Amit Shah in West Bengal HIGHLIGHTS: It’s just a beginning, says Amit Shah after Suvendu, 9 other MLAs join BJP

Amit Shah in Midnapore: You gave three decades to Congress, 27 years to Communists and 10 years to Mamata didi. Give 5 years to Bharatiya Janata Party, we will make Bengal 'Sonar Bangla'.

Amit Shah reponds to Mamata Banerjee: Senior party members are leaving TMC. Didi accuses BJP of inducing party members to defect. But I want to ask her when she quit Congress to form TMC, was it not defection? This is just the start. She will be left alone by the election.

Amit Shah in Midnapore: When results of Vidhan Sabha election will be declared BJP will form the government with more than 200 seats in the next assembly elections. 

Amit Shah in West Bengal: After a number of laders from opposition from the opposition parties, former BJP chief Amit Shah says that it is jut the beginging. Eleven MLAs, an MP and a former MP join BJP in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Among the legislators who joined the saffron party today are Suvendu Adhikari, Tapasi Mondal, Ashoke Dinda, Sudip Mukherjee, Saikat Panja, Shilbhadra Dutta, Dipali Biswas, Sukra Munda, Shyamapda Mukherjee, Biswajit Kundu and Banasri Maity. 

Suvendu Adhikari at Midnapore: Rampant misrule in Bengal under Mamata Banerjee.  

Suvendu Adhikari: Those who humiliated me are now calling me backstabber. TMC will come second in 2021 elections in Bengal. BJP will form the next government in Bengal. Mamata is not anyone's mother. Will work for the common people. 

Suvendu Adhikari was arguably the second most powerful person in the Trinamool Congress after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. His political journey started in 2006 when he won the Kanthi Dakshin assembly constituency for the then opposition party, TMC, for the first time. Barely a year into politics, Suvendu Adhikari shot to prominence after he galvanised unprecedented support for the Nandigram movement — that catapulted Mamata Banerjee and her party to power in West Bengal. Suvendu spearheaded the entire anti-land-acquisition movement in Nandigram in 2007. READ FULL STORY 

Former TMC heavweight Suvendu Adhikari has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in presence of Home Minister Amit Shah. This is major blow to Mamata Banerjee ahead of next assembly elections slated to take place in March-April 20201.  

Amit Shah in West Bengal: Home Minister Amit Shah to address a rally at College Ground in Paschim Medinipur shortly. Suvendu Adhikari, who recently resigned from TMC, present at the stage.

Home Minister Amit Shah will shortly address a public rally at Midnapore. According to reports, about one lakh people have gathered to hear what Shah has to say about the upcoming assembly elections. At the rally, Suvendu Adhikari along with other MLAs is expected to join the BJP in presence of Amit Shah.  

Former TMC MLA and minister Suvendu Adhikari has written a six-page letter targeting Mamata Baerjee and how her party has taken over by some 'greedy' people. He said workers have been sidelined and humiliated. He has urged party workers to leave the ruling party in Bengal.  

Home Minister Amit Shah is having lunch at a farmer's house at Belijuri village in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh are also having lunch with Shah at the farmer's house. 

Home Minister Amit Shah today said that revolutionary Khudiram Bose is as much a pride for the whole of India as he is of Bengal, hitting out at those indulging in 'narrow' politics of regionalism. Garlanding the statue of Bose at the freedom fighter's ancestral residence here, Shah said that he has inspired the youth of the country with his slogan 'Vande Mataram' while he was hanged by the British in 1908. 'I want to tell those who are doing narrow politics in Bengal that Khudiram Bose is as much a pride of India as he is of Bengal,' he said. The BJP leader said that those indulging in politics of regionalism should overcome it. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and other leaders of her party have often accused the BJP of bringing in 'outsiders' to West Bengal ahead of assembly elections, likely in April-May next year. (PTI)

After visiting Ramakrishna Mission and Siddheshwari Temple, Amit Shah is at Mahamaya Temple in Midnapore. 

"The BJP has given us some bit of reverence. No previous government has ever afforded us such regard. Not even Trinamool Congress," says Gopal Basu, a family member of Khudiram Bose. 

Former TMC heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari will meet Home Minister Amit Shah in some time and will join the BJP in his presence, claim reports. 

Home Minister Amit Shah offers prayers at Siddheshwari Kali Temple in Midnapore

After garlanding statue of Khudiram Bose, Amit Shah said: 'It is my good fortune that I have been able to touch my forehead the soil of the home of the great freedom fighter Khudiram Bose. He happily went to the gallows to sacrifice himself for the Indian freedom movement.' 

Home Minister Amit Shah paid homage to Khudiram Bose with flowers at his native village in Pashchim Midnapore. He also met with Bose's family members and felicitated them with honorary garbs. 

Amit Shah to meet Khudiram's family members. "I will tell Amit Shah, Khudiram Bose's birthplace has not seen any development. We only want youth's employment," says family member Gopal Basu ahead of BJP leader Amit Shah's visit to Bose's native village in Pashchim Midnapore, West Bengal. 

