July 15, 2026
Michigan man Daniyal Khan charged with kidnapping 12-year-old girl; child found using Amber Alert

Michigan man Daniyal Khan charged with kidnapping 12-year-old girl; child found using Amber Alert

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

A 23-year-old Michigan man has been charged with kidnapping after a missing 12-year-old girl from Iowa was found safe within an hour of an Amber Alert being issued.Police say the girl, from Waterloo, was reported missing on Sunday, prompting authorities to launch a statewide Amber Alert. The case moved quickly after investigators traced the suspect’s…

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‘Drugged, raped, filmed’: Nagpur woman alleges abuse, ‘hypnosis’ during forced conversion; video surfaces

‘Drugged, raped, filmed’: Nagpur woman alleges abuse, ‘hypnosis’ during forced conversion; video surfaces

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

A video surfaces showing a woman pleading to be released while a man chants religious verses, allegedly linked to her claims of rape, blackmail, and forced religious conversion in Nagpur. NAGPUR: A video purportedly linked to a 24-year-old married woman’s allegations of rape, blackmail, extortion and forced religious conversion in Nagpur has surfaced online, showing…

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Humayun Kabir “Rajneeti nie kichu bolbo na”, we will not speak about politics. That is the repeated line from workers and staff at the Babri Masjid site in Beldanga, Murshidabad. Their trepidation is not hard to understand. The leaked tape controversy around former TMC MLA Humayun Kabir has already disrupted the trajectory of his newly formed party, AJUP, with AIMIM pulling out of the alliance. Kabir is the key force behind the plan to build a Babri Masjid in Murshidabad, a project that has drawn attention not just nationally, but even across the border. On the ground, however, construction is moving at a slow, uneven pace, with most people saying it may pick up only after the election.The larger question remains unanswered. Is the future of the Babri Masjid tied to Humayun Kabir’s own electoral fortunes? A purported clip released by Trinamool allegedly showed Kabir discussing a Rs 1,000 crore deal with the BJP and talking about misleading Muslim voters. The clip has not been independently verified. Kabir first dismissed it as fake and AI-generated. Later, he changed tack, saying it was real but selectively edited from a longer conversation. Whether his political and financial support system remains intact may become clear only after the results. Kabir is contesting from two nearby seats, Rejinagar and Naoda. To complete a project like this, he would need considerable political leverage and financial heft, especially after Union home minister Amit Shah said no Babri Masjid would be allowed to come up in Bengal if the BJP came to power. Abhishek Banerjee, from the other side, has attacked Kabir as someone effectively helping the BJP in the district. That leaves Kabir politically squeezed from both sides. Watch Babri Masjid Ground Report: Slow Construction In Murshidabad’s Beldanga As Politics Stays Quiet Those political cross-currents are visible in the sombre mood at the site. The foundation ceremony was held on December 6 last year, the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. The symbolism was unmistakable. At the time, there was visible excitement, with donations reportedly pouring in and people arriving with bricks for construction. Kabir had said the structure would be modelled on the Babri Masjid, with a larger complex that would also include a hospital and a guest house. A visit to the site now shows bricks still stacked and waiting to be used. Around it, a small Babri economy has taken shape. Mugs are being printed, T-shirts are being sold, and local businesses have started borrowing the Babri name.Locals say construction has slowed