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Trinamool’s national ambitions come unstuck after drubbing in Goa, Tripura

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Soon after assuming charge as the Trinamool Congress’s national general secretary following the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and party MP Abhishek Banerjee said that henceforth his party will target expansion in those states where it will have the chance to form the government or be an extremely strong opposition.

He added that henceforth the party’s focus will not be on just getting a couple of MLAs in a couple of states outside West Bengal.

Since then, Abhishek Banerjee has tried to achieve this thrice — the assembly elections in Goa, municipal elections in Tripura and the latest in the by-polls in Tripura. In the Goa assembly elections the Trinamool Congress was unable to open its account. In the Tripura civic elections, it failed to emerge as the major opposition party. In the Tripura by-polls the Trinamool Congress candidates finished in the fourth position in all the four assembly constituencies with their deposits forfeited. In two constituencies the votes secured by the party candidates did not cross the 1,000-mark.

In this backdrop two questions arise. The first is how far the Trinamool Congress will be able to expand its base outside West Bengal in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls? The second is how far Mamata Banerjee can become a key player in deciding matters in the ruling or opposition coalition, depending on the results, after 2024?

According to Trinamool Congress spokesman Kunal Ghosh, the latest by-poll results in Tripura cannot be taken as an indicator for the future considering that the party contested without much groundwork. Secondly, according to him, the Lok Sabha polls are always different from the assembly or civic polls, with bigger national issues.

“Since our chief minister Mamata Banerjee has already established herself as the face of a relentless movement against the Union government’s anti-people policies, no anti-BJP force would be able to undermine her in 2024,” he said.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari has said that it would be better for Mamata Banerjee to concentrate on saving her chief minister’s chair rather than trying to be a key player in the ruling coalition after the 2024 polls.

“The game has begun with Maharashtra. We will reach West Bengal via Rajasthan and Jharkhand in 2023,” he said.

Political observers feel that there is a remote chance that Mamata Banerjee or the Trinamool Congress would be able to get established as key national players be it in the ruling coalition or in the opposition front.

According to political observer Rajagopal Dhar Chakraborty, Abhishek Banerjee’s announcement that his party will target expansion in those states where they will have a chance to emerge as the ruling party or an extremely strong opposition, was an over ambitious one.

“Trinamool Congress earlier managed to get MLAs in Tripura and later in Meghalaya. However, none of these MLAs were elected as Trinamool Congress candidates. They were just turncoat MLAs from the Congress or other regional parties, who at the first opportunity deserted the Trinamool.

“But when it came to contesting in states outside West Bengal, the results for the Trinamool have been pathetic. That is because the Trinamool Congress contested those elections without prolonged groundwork just depending on vote strategist Prashant Kishor and his organization I-PAC. No vote strategist can do wonders for any political party in any state unless that party has a sufficient and strong organizational network of its own in that state,” he said.

Secondly, he added, considering the Trinamool Congress’s pathetic performance in states outside West Bengal, it is unlikely that regional parties there will allow space to the Trinamool in any seat sharing agreement, however close their official relationship with Mamata Banerjee might be.

Political analyst Santanu Sanyal feels that before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Trinamool Congress will be so busy in its own turf of West Bengal that it will hardly have any opportunity to concentrate on other states.

“The Trinamool Congress leadership including the chief minister knows quite well that their importance in national politics, be it be as a part of the ruling coalition or the opposition front, will depend on how well the party can perform in West Bengal. So, in my opinion, in the 2024 polls the Trinamool Congress’ concentration will be solely on West Bengal and not on other states,” he said.

Crime

Maha: ED files charge sheet in Sai Group case

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Mumbai, Aug 13: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Mumbai Zonal Office, has filed a charge sheet under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against Jayesh Vinod Tanna, Deep Vinod Tanna, Vivek Jayesh Tanna and seven entities of the Sai Group.

According to a press release, the charge sheet was submitted before the Special Court (PMLA), Mumbai, after extensive investigations into alleged financial irregularities tied to redevelopment projects across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The case traces back to 2024, when Mumbai Police registered multiple FIRs under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act (MOFA), 1963.

The ED’s probe revealed that the promoters of Sai Group diverted funds collected from flat and shop buyers in several redevelopment projects. Instead of channelling the money into construction, the funds were allegedly siphoned off, leaving buyers and investors in distress, the agency said.

According to the findings, the diversion of funds amounted to Rs 43.73 crore, affecting projects in DN Nagar, Andheri, Kandivali and Goregaon. The promoters are accused of misleading buyers, failing to deliver promised housing units and breaching financial trust.

To secure the proceeds of crime, the ED has attached assets worth Rs 43.73 crore under Section 5 of the PMLA. These include properties in Mumbai and Ahmednagar, as well as overseas holdings in the United Kingdom, it said.