Home Minister Amit Shah has reached Midnapore where he will address a public rally. Here, former TMC heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari is expected to join the BJP. Earlier, Shah visited Ramakrishna Mission in Kolkata. He paid tribute to Swami Vivekanand at Ramakrishna Ashram in Kolkata. 

Amit Shah in West Bengal: Amid rebellion in the Trinamool Congress, Home Minister Amit Shah has begun his two-day visit to West Bengal. He visited Ramakrishna Mission and will later in the day will address a rally in Midnapore where former TMC heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari is expected to join the BJP. Amit Shah reached Kolkata at 11 AM on Saturday

Saturday: In the morning, Shah met with NIA officials. After that he visited Swami Vivekananda’s residence in north Kolkata and paid tributes to the famed spiritual leader. After this, Shah will travel to Midnapore to pay tributes to revolutionary Khudiram Bose and offer puja at two temples. In the afternoon, the Home Minister will visit a farmer’s home for lunch and hold a public rally at the Midnapore College ground. Several TMC leaders are expected to be present at this rally and formally join the BJP. Later on, Shah will hold meetings with state leaders in Kolkata and take stock of the party organisation.

Sunday: On the last day of his Bengal visit Amit Shah is scheduled to visit the Visva-Bharati university in Shantiniketan. He will have lunch at the house of a Baul singer and lead a roadshow in Bolpur. He will be holding a press conference on Sunday evening before returning to Delhi.

After visiting Ramakrishna Mission, Amit Shah says, "Had the profound fortune of spending time at the Ramakrishna Mission and pay tributes to Swami Vivekananda ji. He was a great son of Mother India who devoted his life to National Resurgence. May his ideals continue to inspire us to transform India into a land of enlightened wisdom." 

Amit Shah visited the birthplace of Swami Vivekananda in north Kolkata and said that the ideals of the 19th-century icon are more relevant in the present-day world. Shah paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda, hailing him for taking Indian's culture and ethos to the world. 'Swami Vivekananda took India's culture, vision and ethos to the world. He bridged the gap between spirituality and modernity. After visiting his birthplace, I feel his ideals are still relevant in the present-day world. Rather, his ideals are more needed in the present times,' he told reporters. He also said the path shown by Swami Vivekananda will not only lead India but the entire world on the road to prosperity. (PTI)

Amit Shah in West Bengal: I am fortunate to have come to this place where Vivekananda Ji was born. In his short life, Vivekananda Ji connected modernity and spirituality. I pray that we are able to walk on the path he showed us. Through his one word, he introduced Sanatana Dharma to the West. 

On two-day visit to West Bengal, Amit Shah oday paid floral tributes to Swami Vivekananda at Ramakrishna Mission. 

Home Minister Amit Shah has officialy kick-started campaigining BJP's Mission Bengal. Shah, who is on a two-day visit to the state, is currntly visiting Ramakrishna Mission. He paid tibutes to Swami Vivekanand at Ramakrishna Mission in Kolakata. He will later address a rally in Medinipur, political bastion of Suvendu Adhikari. 

Home Minister Amit Shah is currenlt at Ramakrishna Mission. He is on a two-day visit to West Bengal. He paid tribute to Swami Vivekanand at Ramakrishna Ashram in Kolkata. 

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The BJP has demanded immediate implementation of Model Code of Conduct in West Bengal. On Wednesday, a team comprising Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta, MP Locket Chaterjee and MLA Sabyasachi Dutta went to the Election Commission of India to press for immediate notification of Model Code. "This is a must to safeguard democracy and ensure a free poll in West Bengal. We also urged Inquiry into steep rise in new voters in border districts," Swapan Dasgupta said.

After BJP minitser Babul Supriyo opposed his entry in the party, Jitendra Tiwari made a U-turn and said that he had never said that he would join the saffron party. He expressed desire to meet Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. Tiwari resigned as the chairman of the Asansol Municipal Corporation's board of administrators and Paschim Bardhaman district chief on Thursday, days after he accused the West Bengal government of depriving the industrial town of central funds.

In just hours after resiginging from the TMC, Pandabeswar MLA Jitendra Tiwari yesterday did a U-turn after union minister Babul Supriyo said that he wasn't welcome in the saffron party. In a Facebook post, Supriyo writes: 'What my Top Bosses decide is a different thing but I will try my very best with all my might and honesty to ensure that NO TMC leader who tormented, tortured (both Physically and Mentally) my grass root level BJP colleagues in Asansol, don't get an entry in BJP!! We have the support of the people of Asansol with us in my efforts to clean up Asansol in every manner possible and the recent crack down on the Coal/Sand Mafias of the region prove that I had really meant to do it with all my heart in my endeavour to do justice to Asansol and give the youth there a clean peaceful life which we will make possible once we form our government in 2021.' 

Former TMC MLA Suvendu Adhikari has been accorded a 'Z' category VIP security cover by the central government. Adhikari, 50, will be secured by armed commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force whenever he moves in West Bengal. The Union home ministry has issued an order in this context. At all places except West Bengal, he will have a 'Y ' cover by the central paramilitary force. Adhikari, a former minister in the cabinet of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had resigned from the primary membership of the TMC on Thursday. He had resigned as an MLA a day before and it is expected that he may join the BJP today.

