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After 2 Congress MLAs, AIUDF legislator joins BJP in Assam

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After two Congress MLAs, opposition AIUDF legislator, Phanidhar Talukdar joined ruling BJP after resigning from the membership of the Assam assembly, official and party sources said on Thursday.

An Assam Assembly official said that the All India United Democratic Front MLA from Bhabanipur constituency submitted his resignation to Speaker Biswajit Daimary. With Talukdar’s resignation, five assembly seats fell vacant.

A senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party said that Talukdar on Wednesday met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who welcomed him into the saffron party fold.

The BJP leader said that Talukdar went to the state party headquarters on Wednesday night and formally joined the party in presence of state party President Bhabesh Kalita.

Talukdar, who defeated BJP’s ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) candidate Ranjit Deka, on Thursday said he quit the AIUDF for “the larger interest” of the people of his constituency as well as Assam and would work for the welfare of the people of the state.

Talukdar was the lone Hindu lawmaker in Muslim based party, the AIUDF, whose strength in the 126-member Assam assembly has now gone down to 15.

BJP sources said that the party might give ticket to Talukdar in the ensuing by-elections to Bhabanipur seat in western Assam.

On August 1, two-time Assam Congress MLA, Sushanta Borgohain joined the BJP while on June 21, four-time Congress legislator and prominent Assam tea garden leader Rupjyoti Kurmi had deserted the party and joined the saffron fold.

In the March-April assembly elections, the BJP won 60 seats while its electoral allies AGP and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) secured nine and six seats respectively. Former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who is currently a Union Minister, is yet to resign from the assembly.

The Congress, which governed Assam for 15 years (2001-2016), managed 29 seats in the last assembly elections, three more than 2016 polls, when it lost Assam to the BJP. Of the other partners of the Congress led 10-party “Mahajot”, the AIUDF won 16 seats up from 13 last time, the Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) got four seats against 12, and the Communist Party of India-Marxist won just one seat.

The Assam Congress after a core committee meeting presided by Congress President Bhupen Kumar Borah earlier this week announced that the AIUDF and BPF would no longer be partners of the ‘Mahajot’ (Grand Alliance) in the state. Borah had told the media that the party has decided to sever ties with the Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF and tribal party BPF.

Two MLAs – one each from UPPL and BPF – had died.

National News

Thane: Garbage Piles Up In Kalwa–Mumbra; Protesters Dump Waste At TMC Headquarters, Warn Of Bigger Agitation

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Thane, Nov 17: The garbage from the Kalwa, Mumbra areas has not been picked up for the last four days. As a result, piles of garbage have started accumulating in Kalwa and Mumbra. Residence as well as commuters are suffering due to this issue. Residents have filed written complaints several times, yet TMC is treating Kalwa and Mumbra stepmotherly.

As the municipal administration is not taking any action on it, a garbage dumper was emptied in front of the Thane Municipal Corporation headquarters under the leadership of Abhijit Pawar, District President of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) Youth Congress party. Abhijit Pawar warned at this time that if the garbage problem is not resolved immediately, they will dump garbage in front of the Commissioner’s bungalow in the future.

Stating the reason that there is no dumping ground, the contractors are not picking up the garbage. As a result, garbage has started accumulating in various parts of Kalwa. Garbage is collecting outside many societies.

This raw garbage was brought in a dumper under the leadership of Abhijit Pawar by Pooja Shinde-Vichare, Kailas Hawle, and Raju Shinde and dumped in front of the municipal headquarters. This caused a stir in the municipal area.

Meanwhile, regarding this, Abhijit Pawar gave a warning that the functioning of the municipality, which takes taxes from the public but does not provide them with facilities, has gone to waste. Today, garbage has only been dumped at the municipal gate.

But, if this garbage is not picked up within a day, garbage will be dumped in the office of every officer in the municipality, in front of the houses of the concerned officers, and in front of the commissioner’s bungalow.

