West Bengal Assembly Elections Highlights: Mamata reciting 'Chandi Path' to prove she is Hindu, alleges BJP Secy

TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee is set to file her nomination from Nandigram on March 10 while her friend-turned-foe and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari will do the same two days later. 5 more sitting MLAs TMC and one candidate took the plunge and crossed over to the BJP on Monday in the presence of BJP state president Dilip Ghosh. An opinion poll showed that Banerjee is likely going to retain her CM chair with TMC expected to win around 154-164 seats in the 294-seat Assembly.

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Covid-19: EC doubles broadcast time for political parties in 4 poll-going states, 1 Union Territory

The Election Commission on Tuesday doubled the broadcast time allotted to recognised political parties in West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Doordarshan and All India Radio during the upcoming assembly polls in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and enhanced relevance of 'non-contact based' campaigning.

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CM Mamata Banerjee rejects 'outsider' tag in Nandigram

Coming down hard on those calling her an outsider in Nandigram, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday for them people "coming from Gujarat" are insiders.

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Suvendu Adhikari gives call to overthrow TMC from power

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday gave a clarion call to oust the TMC from power in Bengal as he led a 'padayatra' in Jhargram district.

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Those who 'sold their souls to Gujarati outsiders' playing communal card in Nandigram: Mamata Banerjee

Those who have "sold their souls to outsiders from Gujarat" are insulting the Nandigram movement by playing the communal card, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday, and rejected the claim that she was an outsider in Nandigram.

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Mamata visits Chandi mandir in Nandigram

If not for the Singur aandolan, Nandigram wouldn't be such a big battle. Khela hobe, but don't play the Hindu card with me, I also am born in a Hindu household, Didi says at Nandigram rally,

I am outsider for some for whom those coming from Gujarat are insiders: Mamata

Election Commission decided to double broadcast/telecast time allotted to each National Party & recognized State Party of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu & West Bengal on Doordarshan & All India Radio during the ongoing Assembly elections: ECI

People of Nandigram will make BJP 'April fool' on April 1 when polling is held: Mamata

If you don’t want me to file the nomination, I will not, but if you consider me your daughter then I will move ahead with filing my nomination: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram

I am outsider for some for whom those coming from Gujarat are insiders: Mamata

I am also a daughter from a Hindu household, don't play Hindu politics with me: Mamata warns BJP

I came to Nandigram, to protect the people during the Singur aandolan even when I had a gall bladder operation, even when there was Kali Puja at my house.

'The then Governor Gopal Gandhi advised me to leave Nandigram, plans to haul petrol bombs at me were in place. But I did not budge,' says Mamata.

'I walked, hid, somehow managed to reach. That's when the CPM understoodthey cannot stop me,' CM says

Bhulte parbo shobar naam, bhulbo na Nandigram, says Mamata

I am also from a village, I have a fondness for the village, it reminds me of my childhood, of days when i roamed around im a carefree manner

Why did I fight for Nandigram? I asked you people when the seat for Nandigram went vacant, 'What if I stand from here?' and you said It will be great, and hence here i stand, not where i have historically stood, my home constituency, Bhawanipore.

Mamata reminds people of Nandigram: Some of you fought with me, some of you blew the conch in war cry, Nandigram is now a global name.

People cannot be divided. We have to be 100, not 70:30: Mamata on Hindu Muslim unity

"Can forget my name but cannot forget Nandigram," says Mamata at rally.

"Will not contest from Nandigram, if you don't want," Mamata Banerjee tells supporters at rally.

"The BJP wants to divide us in the name of Hindu-Muslim," says Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"The last time I was in Nandigram, the MLA from this constituency had resigned and stepped down from his position," says Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Don't play 'Hindu God' card with me, says Mamata.

Peoeple are accusing me of being an outsider, says Mamata Banerjee.

I have never deserted Nandigram, says Mamata Banerjee.

At the rally, she said that Nandigram has fought against goondas and that she appreciates the courage of the people.

I come to villages to relive my childhood, says Mamata Banerjee.

Your support has brought me to Nandigram, says Mamata.

Nandigram is like my eyes, says Mamata Banerjee in the constituency she is set to contest the polls from.

SC puts in abeyance arrest warrant against Bengal BJP candidate Bharati Ghosh

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that the non-bailable arrest warrant against BJP candidate and former IPS officer Bharati Ghosh in connection with the 2019 Lok Sabha polls violence case be kept in abeyance till the conclusion of the assembly polls in West Bengal.

Ghosh is contesting from Derba constituency in the state against Trinamool Congress candidate Humayun Kabir, also a former IPS officer.

SC rejects plea challenging EC's decision to hold WB Assembly polls in eight phases

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea challenging the Election Commission's (EC) decision to conduct the West Bengal Assembly polls over eight phases.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde rejected the plea, which had also sought to bar the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its leaders from using the "Jai Shri Ram" slogan during the poll campaign in the state.

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, waves as she and her party supporters attend a protest march against the rise in fuel prices on the occasion of International Women's Day. Credit: Reuters Photo

Mamata to keep Bengal throne but BJP's lotus visibly in bloom: Opinion poll

In the fierce battle for power in West Bengal, incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely going to retain her CM chair with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) expected to win around 154-164 seats in the 294-seat assembly, showed an opinion poll.

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Central forces will be deployed in all WB booths where polling will be held in 1st phase

All booths in West Bengal where polling will be held in the first phase of the state elections are 'sensitive and vulnerable' and central forces will be deployed in all of them, the Election Commission said on Monday.

The deployment of the CAPF will ensure that the people can exercise free and fair voting rights, a senior official of the CEO's office said.

Mamata's International Women's Day rally

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee participate in a rally with her party women candidates, who are contesting from different constituencies for the upcoming State Assembly polls, to mark International Women's Day in Kolkata. Credit: PTI Photo

Congress leader Sikha Mitra threatens to leave party and join BJP

The opposition Congress in West Bengal was hit by dissidence as senior Congress leader Sikha Mitra, wife of former WBPCC president Somen Mitra, on Monday accused the state leadership of sidelining her and threatened to leave the party.

Mitra, a former MLA, accused West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury of sidelining her and her son Rohan Mitra and didn't rule out joining the BJP in near future.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday removed Superintendent of Police of Howrah (Rural) Soumya Roy after his wife became a candidate of the ruling Trinamool Congress for the assembly elections in West Bengal, an official said.