jangalmahal

Bengal's first BJP government is set to expand its council of ministers with 35 new members taking oath on Monday. The selection process prioritized regional balance, inclusion of both veteran and new party members, and alignment with RSS priorities. Representation for North Bengal, Rarh Bangla, Matua, and Rajbanshi communities is a key focus.

Chandrakona, a predominantly rural, SC-reserved constituency in Paschim Medinipur, faces challenges like flood management, agrarian debt, and underdevelopment. The seat, comfortably held by the AITC, has seen a shift from CPI(M) dominance to a bipolar AITC-BJP rivalry, with recent elections highlighting polarized contests and steady AITC consolidation.

Ghatal, a flood-prone agrarian SC-reserved constituency in Paschim Medinipur, faces challenges of crop devastation, rural unemployment, and infrastructure deficits. This ultra-marginal seat, marked by a razor-thin BJP victory in 2021, is a bellwether for rural penetration and gauges the BJP's challenge to the ruling TMC.

Prime Minister Modi declared "women's welfare is Modi's guarantee," accusing Congress and Trinamool of obstructing women's reservation law amendments. He highlighted BJP's promises for women, including financial aid, free healthcare, and vaccination, while criticizing Trinamool's alleged "anti-woman" and "anti-tribal" stance and religious reservation agenda.

The West Bengal Primary Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2022 interview process has been postponed due to ongoing elections. Originally scheduled to begin in April, the interviews for various districts have been rescheduled following discussions with the Election Commission. Candidates, facing delays since 2023, await new dates, expressing frustration over the uncertainty.

Four more men were gunned down in jangalmahal over the past 24 hours, taking the death toll since the security forces moved into the region in June to 52.

Following heightened tension in Andhra Pradesh over fresh demonstrations for Telengana, the home ministry on Wednesday decided to withdraw five companies of CRPF from jangalmahal and deploy them in the disturbed southern region instead.