Stepping up Congress's attack on the Centre's military recruitment policy, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday termed the Agnipath scheme a "betrayal" of soldiers and ex-service personnel, and promised that the Congress would scrap it when voted to power.

Addressing a gathering of ex-servicemen in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal via video conference, Gandhi alleged that the BJP government had diluted the long-standing contract between the nation and its armed forces in a bid to cut pension and welfare expenditure.

Apologising for his inability to attend the event in person, Gandhi said adverse weather conditions had forced his helicopter to turn back, preventing him from reaching the venue.

"The relationship between the nation, the government and its soldiers is sacred," Gandhi said, claiming that the Agnipath scheme had weakened that bond. He claimed the policy was introduced to reduce spending on soldiers' pensions and welfare while enabling the government to channel resources elsewhere.

The Congress leader also accused the Centre of weakening public-sector defence enterprises and favouring a handful of large corporate groups in defence procurement and contracts.

Referring to a recent interaction with ex-servicemen's representatives, Gandhi said concerns had been raised over the withdrawal of disability pension-related benefits, including tax exemptions, and other issues affecting veterans.

He also criticised the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP), alleging that the interests of serving and retired armed forces personnel had not been adequately protected.

Expanding his attack to the government's economic and foreign policy decisions, Gandhi alleged that Modi is compromised.

Gandhi also warned that opening India's agricultural market to American products could hurt domestic farmers. Pointing to the vast differences in scale, mechanisation and technological capabilities between the two countries, he argued that small and marginal Indian farmers would struggle to compete with large American agribusinesses, putting rural livelihoods and food security at risk.

The Congress leader also targeted the government's economic record, arguing that small and medium enterprises had already been hit by demonetisation and the implementation of the GST. Increased imports from the United States, he said, could further undermine domestic manufacturing and employment generation.

Noting that MSMEs have traditionally been a major source of jobs, Gandhi said sectors such as textiles, handicrafts, footwear, auto components and small-scale manufacturing could face additional pressure if they were forced to compete with rising imports.

He also expressed concern over what he described as the concentration of strategic assets — including ports, airports and defence contracts — in the hands of a few business groups, alleging that the government's policies disproportionately benefited select industrialists at the cost of broader national interests.

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was on Friday elected leader of the BJP legislature party in West Bengal, clearing the path for him to become the state’s first BJP chief minister after the party’s landmark electoral victory.

Party sources said Adhikari’s name was proposed at the BJP legislature party meeting in Kolkata and formally announced by Union home minister Amit Shah in the presence of newly elected BJP MLAs and senior leaders.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government will be held on 9 May at Brigade Parade Ground.

Even before the formal oath-taking, preparations are underway across the state administrative machinery for the transition of power. A senior Assembly official said work was progressing “in full swing” at the West Bengal Assembly complex amid the possibility that the newly sworn-in cabinet may hold its first meeting there immediately after the ceremony.

“In the absence of any official communication, the Assembly secretariat is preparing the premises amid the possibility that the new cabinet members may come there after the swearing-in and hold their first meeting chaired by the new chief minister,” the official told PTI.

The official said chief secretary Dushyant Nariala held an emergency meeting with Assembly personnel on 6 May to review infrastructure and security arrangements.

“We have been asked to keep the annex building ready and take into account every infrastructural issue, considering security and other aspects. The building has to be kept ready,” the official said.

At the Assembly complex, nameplates of ministers outside their offices have already been removed as cleaning and maintenance work gathered pace.

Attention has also shifted to Writers' Buildings, the iconic colonial-era structure that historically housed the chief minister’s office and the state secretariat before the Trinamool Congress government shifted operations to Nabanna in 2013.

The building is currently undergoing renovation and maintenance work, fuelling speculation that the BJP government may eventually restore it as Bengal’s administrative headquarters.

BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said the party remained committed to governing from Writers’ Buildings. “We had said in 2021 that once our government comes to power, we will run the government from Writers’ Buildings. What will happen immediately after the swearing-in of the new government will be announced officially at the appropriate time,” he said.

However, Assembly officials said there had been no formal communication yet on whether the CMO would temporarily function from the Assembly annex building till the renovation of Writers’ Buildings is completed.

“No such word has been communicated to us. I think the final decision will be announced by the BJP leadership by tomorrow morning,” an official said.