because of the heat and the election. Even so, people continue to come in the evenings, some out of curiosity, some out of sympathy, and some perhaps because they want to witness a site whose meaning goes well beyond its boundary wall.Humayun Kabir is no fringe figure in Murshidabad. He began in the Congress, moved to Trinamool, was expelled, joined the BJP, lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Murshidabad, returned to Trinamool, and was suspended again in December 2025 after pushing the Babri Masjid project. Since then, he has launched AJUP.Construction formally began in February. For now, the project depends on donations, making the timeline uncertain. Around two dozen workers are currently on site. The project is spread across around 11 bighas. Boundary walls are being built. Masons have been at work for the past few weeks, while shuttering began earlier. Food and lodging are arranged locally. Depending on the payment system, workers put in nine or twelve hours a day. Some associated with the site say the mosque could be completed in three years. Others are less specific. Nothing about the site suggests immediate completion.Commerce, meanwhile, has moved faster than construction. White mugs and T-shirts are being brought from Kolkata and printed locally with Babri branding. Prices are modest. These are not premium souvenirs, but tokens for visitors who want to carry something back. One local shopkeeper says footfall is lower now than it was earlier. Still, the existence of this small merchandise economy is telling. Before the mosque is complete, the market has already recognised its emotional and symbolic value.After the votes are counted, Beldanga will reveal what this moment really was. A project of faith, a piece of political theatre, or a gamble that outgrew its maker. For now, the bricks remain stacked, the work remains slow, and the silence around the site says more than the slogans around it. In Murshidabad, the Babri Masjid is still under construction. The politics around it is not.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUnmanned Mine Counter Measure Vessels Take Lead In Demining OperationsIndia-South Korea Mega Deal: PM Modi & Lee Jae Myung Target 50 Billion Trade, Boost TiesFire Erupts At Rajasthan’s HPCL Refinery Ahead Of PM Modi’s Launch EventNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral VideoTMC Hits Out At PM Modi Over Jhalmuri Stop, Claims Hemant Soren Forced To ReturnTMC vs Himanta Biswa Sarma Erupts As Mamata Banerjee Row Sparks Election Commission ComplaintManipur Erupts In Anger As No Arrests Made After 5 Killings, Protests Turn Violent‘Ripple Impact On India…’: Misri After Indian Tankers Hit In HormuzUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite Device123PhotostoriesJitendra Kumar, Aniruddh Agarwal, Amol Parashar to Vipul Goyal: Actors who swapped engineering degrees for stardomWhy non-vegetarian thali has become cheaper than vegetarian thaliDoes your home breathe? 5 lessons to learn from the timeless beauty of Chettinad interiorsGurgaon SPR bottleneck sparks urgent road expansion, missing link reopened7 morning affirmations that work for sure (why are they so powerful)Best exercises for liver health, according to expert: How walking, strength training, and HIIT can reduce fatty liverFrom building 5 businesses at 24 to being told to retire despite a net worth of approximately Rs 250 crore- Jannat Zubair gets candid8 traditional Mango pickles from across India to tryLessons you should learn from Adi Shankaracharya; based on your birth dateVinod Kambli’s ₹8 crore apartment in Bandra, Mumbai is defined by a Sachin-Kambli friendship wall, untold struggles, and family-first living123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingBan vs NZKanpur MurderAndhra Pradesh Bomb ExplodeKanpur Rape CaseTCS Nashik CaseJammu Bus AccidentAndhra Pradesh MurderLucknow Girl MurderTamil Nadu Firecracker Unit BlastJapan Earthquake

