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BJP’s tally in Bengal Assembly set to come down below 70

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The BJP’s tally in West Bengal Assembly is now all set to come down to below 70.

After the sitting BJP Lok Sabha member from Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district Arjun Singh joined Trinamool Congress on Sunday evening, his son Pawan Kumar Singh, who is currently the BJP legislator Bhatpara Assembly constituency, is all set to follow his father’s footsteps.

In all probability Pawan Kumar Singh is expected to join the ruling party camp at a mega rally of the Trinamool Congress on May 30 at Shyamnagar in North 24 Parganas. Although there has been no confirmation from Pawan Kumar Singh on this count, his father confirmed about his son’s joining the ruling party.

“When the father has joined Trinamool Congress, where will the son go,” Arjun Singh said. Once that happens, BJP’s seat tally in the West Bengal Assembly will come down to 69 from the existing strength of 70.

To recall, in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP got 77 legislators. But immediately after that two of its MLAs — namely Nishith Pramanik and Dr Jagannath Sarkar — who were also sitting Lok Sabha members, resigned as MLAs to retain their Parliamentary chairs, thus bringing down the tally immediately to 75.

After then five sitting BJP legislators joined Trinamool Congress one after another to bring down the tally to the existing figure of 70. Now if Pawan Kumar Singh follows the same example, the tally will come down to 69.

Arjun Singh was a four- time Trinamool Congress MLA from the Bhatpara Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district from 2011 to 2019. However, as he was denied the Lok Sabha nomination from Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency by the Trinamool Congress leadership in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he joined the saffron camp. BJP fielded him as the party candidate from Barrackpore Lok Sabha in 2019 and Singh got elected defeating Trinamool Congress’ sitting MP, Dinesh Trivedi by a margin of little less than 15,000 votes.

By-elections for the Bhatpara Assembly happened in 2019, Pawan Kumar Singh got elected on behalf of the BJP. In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, he got re-elected from the same constituency.

National News

Aadhaar-Based Face Authentication Doubles To 200 Crore Transactions In Just 6 Months

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Aadhaar-based face authentication has set new benchmark, doubling from 100 crore to 200 crore transactions in just 6 months, the government said on Monday.

Aadhaar Face Authentication lets Aadhaar holders verify their identity instantly, securely, and contactless anytime, anywhere, no documents needed.

On August 10, 2025, UIDAI celebrated a landmark 200 crore transactions of Face Authentication, showcasing India’s rapid move towards seamless, secure, and paperless authentication, according to IT Ministry.

The pace of adoption has been exponential. 50 crore transactions were recorded by mid-2024. The number doubled to 100 crore transactions in January 2025 in just about five months. In less than six months, this figure has again doubled, reaching the 200 crore milestone, the ministry informed.

“Reaching 200 crore Aadhaar Face Authentication transactions in such a short time underlines the trust and confidence that both residents and service providers have in Aadhaar’s secure, inclusive, and innovative authentication ecosystem,” said Bhuvnesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), UIDAI.

The journey from 100 crore to 200 crore transactions in under six months is a testament to its scalability and the country’s digital readiness.”

He further added, “From villages to metros, UIDAI is joining forces with governments, banks, and service providers to make Aadhaar Face Authentication a grand success and by giving every Indian the power to prove their identity instantly, securely, and anywhere.”

The swift rise from 100 crore to 200 crore Aadhaar Face Authentication transactions in just six months reflects the core vision of Digital India, transforming the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

By enabling instant, secure and paperless identity verification across every corner of the nation, UIDAI is strengthening the backbone of digital governance.

“This milestone is not just about numbers, it is a testament to how inclusive technology, when scaled efficiently, can bridge divides, empower citizens and accelerate India’s journey towards a truly connected and confident digital future,” said the ministry.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Jain Spiritual Leader, Society Members Booked For Threats & Vandalism In Lalbaug

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Mumbai: The Kalachowki police have booked a Jain spiritual leader and unidentified members of a housing society for allegedly inciting hatred, threatening a resident and vandalising his vehicles, resulting in damages estimated at Rs 2 lakh.

About The Case

According to the FIR, Nirmal Kumar Ajayraj Sothani, 62, a businessman in the crusher machine industry, resides in Magnum Tower in Chivda Galli, Lalbaug, along with his wife and son. He alleged that Jain spiritual leader Nileshchandra even filed a false police complaint. Sothani alleged that after purchasing the flat six years ago, the society’s chairman, members and some residents continued to harass him and his son over parking disputes.

He added that he had repeatedly submitted written requests to the managing committee, seeking additional parking space. However, the committee allegedly targeted and antagonised him. The police complaint further said that religious programmes organised by the Jain community were being held on the building’s ground floor throughout the year, often involving the unauthorised use of gas cylinders and stoves for cooking. Sothani said that he had filed a complaint with the BMC, after which the civic officials conducted a raid on August 1 and confiscated the stoves and cylinders.

The action led to resentment among the residents, said the businessman, adding that they allegedly misinformed Nileshchandra about his involvement. In response, the latter is accused of delivering an inflammatory speech, urging residents to boycott Sothani and his son, and threatening to prevent them from entering the building. The businessman claimed that Nileshchandra also filed a false police complaint against him and his son.

On the same day following the BMC raid, some residents allegedly vandalised three of Sothani’s vehicles – an Ertiga, a Fortuner and a Suzuki Invicto – and smashed their windows. The move jeopardised their safety, he underlined. The Kalachowki police have registered a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 324(5) [whoever commits mischief and thereby causes loss or damage to the amount of one lakh rupees or upwards] and 351(2) [criminal intimidation].

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Maharashtra

From Terrorism To Cybercrime: ‘Fully Equipped To Safeguard Mumbai,’ Says Police Commissioner Deven Bharti

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Mumbai: In a comprehensive briefing on Mumbai’s security landscape, Police Commissioner Deven Bharti on Monday detailed the city’s readiness to counter threats ranging from terrorism and cybercrime to drug trafficking and urban Naxalism. He assured citizens that the force is fully equipped and unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding Mumbai.

Bharti emphasised that despite the passage of time, Mumbai continues to face a persistent threat of terrorist attacks. He stated that ensuring preventive measures and strengthening the city’s security remains the department’s top priority. “Mumbai, being the financial capital of the country, remains on the radar of terrorist elements. We are constantly working to safeguard it,” he said.

Police Commissioner Deven Bharti Acknowledges The Presence Of Urban Naxal Elements In The City

Acknowledging the presence of urban Naxal elements in the city, Bharti revealed that a dedicated unit monitors and acts against such threats daily. He also disclosed that over 1,000 illegal Bangladeshi nationals have been deported in recent months as part of intensified action against unlawful residency. Bharti assured that all threat calls received in Mumbai will be treated seriously, with each incident being thoroughly investigated. Over 90% of the hoax or real threat cases have resulted in arrests, he said.

Following the recent firing at comedian Kapil Sharma’s cafe in Canada by the Bishnoi gang, the Mumbai Police have taken all necessary precautions and have provided adequate security to Sharma and his family, he pointed out. The Commissioner pointed to the long-standing issue of drug trafficking and the rapidly rising cases of cybercrime as two major challenges for the city.

Special efforts are being made to curb both these threats, he claimed. In the last two years, the Mumbai Cyber Cell has prevented financial frauds worth over Rs 300 crore and has arrested several accused. The department receives over 2,000 cyber fraud-related calls daily, and nearly 60 lakh bank accounts have been frozen as part of ongoing investigations. Bharti underlined that increased focus will be given to ensuring women’s safety across Mumbai.

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