Built in 1780 by architect Thomas Lyon in the neoclassical style with Corinthian columns, Writers’ Buildings originally served as a boarding house for East India Company clerks or 'writers', from whom it derived its name. It later evolved into the administrative nerve centre of Bengal under British rule and subsequently became the seat of power for successive state governments after Independence.

From Congress leader Prafulla Chandra Ghosh in 1947 to the CPI(M)’s Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in 2011, every chief minister functioned from the landmark building until Mamata Banerjee shifted the secretariat to Nabanna.

“The move to shift the state secretariat to Nabanna was a hasty, poorly planned one with no thought given to heritage and history. We will change that,” BJP MLA-elect Agnimitra Paul said.

For the first time in nearly six decades, the Congress party is set to return to the Tamil Nadu cabinet, with two of its MLAs due to be sworn in as ministers in the government led by C. Joseph Vijay on Thursday.

The development follows approval from Mallikarjun Kharge for the induction of Congress legislators S. Rajesh Kumar and P. Viswanathan into the state ministry. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Raj Bhavan in Guindy, where Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will administer the oath of office.

The inclusion of Congress ministers marks a notable moment in Tamil Nadu politics, with the party returning to ministerial office in the state after an absence of 59 years. The move is also seen as a major step in consolidating the ruling coalition led by C. Joseph Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

Confirming the decision, Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal described the occasion as “historic” and expressed confidence that the new ministers would work towards fulfilling public aspirations while supporting a welfare-oriented administration.

The Congress currently holds five seats in the Tamil Nadu assembly and emerged as a crucial ally after the recent Assembly elections produced a fractured mandate. Although TVK emerged as the single largest party, it fell short of a majority in the 234-member House.

The political equation shifted after Congress, the CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML extended support to the Vijay-led alliance, enabling it to comfortably cross the majority mark required to form the government.

Vijay was sworn in as chief minister on 10 May along with nine ministers. However, several major portfolios — including Agriculture, Revenue, Forests, Housing, Cooperatives and MSME — have remained vacant since the government assumed office, prompting expectations of an early Cabinet expansion.

The government’s position in the Assembly strengthened further during the trust vote when 25 AIADMK legislators reportedly backed the ruling coalition, taking its effective strength to 144 members.

Political observers believe the induction of Congress ministers is aimed at reinforcing alliance unity and ensuring broader representation within the government while maintaining political stability in the state.

With IANS inputs

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to publish a comprehensive white paper detailing all instances of paper leaks and examination irregularities linked to National Testing Agency (NTA)-conducted tests over the past eight years.

In his letter dated 4 June, Singh argued that greater transparency was necessary to restore confidence among students following the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination amid allegations of a question paper leak.

The Rajya Sabha member, who also chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, said students across the country were facing immense stress and uncertainty due to recurring concerns over examination integrity.

He noted that the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 had significantly affected the mental well-being of lakhs of aspirants and that many students had expressed concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding investigations into previous paper leak cases.

According to Singh, there is currently no consolidated public record detailing instances of paper leaks, the progress of investigations, or the action taken by agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and state authorities.

He argued that the absence of official information had created space for speculation and rumours, further eroding trust in the examination system.

In his letter, Singh referred to concerns raised by students regarding the status of individuals accused in earlier examination leak cases, including the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak investigation in Hazaribagh. He also cited reports relating to the CBI's closure report in the cancelled UGC-NET 2024 examination case.

The Congress leader said questions surrounding the progress of such investigations and delays in legal proceedings had contributed to a perception that accountability was lacking.

To address these concerns, Singh proposed that the government release a detailed white paper listing every reported paper leak or irregularity in examinations conducted by the NTA since its inception.

He suggested that the document should include details of action taken by the NTA and investigative agencies, names and status of accused persons, arrests made, progress of investigations, filing of charge sheets or closure reports, and the current stage of legal proceedings.

The proposed report should also explain the reasons behind any closure reports and indicate whether accused individuals are on bail, facing trial, acquitted or convicted, he said.

Singh maintained that such a measure would serve as a confidence-building exercise for students and help reinforce faith in public institutions responsible for conducting competitive examinations.

"Issuing a transparent account of these cases would reassure young people that investigations are being pursued seriously and that justice is being delivered," he said in the letter.

The NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted by the NTA on 3 May, was cancelled on 12 May following allegations of a paper leak. The matter is currently under investigation by the CBI. The re-examination has been scheduled for 21 June.