Humayun Kabir “Rajneeti nie kichu bolbo na”, we will not speak about politics. That is the repeated line from workers and staff at the Babri Masjid site in Beldanga, Murshidabad. Their trepidation is not hard to understand. The leaked tape controversy around former TMC MLA Humayun Kabir has already disrupted the trajectory of his newly formed party, AJUP, with AIMIM pulling out of the alliance. Kabir is the key force behind the plan to build a Babri Masjid in Murshidabad, a project that has drawn attention not just nationally, but even across the border. On the ground, however, construction is moving at a slow, uneven pace, with most people saying it may pick up only after the election.The larger question remains unanswered. Is the future of the Babri Masjid tied to Humayun Kabir’s own electoral fortunes? A purported clip released by Trinamool allegedly showed Kabir discussing a Rs 1,000 crore deal with the BJP and talking about misleading Muslim voters. The clip has not been independently verified. Kabir first dismissed it as fake and AI-generated. Later, he changed tack, saying it was real but selectively edited from a longer conversation. Whether his political and financial support system remains intact may become clear only after the results. Kabir is contesting from two nearby seats, Rejinagar and Naoda. To complete a project like this, he would need considerable political leverage and financial heft, especially after Union home minister Amit Shah said no Babri Masjid would be allowed to come up in Bengal if the BJP came to power. Abhishek Banerjee, from the other side, has attacked Kabir as someone effectively helping the BJP in the district. That leaves Kabir politically squeezed from both sides. Watch Babri Masjid Ground Report: Slow Construction In Murshidabad’s Beldanga As Politics Stays Quiet Those political cross-currents are visible in the sombre mood at the site. The foundation ceremony was held on December 6 last year, the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. The symbolism was unmistakable. At the time, there was visible excitement, with donations reportedly pouring in and people arriving with bricks for construction. Kabir had said the structure would be modelled on the Babri Masjid, with a larger complex that would also include a hospital and a guest house. A visit to the site now shows bricks still stacked and waiting to be used. Around it, a small Babri economy has taken shape. Mugs are being printed, T-shirts are being sold, and local businesses have started borrowing the Babri name.Locals say construction has slowed because of the heat and the election. Even so, people continue to come in the evenings, some out of curiosity, some out of sympathy, and some perhaps because they want to witness a site whose meaning goes well beyond its boundary wall.Humayun Kabir is no fringe figure in Murshidabad. He began in the Congress, moved to Trinamool, was expelled, joined the BJP, lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Murshidabad, returned to Trinamool, and was suspended again in December 2025 after pushing the Babri Masjid project. Since then, he has launched AJUP.Construction formally began in February. For now, the project depends on donations, making the timeline uncertain. Around two dozen workers are currently on site. The project is spread across around 11 bighas. Boundary walls are being built. Masons have been at work for the past few weeks, while shuttering began earlier. Food and lodging are arranged locally. Depending on the payment system, workers put in nine or twelve hours a day. Some associated with the site say the mosque could be completed in three years. Others are less specific. Nothing about the site suggests immediate completion.Commerce, meanwhile, has moved faster than construction. White mugs and T-shirts are being brought from Kolkata and printed locally with Babri branding. Prices are modest. These are not premium souvenirs, but tokens for visitors who want to carry something back. One local shopkeeper says footfall is lower now than it was earlier. Still, the existence of this small merchandise economy is telling. Before the mosque is complete, the market has already recognised its emotional and symbolic value.After the votes are counted, Beldanga will reveal what this moment really was. A project of faith, a piece of political theatre, or a gamble that outgrew its maker. For now, the bricks remain stacked, the work remains slow, and the silence around the site says more than the slogans around it. In Murshidabad, the Babri Masjid is still under construction. The politics around it is not.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUnmanned Mine Counter Measure Vessels Take Lead In Demining OperationsIndia-South Korea Mega Deal: PM Modi & Lee Jae Myung Target 50 Billion Trade, Boost TiesFire Erupts At Rajasthan’s HPCL Refinery Ahead Of PM Modi’s Launch EventNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral VideoTMC Hits Out At PM Modi Over Jhalmuri Stop, Claims Hemant Soren Forced To ReturnTMC vs Himanta Biswa Sarma Erupts As Mamata Banerjee Row Sparks Election Commission ComplaintManipur Erupts In Anger As No Arrests Made After 5 Killings, Protests Turn Violent‘Ripple Impact On India…’: Misri After Indian Tankers Hit In HormuzUS Nationals Detained At Srinagar Airport Over Banned Satellite Device123PhotostoriesJitendra Kumar, Aniruddh Agarwal, Amol Parashar to Vipul Goyal: Actors who swapped engineering degrees for stardomWhy non-vegetarian thali has become cheaper than vegetarian thaliDoes your home breathe? 5 lessons to learn from the timeless beauty of Chettinad interiorsGurgaon SPR bottleneck sparks urgent road expansion, missing link reopened7 morning affirmations that work for sure (why are they so powerful)Best exercises for liver health, according to expert: How walking, strength training, and HIIT can reduce fatty liverFrom building 5 businesses at 24 to being told to retire despite a net worth of approximately Rs 250 crore- Jannat Zubair gets candid8 traditional Mango pickles from across India to tryLessons you should learn from Adi Shankaracharya; based on your birth dateVinod Kambli’s ₹8 crore apartment in Bandra, Mumbai is defined by a Sachin-Kambli friendship wall, untold struggles, and family-first living123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingBan vs NZKanpur MurderAndhra Pradesh Bomb ExplodeKanpur Rape CaseTCS Nashik CaseJammu Bus AccidentAndhra Pradesh MurderLucknow Girl MurderTamil Nadu Firecracker Unit BlastJapan Earthquake