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Crime

Bengal STF seizes 5 crore cash from car in New Town, two arrested

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Kolkata, Nov 17: The Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police on Monday seized cash amounting to Rs 5 crore from a car near Akanksha Crossing in New Town and arrested two persons, including the vehicle’s owner.

The seizure was made following a tip-off from a confidential source.

Two people, including the owner of the car, have been arrested in connection with the incident, police said, adding that an investigation is underway.

Police said that the money was being brought from the New Town area. Sources said Bengal STF is searching for the source of the money.

The recovery of such a large amount of money while checking the car has raised concerns, especially ahead of next year’s state Assembly polls.

According to police, the recovery of such huge cash has raised eyebrows, especially in the backdrop of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of West Bengal’s electoral rolls by the Election Commission.

The police are investigating where this money came from, where it was being taken, and what the purpose was.

“Cash worth Rs 5 crore has been recovered from a car after conducting a raid. The cash has been seized. Two people have been arrested. An investigation has started to find out the source of the money,” said a police official.

Last week, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recovered large sums from the residence of a businessman in the Taratala area during searches connected to the municipal recruitment scam.

Earlier this month, ED teams carried out raids at around 10 locations across the city, including Salt Lake and Beliaghata. ED sleuths searched the house of a businessman in the Taratala area in connection with the municipal recruitment corruption case.

Investigators recovered a huge amount of money from the house then too.

With the latest STF recovery, investigators are also examining whether any organised syndicate or corruption network is active in the region. Further questioning of the arrested duo is underway.

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National News

India’s Biggest Senior Citizens’ Festival Lights Up Mumbai With Stars And Laughter

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Mumbai: witnessed something truly remarkable as Khyaal’s 50Above50 mega event wrapped up its two-day celebration at NESCO, Goregaon, on Sunday.

The festival started on November 15, turning the venue into a vibrant cultural hub, proving that age is no barrier to enthusiasm, creativity, or joy. The festival welcomed over 5,500 seniors and their families, many of whom had traveled from various parts of India to participate in the celebration.

Rohini Hattangadi, national award and BAFTA award-winning actress, who is the brand ambassador of Khyaal 50Above50, inaugurated the festival along with other personalities like Rakesh Bedi, Yasmin Sait, Mangesh Gawade, and Mansur Dalal. Their presence set the perfect tone for a weekend filled with inspiration and entertainment.

The audience was thrilled by the performances by celebrities. The day’s lineup featured a diverse range of artistic expressions, including soulful classical music by Krishna Bongane; rhythmic brilliance from tabla maestro Ustad Taufiq Qureshi; and an energetic performance by the RD Warriors Dance Group. Additionally, world whistling champions, Nikhil Rane and Girija Marathe, who have a musical legacy, added to the event’s charm. When stand-up comedian Atul Khatri took the stage, the hall was filled with laughter.

The event was not just about performances, but also about how to lead a meaningful and secure life after 50. There were sessions that focused on every important aspect of ageing. The event included financial planning, health, legacy creation, and life purpose. Experts from organisations like Ready to Retire, Tulips Hygiene, Axis Max Life Insurance, HDFC Mutual Fund, and Aasaan delivered insightful talks.

The interactive zones brought a sense of nostalgia and fun. Seniors enthusiastically participated in caricature art, pottery, mehendi, tattoos, bangle-making, and indoor sports. The VR experience zone introduced many to new-age technology, while the Golden Tambola, complete with gold prizes, kept spirits high on both days. A curated brand exposition showcased products tailored for senior living, further enhancing the experiential feel of the event. Seniors enthusiastically participated in indoor sports, mehendi, art and more such events. The sessions added depth to the festival, making it not only enjoyable but also enriching.

Atul Khatri’s performance at the event was one of the biggest highlights. With his signature style and effortless storytelling, he had the entire audience laughing, from seniors to younger family members. What made his act truly special were his jokes about everyday life, society, aging, and his own life experiences. His performance helped us realise that our problems and challenges seem small when viewed from a different perspective, suggesting that this might be the best way to face life’s challenges.

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