With IANS inputs

D.K. Shivakumar, who was unanimously elected Congress Legislature Party leader earlier in the day, met Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Saturday and formally staked claim to form the government. Outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other senior party leaders accompanied him during the meeting.

The announcement of Shivakumar's election as leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Karnataka was made by AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal following a meeting of Congress legislators at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. The development comes after the resignation of Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister, which was accepted by the Governor earlier in the day.

Addressing a joint press conference alongside Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister-designate Shivakumar and AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, Venugopal said Shivakumar would soon meet the Governor to stake claim to form the government.

He confirmed that Shivakumar would be sworn in as Chief Minister on the evening of 3 June along with members of his new Council of Ministers.

According to Venugopal, the CLP unanimously authorised the Congress high command to select its leader. Following consultations with the party leadership, the high command proposed Shivakumar's name for the top post.

The proposal was formally moved by Siddaramaiah and seconded by senior Congress leader G. Parameshwara before being unanimously approved by party legislators.

Venugopal described the transition as a demonstration of the Congress party's internal cohesion, saying predictions of factional conflict and a prolonged power struggle had proved unfounded.

He praised Siddaramaiah for placing the interests of the party above personal considerations and noted that legislators had unanimously acknowledged his contribution as Chief Minister during the CLP meeting.

In a symbolic gesture, a resolution appreciating Siddaramaiah's tenure was moved by Shivakumar himself, highlighting the effort to project unity during the change in leadership.

Venugopal also credited Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and former party president Sonia Gandhi for guiding the transition process and ensuring a smooth transfer of power.

The Congress leadership expressed confidence that the government would continue to function effectively under Shivakumar's leadership, with Siddaramaiah remaining a key figure in the party's Karnataka unit.

With the leadership issue settled, Shivakumar is expected to begin consultations on the composition of his cabinet before taking charge next week. The Congress also signalled its intention to fight the 2028 Assembly elections under a united leadership structure, projecting continuity and stability within the government.

With IANS inputs

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches at residences linked to former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan continued to trigger sharp political reactions in Kerala on Thursday, with the Congress, CPI(M) and BJP trading allegations over the developments and the violence reported outside Vijayan’s residence.

A day after the ED carried out searches in connection with the CMRL-linked money laundering case involving Vijayan’s daughter Veena T, the Congress alleged that the central agency’s action was intended to politically “rescue” the veteran CPI(M) leader at a time when he was facing growing criticism within his own party.

Senior Congress leader and Kerala minister K Muraleedharan claimed the timing of the searches had raised suspicions.

“We suspect that the ED searches were a rescue attempt as they came at a time when Vijayan was facing severe criticism from within the party,” Muraleedharan alleged.

At the same time, he said the Congress did not support either the ED or the raids conducted by the agency and argued that such action should have been initiated when Vijayan was still serving as chief minister.

Muraleedharan, who holds the Health and Devaswom portfolios in the Congress-led UDF government, however condemned the alleged attack on vehicles carrying ED officials outside Vijayan’s rented residence in the Bakery Junction area of Thiruvananthapuram.

“Taking the law into one’s hands and disrupting law and order will not be condoned by the government,” he said.

The CPI(M), meanwhile, rejected allegations that ED officials were attacked by party workers.

Senior CPI(M) leader M Swaraj claimed the protests outside Vijayan’s residence had remained peaceful and said the Left party neither encouraged nor supported violence.

Another senior CPI(M) leader, V Sivankutty, said ED officials should have waited for protesters to calm down before attempting to leave the premises.

He also blamed the police for allegedly failing to properly assess the situation before allowing the ED vehicles to move out.

While the CPI(M) defended the protests, the BJP launched a strong counterattack, questioning why Left workers allegedly targeted ED officials if Vijayan had “nothing to hide”.

Senior BJP leader V Muraleedharan said attempts to obstruct the ED investigation through “violence and intimidation” would not succeed.

“The CPI(M) knows why the raids were delayed. They have repeatedly tried to stall the probe by approaching various High Courts. That itself shows they have something to hide,” he alleged.

BJP leader K Surendran demanded that the ED widen its investigation to include all those who allegedly received funds from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL), and not restrict the probe only to payments linked to Veena Vijayan’s now-defunct firm Exalogic Solutions.