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

Humayun Kabir “Rajneeti nie kichu bolbo na”, we will not speak about politics. That is the repeated line from workers and staff at the Babri Masjid site in Beldanga, Murshidabad. Their trepidation is not hard to understand. The leaked tape controversy around former TMC MLA Humayun Kabir has already disrupted the trajectory of his newly…

Read More
Who is Basil Ass’ad? 20-year-old charged in 48 vehicle break-ins in Canada, thefts valued at over 0,000

Who is Basil Ass’ad? 20-year-old charged in 48 vehicle break-ins in Canada, thefts valued at over $250,000

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Police in Canada have charged a 20-year-old man accused of carrying out dozens of vehicle break-ins across Mississauga, Canada as investigators continue searching for other suspects believed to be involved.Peel Regional Police said Basil Ass’ad has no fixed address and was arrested on January 26 following an investigation into a wave of vehicle break-and-enters reported…

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Companies Act seeks to allow new exec compensation tools

Companies Act seeks to allow new exec compensation tools

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Finance and corporate affairs minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday introduced fresh amendments to the Companies Act, which seeks to decriminalise several procedural defaults, provide flexibility in buyback of shares and recognise new instruments for executive compensation.The bill, which has been referred to a joint Parliamentary committee for examination, provides for allowing restricted stock…

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‘Democracy is about eligible voters’: Supreme Court validates Bihar SIR | India News

‘Democracy is about eligible voters’: Supreme Court validates Bihar SIR | India News

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Wednesday validated Election Commission’s decision to conduct Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar electoral rolls, rejected opposition’s stand that it was an arbitrary and exclusionary exercise and said SIR was carried out as per EC’s constitutional mandate of ensuring free and fair elections, which are founded on the integrity, accuracy…