BJP Arjun Singh's counsel Mukul Rohatgi informed the Supreme Court that as many as 64 criminal cases have been filed against him in 2019 after he had joined Bharatiya Janta Party leaving TMC. 'I am an MP and these cases have been filed after I left TMC,' Rohatgi said. The first case against Arjun Singh was registered on March 24, 2019 after he left the TMC. Vijayvargiya's counsel told the bench that the BJP leader is an MP from Madhya Pradesh and false cases have been lodged against him in West Bengal. 'I am an MP from Madhya Pradesh and just because I am going to West Bengal for party works, false cases have been filed against me,' Vijayvargiya's counsel said. Arjun Singh's plea said: 'Initiation of 64 criminal cases against the petitioner (Arjun Singh), immediately upon him leaving the membership of TMC in March 2019, to join the BJP is glaring example as to how the state machineries and the criminal justice system are being misused in furtherance of the political vendetta that a political party (TMC) has against the petitioner.' The plea further said that 'the degree of animosity', can be be easily be gauged as many as 11 to 12 cases have been instituted against Arjun Singh in one month and 'with a view to multiply the number of criminal cases against the petitioner multiple FIRs have been lodged in relation to same cause of action.' Arjun Singh, a member of 17th Lok Sabha and one of the Vice-Presidents of the West Bengal unit of BJP since June 1, 2020, also alleged that his house has also been attacked with bombs and his car was also damaged by a TMC worker who threw stones, a bomb and bricks. (With agency inputs)

The Supreme Court yesterday granted interim protection from any coercive action to five BJP leaders, including Mukul Roy and MPs Kailash Vijayvargiya and Arjun Singh, in criminal cases lodged against them in West Bengal. The relief came to two other BJP leaders — Sourav Singh and Pawan Kumar as the apex court directed the state police not to take any coercive action till it hears their pleas next in January. "There should not be any coercive steps in cases registered against the petitioners till next date," said a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and sought response from the West Bengal's Home Secretary and others. It was alleged by the lawyers, appearing for BJP leaders, that criminal cases are being foisted on party leaders at the instance of ruling All India Trinamool Congress Party. All the leaders have filed separate pleas seeking protection in cases lodged against them in the state and alleged that criminal cases have been foisted against them to deter them from undertaking political activities in the state ahead of assembly polls. The BJP leaders have also sought investigation by an independent agency into the cases registered against them in West Bengal. (PTI) 

West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee yesterday said that he has not accepted the resignation tendered by TMC MLA Suvendu Adhikari as it does not conform to the provisions of the Constitution and the rules of the House. Banerjee noted that Adhikari did not hand over the resignation letter to him personally, and maintained that he wasn't aware if his move was "voluntary and genuine". The speaker further said that the legislator has been asked to appear before him personally in his chamber on December 21 to make a submission in the matter. "Unless and until I am satisfied that the resignation is voluntary and genuine, it is not possible for me to accept the same in the light of the provisions of the Constitution of India and the rules of procedure and conduct of business in West Bengal Legislative Assembly," he told reporters. Adhikari, who had earlier quit the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, submitted his resignation as MLA at the Assembly secretariat on December 16. The speaker was not present in the House at that time. He quit the Trinamool Congress on Thursday amid speculation that he is set to join the BJP. (PTI)

CPI(M) MLA from Haldia Tapasi Mondal has resigned from the primary membership of the party. She said she resigned as there was barely any scope left for her there to work for the people of the state. Her husband Arjun Mondal, who was a local leader of the Left party in Purba Medinipur district, joined the BJP a few days ago. "It isn't possible for me to work for people if I continue to remain in the CPI(M). I will join any party which gives me the right opportunity," Mondal said. The Haldia MLA alleged that she had been insulted by the district secretary of the party, Niranjan Sihi, for trying to work independently for her constituency. She said, "He (Sihi) is using his position for personal benefit." Asked if she plans to follow in her husband's footsteps, she said, "It won't be fair if two members of the same family bear allegiance to different parties." (With agency inputs)

TMC MLA Banasri Maity resigned from the party's primary membership yesterday — the fourth such exit in the coupld of days. The two-time MLA from Bengal's Kanthi Uttar constituency said she has sent her resignation to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee over email, triggering speculations that she might join the long list of ruling party leaders who are likely to join BJP. "I do hereby tender my resignation from the primary membership of the All India Trinamool Congress as well as from each and every post or assignment given to me in connection with my membership of the party," Maity said in her letter. The senior TMC leader from East Midnapore district is a loyalist of former TMC heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari, whose exit from the party prompted other leaders to follow suit. (PTI)

Suvendu Adhikari is the biggest name who could join BJP today in precence of Amit Shah. Following him, Pandabeswar MLA and Asansol civic body chief Jitendra Tiwari, Barrackpore MLA Silbhadra Dutta and Uttar Kanthi MLA Banasri Maity are likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party. Reports suggest that at least 10 other leaders could switch side today.