The ED on Wednesday conducted searches at 10 premises across Kerala, including Vijayan’s rented residence in Thiruvananthapuram and his family home in Kannur.

The searches are part of the agency’s money laundering investigation linked to transactions between CMRL and Exalogic Solutions.

According to the ED, CMRL allegedly paid around Rs 1.72 crore to Exalogic between 2017 and 2020 without receiving any services in return.

The case stems from a complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), which questioned the legitimacy of certain financial transactions involving the company.

The ED has registered the case under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The controversy has further intensified political tensions in Kerala just weeks after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) defeated the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the Assembly elections, ending Vijayan’s decade-long tenure as chief minister.

In a clear signal of its welfare-first approach and intent to deliver on poll promises, the newly formed United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala on Monday approved two of its key electoral commitments at its very first Cabinet meeting — free bus travel for women in KSRTC services and a Rs 3,000 hike in the honorarium of ASHA workers.

The Congress had, during the poll, promised to introduce free bus travel for women on the lines of the Karnataka model, alongside an increase in the monthly honorarium of ASHA workers by Rs 3,000.

Announcing the decisions at a press briefing, chief minister V.D. Satheesan said women will be allowed to travel free in KSRTC buses from 15 June.

Detailed guidelines and modalities of the scheme will be issued separately. The promise had figured prominently in the campaign and formed a core part of its ‘Indira Guarantee’ commitments.

The Cabinet also cleared a Rs 3,000 increase in the monthly honorarium of ASHA workers — from Rs 9,000 to 12,000.

CM Satheesan described the move as the first phase of a broader revision, indicating that further increases could be considered going forward. He acknowledged that while the government is committed to addressing the long-pending demands of ASHA workers, fiscal constraints limited the immediate hike.

In addition, the Cabinet approved a Rs 1,000 increase in remuneration for Anganwadi teachers, pre-primary teachers, and cooking staff and helpers.

During the election campaign, the Congress had also promised a health insurance cover of up to Rs 25 lakh per household under the Oommen Chandy Health Scheme.

The honorarium revision and welfare measures had been central to the UDF’s outreach during the Assembly polls, aimed at consolidating support among women and grassroots workers.

Separately, the government announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to reinvestigate an incident involving the alleged assault on protesters by security personnel.

The Congress on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, criticising him for not taking questions from the media during his visit to Norway and accusing him of weakening India’s democratic tradition of free press engagement.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh alleged that the prime minister has consistently avoided press conferences over the last 12 years and “does not feel comfortable facing questions.”

“The entire country witnessed how our ‘teleprompter-jeevi’ PM was seen dodging and running away from a mere question on foreign soil. The world saw that the head of state of the world’s largest democracy is not comfortable facing even a single question,” Ramesh said in a post on X.

Referring to a journalist’s question posed to Modi during his Norway visit, Ramesh said India has seen a steady decline in press interaction by the prime minister despite a long-standing democratic tradition.

“In India’s democracy, the media, the Opposition, and heads of state have always upheld the tradition of asking and answering questions. However, in the last 12 years, this tradition has almost been broken by the prime minister,” he said.

The Congress also sought to draw a comparison with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, claiming he has been far more accessible to the media. According to the party, Gandhi has held 129 press conferences between 2013 and 2025, apart from responding to “countless unfiltered questions” on multiple occasions.

“As the leader of India’s principal opposition party, Rahul Gandhi has consistently faced questions on a wide range of issues, questioned the government, and spoken directly to the press,” Ramesh added.

The party separately released a compiled list of Rahul Gandhi’s press interactions to reinforce its claim of regular media engagement.

With PTI inputs

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Wednesday intensified the political battle over the controversial Mekedatu dam project, attacking both the DMK and AIADMK leadership for what he called their silence on Karnataka’s proposed reservoir across the Cauvery river.

Backing Tamil Nadu chief minister C. Joseph Vijay, Tagore praised his recent letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the immediate rejection of the Mekedatu project, calling it a crucial fight to protect Tamil Nadu’s water rights and the livelihoods of lakhs of farmers dependent on Cauvery water.

In a sharp post on X, the Congress MP questioned why Udhayanidhi Stalin had not spoken out strongly despite the seriousness of the issue. He also targeted AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami, asking why the opposition party was not directly confronting the Centre over the project.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi must immediately reject the Mekedatu proposal and protect Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of Cauvery water,” Tagore said.