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Image: IANS New Delhi: Nearly eight lakh new piped gas consumers have joined the fold over the past month amid a drive by the govt and gas companies to push its use and reduce dependence on cooking gas cylinders, a top official said Sunday.”We have managed quite well, delivering around 50 lakh cylinders consistently, fully meeting domestic demand and up to 80% of commercial demand. There is no reason for anybody to fear shortages,” the official told TOI. Around half the new piped gas connections – to households and for commercial use – have been activated, while the rest are under process.Separately, over 16,000 LPG connections have been surrendered following the govt’s nudge to ensure those with active piped gas connections do not continue to retain cylinders, easing pressure on the system. People wishing to surrender their connections can submit details on the designated portal, which has a ‘hall of fame’ to recognise consumers who have voluntarily given up their connections.Amid concerns over supply shortages and long queues, officials said there was sufficient stock of crude oil, petroleum products and cooking gas, which were being replenished. “We have managed quite well for over a month, and we are tying up supplies and importing from wherever required,” the official said.The Centre has urged people to use alternative such as induction and electric cooktops wherever feasible. Officials said online cylinder bookings have risen to 95%, while authentication code-based deliveries – aimed at preventing diversion at the distributor level – have increased from 53% in Feb to 90% now.To help the migrant population without regular LPG connections, oil companies have sold about 6.6 lakh portable 5kg cylinders since March 23, including 90,000 on Saturday, up from a daily average of 70-75,000 before the war.Govt expects recent moves to improve the flow of raw material to industries facing shortages. From packaging units to pharma, companies were hit hard by supply disruptions due to West Asia conflict.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDRDO Begins Work On Next-Generation Missile To Replace Prithvi Series : Reports“Adani Is BJP’s Financial Structure”: Rahul Gandhi Tears Into PM ModiPakistan To Return .5 Billion UAE Debt In April Despite Reserve StrainOil India Posts Record Crude Output From Rajasthan’s Thar Desert Amid West Asia Crisis‘True Friendship’: Iran Envoy Lauds India Ties, Clarifies Deleted Thank You PostsPM Modi Assures No Seat Cut For Southern States, Pushes Women’s Quota Bill‘Will Take It To Kolkata’: Pak Minister Khawaja Asif’s Fresh Threat After Rajnath’s Stern WarningBig Reveal: ISI Behind Chandigarh Attack, Global Terror Links Surface”Living In Fear”: Indian Family In Bahrain Amid Escalating Iran War‘Genius Move’: Ex-US Pilot Hails India’s Ploy To Use Rafale Decoys In Op Sindoor To Fool Pakistan123PhotostoriesSummer Meal: How to make light and comforting Boondi Kadhi for dinnerHow to be successful in life, as per psychologyFSSAI shares how much oil you should consume in a day and effective steps to track oil intake; easy zero-oil dishes insideHow to deal with negative people: 5 effective psychology-based tipsMeet 5 Indian singers who are setting the nation’s hottest fashion trendsTop K-pop songs from the most romantic K-dramas: ‘Goblin’, ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and more10 simple habits and tips to master emotional intelligenceYou don’t have diabetes, but your blood sugar may still be unstable: What to watch and how to fix itTop 5 premium localities in Greater Noida attracting affluent buyers and long-term investorsIs clay pot (matka) water safe? 5-step cleaning tips & summer benefits of matka water123Hot PicksIPL ScoreUpdated IPL Points TableApp Leader Raghav ChadhaLPG ShortageStephen CurryPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingYesterday IPL match resultVaibhav SooryavanshiStrait of HormuzIPL 2026Saudi Arabia travel ban rulesToll PaymentIran Drone StrikeHailee SteinfeldSchool Holidays in AprilIran war news

