripura the status of “recognised state political party.”

Asansol Municipal By-Polls: BJP and TMC workers clash

Pranay Maniar — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 07:25:58 +0000

The by-polls for the Asansol Municipal elections started today early morning amid a heavy security arrangement.

These by-polls will decide Mayor Bidhan Upadhyay’s fate in the City. Bidhan Upadhyay is the Trinamool Congress candidate and will be contesting from Ward 6 of the city.

Upadhyay along with party leaders and workers had marched from Asansol’s BNR (Bengal Nagpur Railway) to the Sub-Divisional Ruler’s office on the day he submitted his nomination. Along with him were – Jamuriya MLA Hareram Singh and all Trinamool district leaders.

Speaking about the by-election, Bidhan Upadhyay told ETV Bharat, “BJP is also playing games. But they have no issues. Our agenda is development. People have seen development, so people will vote for Mamata Banerjee.”

However, this election too was marred with violence between the workers and supporters of the TMC and BJP despite prior heavy security arrangements.

BJP MLA Laxman Ghorui alleged, “We had come to see whether polling was going on peacefully or not, but TMC supporters attacked us. TMC is rigging votes being cast.”

When asked about the Partha Chatterjee controversy, he said, “He will not have any influence on this vote. It is a legal matter. It will follow the law.”

Today, 21st August, two municipal wards, West Burdwan and North 24-Parganas district which include ward 6 under Asansol Municipal Corporation (AMC) and ward 14 under Bongaon municipality will undergo by_polls.

TMC workers detained outside Eknath Shinde’s Radisson Blu camp

United News of India (UNI) — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 07:56:53 +0000

Guwahati, June 23: Several TMC members and workers of the Assam unit led by state president Ripun Bora were detained for staging a protest outside Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati where rebel Maharashtra MLAs, including Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde, are staying.

They have accused the BJP of hosting the ‘sale’ of MLAs amid Assam floods.

The protest was led by TMC’s state president Ripun Bora. Assam cops have removed Ripun Bora from the protest site outside Radisson Blu along with other TMC protesters.

Bora blamed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for facilitating dissidents. From Maharashtra when people were dying in the devastating floods in Assam.

Earlier in the day, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi. Also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the PM should visit the state and announce a special package.

He said that the PM is busy toppling the Maharashtra government and. Also with the Gujarat elections at a time when floods have hit the state.

(Except for the headline. This story has not been edited by Business Upturn staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

CBI summons TMC MLA Paresh Pal for questioning in BJP leader lynching case

United News of India (UNI) — Tue, 17 May 2022 06:19:24 +0000

Kolkata, May 17: The Central Bureau of Investigation, probing the post poll murder and rape cases across West Bengal. Has summoned state ruling Trinamool Congress legislator Paresh Pal to appear in its CGO Complex, Salt Lake, on Wednesday. In the alleged lynching of BJP’s labor wing leader Abhijit Sarkar. Who was brutally murdered on May 2, hours after state assembly poll results were declared in 2021.

Seventy-four-year-old lawmaker representing the Beliaghata assembly seat in the eastern part of the city. Has been asked to appear at the CGO complex at 11 am before its probing officials on Wednesday. “Pal has been served a notice to appear. Before our officers in Calcutta on Wednesday for questioning in connection with the murder of Abhijit Sarkar”. The sources added. The CBI has been probing the murder and rapes cases in the post-poll violence following a Calcutta High court directive.

The miscreants allegedly dragged the 35-year-old BJP leader out of his Kankurgachhi home. And beat him with sticks and vandalized Sarkar’s home . Abhijit later succumbed to his injuries at a city hospital two week later. Pal did not figure in the CBI charge sheet. That named 20 persons. And some of them have been arrested by the federal probe agency. However, Biswajit Sarkar and one of the colleagues recently sat on a hunger strike at the CGO complex. Claiming the probe was moving at a snail pace. And the Beliaghata MLA was one of the masterminds in his brother’s death.

