Politics
Trinamool prepares to play key role in uniting Oppositon, avoiding vote split

As elections for the new President of India is scheduled sometime in July this year, it is certain that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will take a lead role in uniting the regional parties so that a strong and unanimously accepted opposition candidate can be fielded against the nominee of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
On Thursday, after a section of the media asked Banerjee about the Presidential polls, she refused to divulge the details of her plans but made it clear that she is determined to take a lead role in uniting the opposition ahead of the Presidential polls.
“There is time to go for the polls. I cannot divulge my plans right now. I will share the details at an appropriate time. All I can say is that the opposition will put up a strong contest,” the Chief Minister said.
a senior Trinamool MP, who on conditions of anonymity said that Banerjee has started talking to the CMs of non-BJP states on this count.
“During her recent visit to New Delhi, she had a meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The issue of fielding a unanimous opposition candidate came up in the meeting. I heard that soon she is also likely to hold a meeting with TRS chief and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on this matter. The rest is up to the Chief Minister to decide,” the Trinamool MP said.
That Trinamool will go all out to play an important role in forging opposition unity over the Presidential polls was made clear by Banerjee on March 16, when she said that despite BJP’s victory in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, it will not be a cakewalk for the BJP since they do not have even 50 per cent of the total number of legislators in the country.
“You should not forget that without our support, BJP will not be able to sail through,” the Chief Minister had said then.
The question that automatically arises is whether the Chief Minister’s dream of taking a lead role in uniting the opposition on this issue will be fulfilled if she keeps the Congress out of her plans.
According to All Indian Congress Committee member Suvankar Sarkar, Banerjee has to decide whether she is really serious about uniting the opposition on the issue of Presidential polls.
“In March, she had said that without Trinamool’s help the BJP will not be able to sail through. Do I consider this statement as a subtle message to the BJP? The initiative has to come from her side on whether she wants the support of the Congress on this issue,” he said.
Political analyst and the former registrar of Calcutta University, Rajagopal Dhar Chakraborty, said that any attempt from the Chief Minister to field an unanimously accepted opposition candidate will not be fruitful without the support of the Congress.
“Mere unity of regional parties will never be able to put up a formidable opposition against BJP’s presidential nominee. However, I feel the equation will be clear by the first or second week of June,” Chakraborty said.
Maharashtra
Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi demands state secretary to pass anti-religious hatred bill in Maharashtra monsoon session

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has demanded the passing of the Anti-Religious Hatred Bill. Abu Asim Azmi has sent a letter and a draft to the Secretary of the State Assembly, demanding the passing of the Anti-Religious Hatred Bill, which prohibits religious hatred including insulting important persons, religious places, holy places and blasphemy and has demanded strict legal action and law against its perpetrators. He said that the Anti-Religious Hatred Bill should be passed in the monsoon assembly session so that strict action can be taken against those who spread religious hatred in the state. He has drawn attention in his letter that in the case of religious hatred and insulting important persons, attempts are also made to incite communal violence and spoil the atmosphere. In such a situation, the Anti-Religious Hatred Law and Bill should be passed and banned. Azmi has also sent a private draft to the Secretary, suggesting action against those who spread religious hatred and insult important persons. This bill was passed in the same session. Azmi has strongly demanded this.
Maharashtra
Heavy rains fill Powai lake in Mumbai

Mumbai: Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s Powai Lake, an important artificial lake within the Mumbai BMC limits, filled up around 6 am today (June 18, 2025). The water of this lake with a storage capacity of 545 crore liters of water is not potable and is mainly used for industrial purposes and other purposes apart from drinking in Aarey Dairy Colony.
According to the water engineering department of the municipal corporation, the lake filled up due to rains in the catchment area of this lake for the last two days.
Here is a brief information about Powai Lake
This lake is located about 27 km (about 17 miles) from the Mumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters.
The construction of this artificial lake was completed in 1890.
The catchment area of the lake is about 6.61 km. When the lake is completely full, the water area is about 2.23 square kilometers. When the lake is completely filled, it contains 545.5 crore liters of water. (5455 million liters)
After this lake is completely filled, its water goes into the Methi river.
Last year this lake was filled on 8 July 2024.
Maharashtra
Protest in support of Palestine in Mumbai, protesters detained

Mumbai: Demonstration in support of Palestine in Mumbai proved costly for the protesters when the police detained the protesters demonstrating in support of Palestine from midnight. The leaders who had announced to protest in different areas of Mumbai to express sympathy for Palestine were stopped by the police from going to Azad Maidan from midnight. Chunabhatti police detained Miraj Siddiqui, Gurgaon police detained Comrade Prakash Reddy, MIDC police detained Firoz Mithi Borwala.
The protesters had sought permission to protest in support of Palestine, but the police refused to give permission, while the protesters had warned them against protesting. Firoz Mithi Borwala said that the police detained us from midnight to stop us from protesting. He said that after the threat from Hindu extremist organization Vishwa Hindu Parishad Bajrang Dal, the police took this action to crush the protest. Hindu organizations had clearly threatened that if Muslims protest against Israel, they will take to the streets in support of Israel. It was only after this threat that the police took action against the protesters in support of Palestine, which is completely illegal. Mumbai Police said that the permission has been canceled to maintain law and order. Police has issued an alert in Mumbai.
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