The filing of the charge sheet highlights the ED’s intensified scrutiny of real estate‑linked money laundering cases, which have become increasingly common due to misuse of redevelopment funds. The agency emphasised that such fraudulent practices not only undermine the housing sector but also erode public confidence in redevelopment projects.

With the charge sheet now before the Special Court, the matter will proceed to trial, where evidence presented by the ED will be examined to determine the culpability of the accused individuals and entities.

This marks a significant step in the broader crackdown on financial crimes in the real estate sector, reinforcing the government’s stand to protect homebuyers and investors from exploitation.

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Border tensions escalate as stone-pelting erupts along Assam-Arunachal Highway

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Guwahati, Aug 13: Tensions along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border remained high on Thursday as an ongoing economic blockade over a recent firing incident escalated into stone-pelting, leaving police and CRPF personnel caught in clashes involving protesters from both sides.

The situation continued to remain sensitive in parts of Assam’s Dhemaji district and Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Siang, amid heightened tensions between members of the Mising and Galo communities following the August 10 firing incident.

The incident took place at Mingmang Basti along the inter-state border under the Gogamukh revenue circle of Gerukamukh police station in Dhemaji.

At least 12 people were injured in the firing, which reportedly followed a dispute over alleged encroachment of Assam land by people from Arunachal Pradesh.

Following the incident, the Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) launched an indefinite economic blockade from August 12, disrupting movement between the two neighbouring states at multiple points.

The blockade has particularly affected the Silapathar-Likabali highway, where tensions intensified on Thursday after protesters allegedly resorted to stone-pelting.

Security personnel, including police and CRPF personnel deployed to maintain law and order, were also targeted.

Vehicles carrying Arunachal Pradesh registration numbers have reportedly been stopped at several entry points as part of the agitation.

The TMPK, along with the Mising Mimag Kebang (MMK) and Takam Mising Mahila Kebang (TMMK), has demanded the arrest of those allegedly involved in the firing and their handover to Assam Police.

The organisations have also sought an early settlement of the long-pending Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary dispute and action against alleged encroachment on Assam territory.

The administration has appealed to residents and protesters to maintain peace and refrain from actions that could further aggravate the situation.

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km boundary, with several areas remaining disputed. The two states have been pursuing a negotiated settlement through regional mechanisms and the Namsai Declaration framework.

With tensions still simmering, security forces and civil authorities are maintaining close vigil in the affected areas to prevent further escalation.

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‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign strengthening sentiment of patriotism, pride in heart of every Indian: HM Shah

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New Delhi, Aug 13: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday hoisted the Tricolour as part of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign at his residence in the national capital and said that this strengthens the sentiment of patriotism and pride in the heart of every Indian.

Amit Shah took to social media platform ‘X’ and said, “Today, at my residence in New Delhi, I hoisted the Tricolour under the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign. This campaign, launched under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi ji, is today further strengthening the sentiment of patriotism and pride in the heart of every Indian. Today, crores of countrymen are connecting with the Tricolour and empowering the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.”

The ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign was launched under the aegis of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to encourage citizens to bring the national flag into their homes and hoist the Tiranga as part of the celebrations marking India’s Independence.

The campaign was based on the idea that people’s relationship with the national flag had traditionally remained more formal and institutional, rather than becoming a personal expression of national pride.

By encouraging citizens to bring the national flag home, the initiative sought to transform the Tiranga into a symbol of a personal connection with the nation while also representing a collective commitment towards nation-building and national unity.

This year, ‘Har Ghar Tiranga 2026’ is being dedicated to the spirit of 150 Years of Vande Mataram, celebrating patriotism, pride in the Tiranga and the deep love for the motherland reflected in India’s National Song.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday appealed to the countrymen to actively participate in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign to mark Independence Day on August 15 and pay tributes to the freedom fighters.

Sharing a reel on Instagram, PM Modi said, “Celebrate August 15 with pride, pay tribute to freedom fighters, take a pledge for Viksit Bharat. Har Ghar Tiranga, Ghar Ghar Tiranga, Har Man Tiranga.”

“Come, let’s make Har Ghar Tiranga a celebration in every home,” the Prime Minister captioned the post on X as the nation prepares to celebrate the 80th Independence Day.

Earlier this week, PM Modi, calling upon the citizens to participate in the campaign, termed the Tricolour as “pride” and “source of motivation”.

Taking to his official X account, PM Modi had said, “Our Tricolour is our pride and a constant source of inspiration to always give our best for the nation.”

“Let us participate enthusiastically in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ movement and renew our collective resolve to contribute towards building a ‘Viksit Bharat’,” he said while underlining this year’s theme as that of the national song ‘Vande Mataram.’

The Prime Minister mentioned: “Glad that this year’s efforts are dedicated to Vande Mataram and that, too, at a time when we are marking its 150th anniversary.”

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