Image: IANS New Delhi: Nearly eight lakh new piped gas consumers have joined the fold over the past month amid a drive by the govt and gas companies to push its use and reduce dependence on cooking gas cylinders, a top official said Sunday.”We have managed quite well, delivering around 50 lakh cylinders consistently, fully meeting domestic demand and up to 80% of commercial demand. There is no reason for anybody to fear shortages,” the official told TOI. Around half the new piped gas connections – to households and for commercial use – have been activated, while the rest are under process.Separately, over 16,000 LPG connections have been surrendered following the govt’s nudge to ensure those with active piped gas connections do not continue to retain cylinders, easing pressure on the system. People wishing to surrender their connections can submit details on the designated portal, which has a ‘hall of fame’ to recognise consumers who have voluntarily given up their connections.Amid concerns over supply shortages and long queues, officials said there was sufficient stock of crude oil, petroleum products and cooking gas, which were being replenished. “We have managed quite well for over a month, and we are tying up supplies and importing from wherever required,” the official said.The Centre has urged people to use alternative such as induction and electric cooktops wherever feasible. Officials said online cylinder bookings have risen to 95%, while authentication code-based deliveries – aimed at preventing diversion at the distributor level – have increased from 53% in Feb to 90% now.To help the migrant population without regular LPG connections, oil companies have sold about 6.6 lakh portable 5kg cylinders since March 23, including 90,000 on Saturday, up from a daily average of 70-75,000 before the war.Govt expects recent moves to improve the flow of raw material to industries facing shortages. From packaging units to pharma, companies were hit hard by supply disruptions due to West Asia conflict.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDRDO Begins Work On Next-Generation Missile To Replace Prithvi Series : Reports“Adani Is BJP’s Financial Structure”: Rahul Gandhi Tears Into PM ModiPakistan To Return $3.5 Billion UAE Debt In April Despite Reserve StrainOil India Posts Record Crude Output From Rajasthan’s Thar Desert Amid West Asia Crisis‘True Friendship’: Iran Envoy Lauds India Ties, Clarifies Deleted Thank You PostsPM Modi Assures No Seat Cut For Southern States, Pushes Women’s Quota Bill‘Will Take It To Kolkata’: Pak Minister Khawaja Asif’s Fresh Threat After Rajnath’s Stern WarningBig Reveal: ISI Behind Chandigarh Attack, Global Terror Links Surface”Living In Fear”: Indian Family In Bahrain Amid Escalating Iran War‘Genius Move’: Ex-US Pilot Hails India’s Ploy To Use Rafale Decoys In Op Sindoor To Fool Pakistan123PhotostoriesSummer Meal: How to make light and comforting Boondi Kadhi for dinnerHow to be successful in life, as per psychologyFSSAI shares how much oil you should consume in a day and effective steps to track oil intake; easy zero-oil dishes insideHow to deal with negative people: 5 effective psychology-based tipsMeet 5 Indian singers who are setting the nation’s hottest fashion trendsTop K-pop songs from the most romantic K-dramas: ‘Goblin’, ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and more10 simple habits and tips to master emotional intelligenceYou don’t have diabetes, but your blood sugar may still be unstable: What to watch and how to fix itTop 5 premium localities in Greater Noida attracting affluent buyers and long-term investorsIs clay pot (matka) water safe? 5-step cleaning tips & summer benefits of matka water123Hot PicksIPL ScoreUpdated IPL Points TableApp Leader Raghav ChadhaLPG ShortageStephen CurryPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingYesterday IPL match resultVaibhav SooryavanshiStrait of HormuzIPL 2026Saudi Arabia travel ban rulesToll PaymentIran Drone StrikeHailee SteinfeldSchool Holidays in AprilIran war news

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

New Delhi: Nearly eight lakh new piped gas consumers have joined the fold over the past month amid a drive by the govt and gas companies to push its use and reduce dependence on cooking gas cylinders, a top official said Sunday.“We have managed quite well, delivering around 50 lakh cylinders consistently, fully meeting domestic…

Read More
Nick White blasts Clavicular over viral kiss with trans model, says he destroyed the image that made him famous

Nick White blasts Clavicular over viral kiss with trans model, says he destroyed the image that made him famous

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

Nick White criticized Clavicular after a viral video showed the influencer kissing Polish transgender model Adeli Pali, claiming the incident had severely damaged the image that made him popular. During his livestream, White argued Clavicular’s brand would “never be the same” and compared the controversy to other influencers who lost credibility after public incidents. The…