He argued that Vijay’s letter clearly highlighted how the proposed reservoir violates both the Supreme Court verdict and the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. “This is not a political issue. This is about our water, our farmers and Tamil Nadu’s rights. No project should come up across the Cauvery without Tamil Nadu’s consent,” Tagore said while extending full support to the Chief Minister’s stand.

The Mekedatu dispute has once again reignited tensions between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recently reiterated that the Congress government in the state intends to push ahead with the long-pending project and even conduct a “Bhoomi Pooja” for the proposed dam.

Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the project, arguing that any new reservoir upstream could reduce its share of Cauvery water and violate the water-sharing framework upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 after decades of legal disputes.

Amid the growing political heat, chief minister Vijay is expected to meet Prime Minister Modi, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and senior Congress leaders in New Delhi later in the day, with the Mekedatu issue likely to dominate discussions.

With IANS inputs

The Congress on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of maintaining a “complete silence” on Israel’s military offensive in Lebanon and its alleged impact on ongoing US-Iran negotiations aimed at easing tensions in West Asia.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the talks between Washington and Tehran remain crucial not only for regional stability but also for India’s economic interests, particularly because a successful agreement could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and ease pressure on global oil prices.

“The immediate impact of such an agreement would mean the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a downward pressure on oil prices — both of which India has a tremendous stake in,” Ramesh said in a post on X.

He argued that the negotiations have yet to be finalised largely because of Israel’s continuing military operations in Lebanon, which have intensified in recent days.

Ramesh also pointed to reports of growing friction between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the conflict.

“Many other countries have been condemning Israel's offensive in Lebanon. Not surprisingly, the one head of government who has kept completely silent while Israel goes ahead with devastating Lebanon and sabotaging the US-Iran agreement is Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

In a pointed political swipe, the Congress leader asked: “Does the so-called fatherland mean much more to him than his actual motherland?”

The remarks came amid reports of a tense exchange between Trump and Netanyahu as Israel prepared for a major operation in Beirut. Trump later claimed he had personally intervened to prevent an escalation.

“I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu today, asking him not to go into a major raid of Beirut, Lebanon. He turned his Troops around. Thank you Bibi,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, using Netanyahu’s popular nickname.

The US president’s intervention followed Iranian warnings that continued Israeli military action in Lebanon could derail ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

Netanyahu had earlier threatened strikes on what he described as “terror targets” in Beirut if Hezbollah attacks on Israel continued.

Trump also claimed he had spoken with representatives linked to Hezbollah and secured an understanding to halt hostilities.

“The leaders of Hezbollah agreed to stop shooting at Israel and its soldiers,” he said.

According to a report by Axios, tempers flared during Trump’s conversation with Netanyahu, reflecting growing differences between Washington and Tel Aviv over the handling of the Lebanon conflict.

The Congress attack signals the party’s attempt to bring foreign policy and India’s stance on the escalating West Asia crisis into the domestic political debate, while pressing the government to clarify its position on the rapidly evolving situation.

With PTI inputs

Cracks within the All India Trinamool Congress (AITMC) appeared to deepen on Sunday as senior MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar resigned as the party’s Barasat organisational district president, taking “moral responsibility” for the TMC’s crushing defeat in the West Bengal assembly polls while launching a sharp attack on the party’s evolving power structure and campaign machinery.

The resignation of the four-time Barasat MP comes days after she was removed as the TMC’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha and replaced by senior MP Kalyan Banerjee following the party’s poor electoral performance.

Though her resignation letter to state TMC president Subrata Bakshi formally cited accountability for the defeat in Barasat and parts of North 24-Parganas, its political undertone carried a far broader message — one widely interpreted as criticism of poll strategist I-PAC and the growing influence of a newer leadership ecosystem around party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

In a pointed message to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, Ghosh Dastidar urged the party to return to its earlier style of “street politics” and reconnect with grassroots workers.

“Leader Mamata Banerjee, if you work with honest, old and dedicated workers as in earlier days, the party’s image will brighten again. Difficult tasks cannot be achieved through fly-by-night organisations,” she wrote.

Political observers saw the “fly-by-night organisations” remark as a veiled swipe at I-PAC, the election consultancy group closely linked to TMC’s recent campaign strategy.

The veteran MP also openly flagged concerns over corruption and criminalisation within the party — issues repeatedly raised by opposition parties during the election campaign.