Babul Supriyo took oath as TMC MLA in Bengal Assembly

United News of India (UNI) — Wed, 11 May 2022 10:02:37 +0000

Kolkata, May 11: Ruling Trinamool Congress winner from Ballygunge Babul Supriyo was sworn in as MLA on Wednesday. Deputy Speaker of the state assembly Ashish Bandyopadhyay administered the oath of office to him at Naushar Ali’s chamber on Wednesday. After taking oath, the MLA of Ballygunge said, “I started working as MLA a long time ago. In the afternoon there is a program in my ward . Let’s go there. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter. I will follow the instructions of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Thanks to him for giving me the opportunity to work. ”

Assembly Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay did not attend his swearing-in ceremony. He was in his house during the swearing-in ceremony. Trinamool state president Subrata Boxi, secretary general Fisheries Akhil Giri, state minister Sandhya Rani Tudu, chief whip Nirmal Ghosh and deputy chief whip Tapas Roy and Rasbihari MLA and South Kolkata district chief were present on the occasion. Incidentally, Babul defeated Left Front candidate Saira Halim by 20,036 votes in the April 16 BallygungeAssembly by-election. From then on, his swearing in was delayed for one reason after another. With the parliamentary office seeking permission from Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for Babul’s swearing-in, he called the government accountable for the bill stuck. As a result, the oath of Ballygunge is stuck.

Bengal by-polls: Trinamool ahead in both Asansol LS and Ballygunge Assembly

United News of India (UNI) — Sat, 16 Apr 2022 07:22:50 +0000

Kolkata, April 16: West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress has taken an unassailable lead in both Asansol Lok Sabha. And Ballygunge Assembly constituencies as in Asansol, yesteryear’s noted Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha. Who is contesting on the Trinamool Congress symbol, is leading over his nearest rival Agnimitra Paul of BJP by over 1,35,000 votes. And in Ballygunge, Babul Supriyo in the fray as Trinamool candidate is leading. By more than 12,000 votes over CPI-M’s Saira Shah Halim. In the Lok Sabha polls around three years back, BJP’s Babul Supriyo won the Asansol LS seat by a 1,97,637 margin. Over then Trinamool nominee actress Moon Moon Sen.

The by-polls were necessitated as Supriyo resigned from the seat last October after joining the Trinamool. In Ballygunge, Supriyo – in the fray as Trinamool candidate is leading by more than 12,000 votes. Over, CPI-M’s Saira Shah Halim. Congress nominee Kamruzzaman Choudhury was in third place. While BJP’s Keya Ghosh was far behind in the fourth position. The seat fell vacant after Trinamool Congress MLA and veteran state minister Subrata Mukherjee passed away last November. Around 66.42 per cent and 41.23 per cent polling were registered in the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency. And the Ballygunje Assembly seats respectively on April 12.

Goa Trinamool Congress General Secretary Vijay Pai resigns

United News of India (UNI) — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 07:24:58 +0000

Panaji, March 25 (UNI) Goa Trinamool Congress general secretary Vijay Resigned from the post as well as from the primary membership of the party on Friday. ”I hereby tender my resignation from the primary membership as well as that of the General Secretary of the Goa Trinamool Congress (TMC) with immediate effect,” Mr Pai said in the resignation letter addressed to party state president Kiran Kanodlkar.

It is first resignation of a party leader after its abysmal performance in the assembly elections held last month. TMC had contested the assembly elections in alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) but could not win a single seat. The MGP which won two seats have extended support to the BJP which has claimed to form the government. Pai is one of the founding members of TMC in Goa. Other founding members like Yatish Naik and Lavu Mamledar had quit the party before the assembly elections. Mamledar had accused TMC of dividing Goans on religious lines.

West Bengal by-polls: TMC local leader held for bombing incident in Samserganj, Polling commences across three constituencies

Ayisha Farah — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:42:40 +0000

Regional TMC leader Anarul Haque has been held in connection with the bombing incident that took place this morning ahead of polling.
Bombs were thrown in West Bengal’s Samserganj hours before the commencement of voting for the by-polls in the assembly segment at 7 AM on Thursday. Currently, Polls are initiated at Samserganj and two other assembly constituencies in West Bengal and another in Odisha, Pipili.

Bypolls are carried out on Thursday in three assembly constituencies in West Bengal – Bhabanipur, Samserganj, and Jangipur, and one more in Odisha, Pipili. The pressure is on the Bhabanipur by-polls, which will determine Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee’s destiny as a Chief Minister of WB. According to the schedule published by the Election Commission this month, the approximately 12-hour process of polling started across the assembly divisions at 7 AM on September 30th. The votes of all these seats will be counted on October 3rd.