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Mamata Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari Kolkata: Battleground Bengal’s defining contest is playing out in south Kolkata’s Bhowanipore, where CM Mamata Banerjee faces one-time aide Suvendu Adhikari of BJP in what is an electoral rematch of far greater consequence than when she narrowly lost to him in Nandigram in 2021. For Trinamool Congress, retaining Bhowanipore isn’t just about securing Mamata’s fortress and preserving the aura of invincibility around her. In many ways, the constituency represents the party’s conflict with BJP over the larger issues of identity, ideology and governance. BJP breaching Mamata’s citadel would deal a psychological blow to Trinamool even if the saffron party fails to win Bengal. The constituency’s social mix makes it an unusually sensitive poll pocket. It includes the so-called Bengali bhadralok households, Marwari and Gujarati business families, Sikh and Jain residents, settlers from Bihar and Odisha and a sizeable Muslim electorate. “This diversity has turned the seat into a laboratory of competing political methods,” said Trinamool’s ward 70 councillor Ashim Bose, whose challenge is to convert last year’s Lok Sabha deficit in his ward into a lead for Mamata. Numbers explain why both sides are oozing confidence in Bhowanipore. CM Mamata won the 2021 byelection there by a record margin of 59,000 votes. But in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Trinamool’s lead in the assembly segment shrank to a little over 8,000. BJP led in five of the eight wards, suggesting that while Trinamool retained emotional capital, the saffron party gained territorial depth.One seat, many challenges Mamata’s goal is to stop Bhowanipore from turning into a fragmented social contest. Her party’s strategy rests on familiarity and emotional ownership. Its “ghorer meye” (daughter of the house) pitch seeks to reduce the election from a verdict on governance to a neighbourhood show of loyalty. “Had there been any other contestant from the seat, it would have been extremely challenging for us,” Trinamool worker Subhankar Roychowdhury said. That approach suits a constituency where coexistence has often mattered as much as ideological mobilisation. In mixed wards where Bengali Hindus, non-Bengali traders and Muslims live in proximity, Trinamool’s emphasis on continuity and emotional belonging is designed to reassure rather than provoke. Mamata’s appeal in such areas has long rested on welfare delivery, symbolic accessibility and the perception that she protects a plural urban social order. BJP’s strategy is the opposite. Adhikari’s poll managers have tried to break the constituency into its constituent communities and convert each into a manageable electoral bloc. During the campaign, this was noticeable in wards 63, 70, 71, 72 and 74, where BJP’s recent gains suggest growing receptivity among non-Bengali traders and sections of the Hindu middle class. Muslim voters also remain central to the arithmetic. They account for a quarter of the electorate, and cohesive minority voting in a close urban seat can offset fragmentation among Hindu groups. That is why reported deletions and scrutiny in the electoral rolls matter. BJP worker Jayanta Ghosh said the 11,000-odd Muslim voters struck off the rolls in Ward 77 during SIR could loosen Trinamool’s grip. “Bhowanipore encapsulates the X factor in Bengal’s electoral calculus, going beyond a battle for prestige. Ours is a constituency where the mixed population in each ward forces both parties to test the limits of emotion, arithmetic and polarisation,” said Rajan Majumdar, an octogenarian Left Front supporter.About the AuthorSubhro NiyogiSubhro Niyogi is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, and his job responsibilities include reporting, editing and coordination of news and news features. His hobbies include photography, driving and reading.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNDA Nears 2/3 Majority As NDA Numbers Swell in Rajya Sabha After AAP Exodus’Party Of Billionaires’: Congress Attacks AAP After 7 Rajya Sabha MPs Join BJPIran Attacks Togo-Flagged Tanker With 17 Indian Seafarers Near Oman; All Safe’Once-in-a-Generation’ India Signs Free Trade Agreement With New Zealand After a Decade of Talks’Attack By BJP Goons’: TMC MP Mitali Bag’s Car Vandalised In Hooghly, BJP Denies TMC’s Charge’You Are Married Because AAP Made You Rajya Sabha Member’: Saurabh Bharadwaj Attacks Raghav ChadhaNDA Surges In Rajya Sabha After Chadha-Led AAP Exodus, BJP Nears Majority“Right Man, Wrong Party”: Raghav Chadha Defends Exit From AAP In New Video“Bound To Happen”: Congress MLA’s Take On Trump Event ShootingArvind Kejriwal Shocks Court With Refusal To Appear In Excise Case123PhotostoriesWhy tadka turns bitter: 5 expert tips for preparing perfect tadka at home10 delicious Indian sweets made with fresh cheesePM Narendra Modi praises 3 desi Indian cheese varieties and asks how many have you triedHow Brahma Muhurta Routines Can Improve Focus, Clarity, and Discipline8 historic landmarks in Mumbai that are more than 100 years old: Why you should visit themTop 5 residential areas of Nashik for quality living and investmentAC vs cooler: What works best for DelhiAamir Khan tears up at son Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi’s ‘Ek Din Ki Mehfil’ event: 5 times the actor got emotional in publicSummer Special: How to make Kaache Aam ki Launji at homeOTT releases this week (April 27-May 3, 2026): ‘Glory’, ‘The Kerala Story 2, ‘Wuthering Heights’, ‘Aadu 3’ and more123Hot PicksWest Bengal PollsPM ModiMamata BanerjeeRahul GandhiBengal RallyWest Bengal ElectionsMatua CommunityTop TrendingRussini Mike Photo ControversyTamil Nadu electionNFL Trade RumorsPetrol Diesel PriceAssam HS 12th ResultJac Class 12 ResultPatrick MahomesBengal PollsJack GrealishIPL Orange Cap