“Recent incidents of crime and corruption in West Bengal have naturally created concern and apprehension among people. To strengthen democracy further, greater importance should be given to transparency, accountability, responsibility, decorum and values in politics,” she said in the letter.

Speaking later to reporters, Ghosh Dastidar intensified her criticism and accused the newer campaign apparatus of sidelining long-time party workers.

“I did not appoint I-PAC. But I saw how these young boys and girls behaved with full-time party workers like us. I have been a public representative here for 17 years. My office remained open round the clock for people,” she said.

The MP admitted that the election results reflected growing public anger.

“The results made it clear that people did not accept us. There has been criminalisation at every level in the party. I cannot accept the fact that the TMC’s tally has dropped to 80. I will continue as an ordinary worker,” she added.

In another remark likely to intensify political speculation, Ghosh Dastidar suggested that senior leaders had struggled to communicate directly with Mamata Banerjee in recent years.

“She remained too occupied over the last decade. It became difficult to even reach her by phone,” she reportedly told reporters.

Despite the criticism, the veteran MP later attempted to strike a conciliatory tone by reposting Mamata Banerjee’s message on X with the words: “Take charge, leader.”

A doctor-turned-politician, Ghosh Dastidar has long been associated with Mamata Banerjee’s political rise and is considered part of the TMC’s old guard. Apart from serving four terms as MP from Barasat, she also headed the party’s women’s wing and district organisation.

Her recent removal as chief whip had already hinted at internal unease. Soon after being replaced, she posted cryptically on social media that after “40 years of loyalty” to the party, she had finally received her “reward”.

Political analysts believe her resignation and unusually public criticism indicate that TMC’s post-election introspection may now spill into open factional conflict, complicating the leadership’s efforts to rebuild unity after one of the party’s worst electoral setbacks.

The TMC had not officially responded to her resignation till late Sunday.

With PTI inputs

Kerala Home minister Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday accused CPI(M) workers of orchestrating a “conspiracy” to disrupt law and order after Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials came under attack during raids linked to the CMRL money laundering investigation involving Veena T, daughter of former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The violence erupted outside Vijayan’s rented residence at Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram, where ED teams were conducting searches as part of a wider probe into alleged financial transactions between Veena’s now-defunct IT firm and a private mining company.

Chennithala alleged that CPI(M) activists deliberately targeted and damaged vehicles belonging to ED officials in an attempt to create unrest under the newly formed United Democratic Front (UDF) government.

“No one will be allowed to take the law into their hands,” the Home Minister said, adding that all those involved in the violence would face stringent action irrespective of their political standing.

He claimed police had photographic evidence of those who took part in the attack and said the culprits would be identified and arrested soon.

“We are not against protests and demonstrations, but attacking investigation officials and vandalising their vehicles is unacceptable,” Chennithala said.

The minister maintained that Kerala Police had acted promptly despite not receiving prior information or intelligence inputs from the ED regarding the raids.

According to him, police personnel independently reached all locations where crowds had gathered during the searches. He noted that no untoward incidents were reported during raids at Vijayan’s permanent residence in Kannur or at the house of P A Mohamed Riyas in Kozhikode.

However, he alleged that the attack in the state capital was a planned attempt to destabilise public order.

Chennithala also said the government would firmly deal with any attempts to incite unrest in Kerala following the change in administration.

“There have been repeated attempts over the last two days to disrupt law and order in the capital,” he said, referring to separate tensions linked to a university union issue and the ED raid incident.

Defending the police response, the minister argued that authorities could have taken stronger preventive measures had there been advance information about the ED operation.

Meanwhile, police arrested four people in connection with the attack after a prolonged stand-off outside a CPI(M) area committee office in Palayam, where the suspects were believed to be hiding.

The ED raids covered 10 locations across Kerala, including Vijayan’s rented residence in Thiruvananthapuram and his family home in Kannur.

The searches are part of an investigation into alleged payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) to Exalogic Solutions, a company formerly owned by Veena Vijayan.

The ED case, registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 2024, alleges that CMRL paid Rs 1.72 crore to Exalogic Solutions between 2017 and 2020 without receiving any services in return.

The probe originated from a complaint by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) after the Income Tax Department’s interim settlement board questioned the legitimacy of transactions between the mining company and Exalogic Solutions.

With IANS inputs