Amit Shah prays for ‘Sonar Bangla’ at Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja pandal inauguration
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Durga Puja pandal of Santosh Mitra Square in Kolkata today and extended his greetings to the people of West Bengal and the entire country on the occasion of Durga Puja. Addressing the gathering, Shah said he had offered prayers to Maa Durga at the pandal and sought her blessings for a new government in Bengal after the 2026 assembly elections—one that would restore the state’s lost glory of ‘Sonar Bangla’ (Golden Bengal). “I have prayed to Maa Durga that after this assembly election, there is a government which can make the state ‘Sonar Bangla,’” he said. Emphasising the vision of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, he added, “May Bengal once again become safe, prosperous, peaceful, and fertile.” The Home Minister also paid tribute to the late Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, the great educationist and social reformer whose contributions to education, women’s empowerment, and Bengali culture remain unparalleled. “On my own behalf, and on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party, I offer my respectful homage at the feet of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar,” he said. Shah expressed condolences for those who lost their lives during recent heavy rainfall in Bengal. At least 11 people died following torrential rain on September 23. “I pay homage to those who lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Bengal,” he said, extending sympathy to their families. Arriving in Kolkata on Thursday night, Shah was received at the airport by senior state BJP leader Rahul Sinha. On Friday, before inaugurating the Santosh Mitra Square pandal, he visited the famous Kalighat temple in south Kolkata to offer prayers to the Goddess. Later, he is scheduled to inaugurate the Durga Puja pandal of the BJP-backed Paschim Banga Sanskriti Mancha at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) in Salt Lake. Highlighting the global recognition of Bengali Durga Puja, Shah said, “This festival is not only celebrated in West Bengal or India but is also renowned across the world. For nine days, citizens of Bengal dedicate themselves to the worship of this divine energy, and these days are especially significant for the state.” Concluding his address, he expressed hope that the festival would usher in auspicious beginnings and contribute to Bengal’s development, in line with the broader vision of a thriving India envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Indian who arrived in US illegally arrested for causing multi-vehicle crash in California
An Indian national, who had arrived in the US illegally, has been arrested for causing a multi-vehicle crash while driving a truck in California last year that critically injured a five-year old child and left her with life-altering injuries. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Partap Singh last month and he will remain in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings. The agency said that in June 2024, Singh caused a multi-car pileup while driving a commercial 18-wheeler in California.
Russian Deputy PM Patrushev calls on PM Modi
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in agriculture, fertilisers, food processing and other areas of mutual interest. Patrushev is currently on a visit to India as part of preparations for the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India in December.” They exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in agriculture, fertilizers, food processing and other areas of mutual interest,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Patrushev’s meeting with Modi on Thursday.
SIT raids residences of Zubeen Garg’s event organiser, manager
Assam Police’s Special Investigating Team (SIT), probing the death of singer Zubeen Garg, conducted separate raids at the residences of Northeast India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and his manager Siddhartha Sharma on Thursday, officials said. An SIT team visited the Geetanagar residence of Mahanta, where none of his family members, except for two helpers, were present. Another team went to Sharma’s apartment in Dhirenpara area and found it locked. The apartment’s lock was broken in the presence of a magistrate, and a search was conducted by the team.
Union minister & former Tripura CM to head BJP in Bengal for 2026 Bengal poll battle
In a strategic move aimed at reinvigorating its electoral prospects in West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed Union Environment and Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav to spearhead the party’s preparations for the upcoming assembly elections scheduled for next year. This appointment underscores the BJP’s intention to revamp and intensify its campaign machinery in the state, which has proven to be a challenging battleground in recent years Bhupender Yadav brings with him a wealth of organisational experience, and party insiders believe his leadership will be instrumental in crafting a more effective and cohesive strategy to counter the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The central leadership also appointed former Tripura chief minister and current Member of Parliament, Biplab Deb as assistant of Yadav. Deb’s experience in state-level politics, particularly in the northeastern region, is expected to add tactical value to the BJP’s efforts in Bengal. This leadership reshuffle comes at a time when the BJP is seeking to regain momentum after facing significant setbacks in the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections, where it mounted an aggressive campaign but failed to unseat the TMC. Moreover, the party’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections showed a decline compared to its 2019 results, prompting a reassessment of its political strategy in the state. Since 2017, when former BJP president Amit Shah articulated the party’s ambition to establish a stronghold in states like West Bengal, Kerala, and Odisha, the BJP has consistently worked to expand its organisational base in Bengal. This has involved deploying national leaders, restructuring the state unit, and deepening engagement at the grassroots level. With elections approaching, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to increase their presence in the state. Notably, Shah is scheduled to visit Kolkata to inaugurate Durga Puja celebrations, and he recently met with Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, to review the party’s preparedness. Meanwhile, the TMC’s general secretary and a key strategist Abhishek Banerjee has been actively conducting district-level meetings to fine-tune the TMC’s campaign, indicating that a fierce electoral battle lies ahead. In parallel moves, the BJP has also appointed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to oversee election planning in Bihar and senior parliamentarian Baijayant Panda to manage the campaign in Tamil Nadu, reflecting the party’s broader efforts to consolidate power across multiple states.
