TMC protests against Centre over demonetisation, Bandyopadhyay's arrest

BJP MLA and West Bengal Assembly Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday expressed confidence that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) would be defeated in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.

In an 'X' post, TMC said the government has "ek hi naara, line mein rahe desh bechara," pointing to past governmental measures including demonetisation, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the Special Identification Registration (SIR), and now the LPG shortage. The party described demonetisation as a "Tughlaqi farman" that forced ordinary citizens to wait in serpentine queues outside banks and ATMs for days to access their own money. The post also highlighted the 2020 COVID-19 oxygen crisis, when families stood in long lines outside hospitals and suppliers as the public health system collapsed.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice on a petition challenging orders that prohibit public meetings and protests within the Delhi University campus. The court has sought responses from Delhi University, Delhi Police, and concerned colleges regarding the restrictions imposed earlier this year.

Former IPS officer RN Ravi takes oath as the Governor of West Bengal at a ceremony in Lok Bhawan on Thursday in Kolkata. He was administered the oath by Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Sujoy Paul, in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, Senior Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim and Left Front chairman Biman Bose. RN Ravi also greets West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after taking the oath as the West Bengal Governor.

In a significant political move, TMC MP Saugata Roy told ANI that the party is preparing an impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner. He said, "We are preparing an impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner. More than 100 MPs are supporting us. We might submit it today. The Opposition will be seen united on this."

Led by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders have continued protests in the Parliament premises over the reports of nationwide shortage of LPG gas cylinders on Thursday.

In his letter, Odisha CM wrote, 'The incident cast an avoidable shadow on the image of Bengal, a land known for its culture, civility and respect for democratic institutions."

West Bengal BJP leader Dilip Ghosh on Thursday slammed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) over plans to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in the Parliament.

"The supply chain is not in our hands. It is in the hands of the Government of India. But even then, we have called the gas companies and CNG companies and held meetings with them, and requested them to do for the public what we should do. It takes time to resolve the problem; now we have to see how much they heed our words," the CM said.

"The Election Commission is a constitutional body. Conducting the SIR process is their right. What do these people want? Do they want to win by using the fake votes of Bangladeshis, Rohingyas, infiltrators, the deceased, and those with double entries? This cannot happen. The people of Bengal have the right to the resources of Bengal, not the infiltrators and Bangladeshis," he said.