Mamata Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari Kolkata: Battleground Bengal’s defining contest is playing out in south Kolkata’s Bhowanipore, where CM Mamata Banerjee faces one-time aide Suvendu Adhikari of BJP in what is an electoral rematch of far greater consequence than when she narrowly lost to him in Nandigram in 2021. For Trinamool Congress, retaining Bhowanipore isn’t just about securing Mamata’s fortress and preserving the aura of invincibility around her. In many ways, the constituency represents the party’s conflict with BJP over the larger issues of identity, ideology and governance. BJP breaching Mamata’s citadel would deal a psychological blow to Trinamool even if the saffron party fails to win Bengal. The constituency’s social mix makes it an unusually sensitive poll pocket. It includes the so-called Bengali bhadralok households, Marwari and Gujarati business families, Sikh and Jain residents, settlers from Bihar and Odisha and a sizeable Muslim electorate. “This diversity has turned the seat into a laboratory of competing political methods,” said Trinamool’s ward 70 councillor Ashim Bose, whose challenge is to convert last year’s Lok Sabha deficit in his ward into a lead for Mamata. Numbers explain why both sides are oozing confidence in Bhowanipore. CM Mamata won the 2021 byelection there by a record margin of 59,000 votes. But in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Trinamool’s lead in the assembly segment shrank to a little over 8,000. BJP led in five of the eight wards, suggesting that while Trinamool retained emotional capital, the saffron party gained territorial depth.One seat, many challenges Mamata’s goal is to stop Bhowanipore from turning into a fragmented social contest. Her party’s strategy rests on familiarity and emotional ownership. Its “ghorer meye” (daughter of the house) pitch seeks to reduce the election from a verdict on governance to a neighbourhood show of loyalty. “Had there been any other contestant from the seat, it would have been extremely challenging for us,” Trinamool worker Subhankar Roychowdhury said. That approach suits a constituency where coexistence has often mattered as much as ideological mobilisation. In mixed wards where Bengali Hindus, non-Bengali traders and Muslims live in proximity, Trinamool’s emphasis on continuity and emotional belonging is designed to reassure rather than provoke. Mamata’s appeal in such areas has long rested on welfare delivery, symbolic accessibility and the perception that she protects a plural urban social order. BJP’s strategy is the opposite. Adhikari’s poll managers have tried to break the constituency into its constituent communities and convert each into a manageable electoral bloc. During the campaign, this was noticeable in wards 63, 70, 71, 72 and 74, where BJP’s recent gains suggest growing receptivity among non-Bengali traders and sections of the Hindu middle class. Muslim voters also remain central to the arithmetic. They account for a quarter of the electorate, and cohesive minority voting in a close urban seat can offset fragmentation among Hindu groups. That is why reported deletions and scrutiny in the electoral rolls matter. BJP worker Jayanta Ghosh said the 11,000-odd Muslim voters struck off the rolls in Ward 77 during SIR could loosen Trinamool’s grip. “Bhowanipore encapsulates the X factor in Bengal’s electoral calculus, going beyond a battle for prestige. Ours is a constituency where the mixed population in each ward forces both parties to test the limits of emotion, arithmetic and polarisation,” said Rajan Majumdar, an octogenarian Left Front supporter.About the AuthorSubhro NiyogiSubhro Niyogi is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, and his job responsibilities include reporting, editing and coordination of news and news features. 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