Why is the Bhabanipur by-polls being held?

Although the Trinamool Congress party was victorious during the assembly elections with a majority earlier this year and formed a government for the third continuous time in West Bengal, CM Mamata Banerjee lost against Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Suvendu Adhikari, in a contest from the assembly constituency of Nandigram.
However, Banerjee still became the CM, upon a condition that she will have to win the state assembly within a six-month period.
Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, agriculture minister of WB, later left his Bhabanipur seat, demanding the elections to enable the party leader to contest from her home. Certainly, Mamata Banerjee is at ease in Bhabanipur, a constituency she had won twice previously in the 2016 and 2011 elections.

West Bengal extends its COVID-19 restrictions till August 15, night curfew remains the same

Nishita Sharma — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 07:26:25 +0000

Mamata Banerjee, who is the leader of the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, announced on Thursday the extension on the restrictions necessitated to contain the coronavirus disease in the state till August 15.

All government programs have been allowed to continue indoors with a 50 percent seating capacity, while the statewide night curfew between 9 pm and 5 am continues, as per the revised guidelines issued by the West Bengal government.

As per the government orders, the operations of intra-state trains will remain suspended.

The night curfew will remain to continue in West Bengal as per previous orders. All outdoor activities, including the movement of people and vehicles, shall be strictly prohibited between 9 pm to 5 am, except for health services, law, and order, essential commodities including agricultural products, and other emergency services.

The Covid-19 lockdown in West Bengal was extended till August 15 after a review of the current Covid-19 pandemic situation in the state, read the order issued by the state secretariat, Nabanna.

The Bengal government asked all the district administrations, police commissioners, and local authorities to ensure strict compliance with the stated directives. Any violation of the restriction’s measures will be liable for proceedings as per provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and under the Indian Penal Code, the government order warned.

The extension of restrictions has been extended as the daily count of infection rose to 815 on Wednesday after remaining below the 700-mark for two consecutive days.

Bengal Election Result 2021: “Mamata Banerjee will be CM for the 3rd time,” says TMC leader Firhad Hakim

Shreejit Shelar — Sun, 02 May 2021 08:50:39 +0000

The counting of votes for West Bengal’s assembly elections is currently underway and the Trinamool Congress is currently leading the state’s poll results. While counting of votes is yet to witness the conclusion, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Firhad Hakim, issued a statement over Mamata Banerjee’s lead in the election results and asserted that she will be the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the third time.

Speaking to the news agency ANI, Mr Hakim maintained that BJP tried their best to crack but they didn’t succeed. The former mayor of Kolkata also pointed out that TMC will emerge victorious in the assembly elections as the Left has vanished owing to their wrong policies.

“I was always telling the press that Mamata Banerjee will be CM for the 3rd time. BJP tried their best to crack but they didn’t succeed. The Left has now vanished from West Bengal due to their wrong policy of taking a communal force against a communal force”, TMC leader Firhad Hakim told news agency ANI on Sunday.

I was always telling the press that Mamata Banerjee will be CM for the 3rd time. BJP tried their best to crack but they didn't succeed. The Left has now vanished from West Bengal due to their wrong policy of taking a communal force against a communal force: Firhad Hakim, TMC pic.twitter.com/PsOljW8875

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2021

He pointed out TMC is fighting against a communal force and mentioned that the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) is committed to secularism, committed to development. Speaking to ANI, Firhad Hakim highlighted that the party is committed to bringing the people together.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the party cannot fight a communal battle against a communal force.

“You’ve to be secular in fight against a communal force. That was done by TMC. We’re committed to secularism, committed to development. We’re committed to bringing the people together. We can’t fight a communal battle against a communal force”, TMC’s Firhad Hakim added.

You've to be secular in fight against a communal force. That was done by TMC. We're committed to secularism, committed to development. We're committed to bringing the people together. We can't fight a communal battle against a communal force: Firhad Hakim, TMC #WestBengalPolls

— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2021

According to the recent media reports, Hakim, after the sixth round of counting, is leading ahead of his nearest rival, BJP’s Awadh Kishore Gupta, by 33,071 votes in the Kolkata Port constituency.