AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava Sentenced to Seven Years in 2023 Assault and Extortion Case; Party Announces Statewide Protests
A Sessions Court in Narmada district has convicted AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava, his wife, and seven others in a case involving the alleged assault of Forest Department officials and extortion in 2023. The court sentenced all the accused to seven years in prison and imposed a fine of ₹25,000 on each. The verdict was delivered by Additional Sessions Judge A.V. Hirpara. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has opposed the verdict. Gopal Rai, the party’s Gujarat in-charge, stated that AAP would organize support marches across the state starting June 26 to protest the decision. He said that party workers would stage demonstrations in every district to raise their voices in support of Chaitar Vasava. Gopal Rai alleged that the BJP is unsettled by Vasava’s growing popularity and that he has been targeted for political reasons. He claimed that the case is part of a conspiracy and that such politics cannot be accepted in a democracy. Rai added that, ultimately, the public would decide the truth. AAP has also made it clear that it will pursue all available legal avenues in this matter. Earlier, party national convener Arvind Kejriwal had also expressed support for Vasava, stating that the charges against him were false and that he had been politically framed due to his rising influence within the tribal community.
Former TMC MLA Udayan Guha Arrested; Speaker Om Birla Calls Abhishek Banerjee Over Rebel MPs Row
In a significant development, the police arrested Udayan Guha, the former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA from Dinhata, from the Phoolbagan area of Kolkata on Wednesday. Officials view this arrest as a major development in state politics. Udayan Guha’s arrest comes at a time when several significant events are unfolding within West Bengal’s political and legal spheres. This move has further heated up the state’s political atmosphere. Meanwhile, sources revealed that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has summoned Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee for a discussion on June 19. The meeting will focus on the 20 dissident TMC MPs and the party’s stance on the entire matter. This issue stems from the growing discontent within the TMC following the assembly elections. Twenty dissident MPs from the party had met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on June 14. During that meeting, the MPs submitted a letter informing him about the merger of their group with the Tripura-based Nationalist Congress Party of India (NCPI). They also requested separate seating arrangements in the Lok Sabha. According to sources, the Lok Sabha Speaker is currently reviewing the status of these 20 MPs. It is reported that he will make a final decision only after hearing all parties involved. Sources further indicated that the summons sent to Abhishek Banerjee follows a previously scheduled meeting that he was unable to attend. According to TMC sources, the Lok Sabha Speaker’s office had sent a meeting notification to Abhishek Banerjee via email on June 15 at 2 PM. There is now considerable interest in political circles regarding the upcoming June 19 meeting, as it could impact the ongoing internal dispute within the TMC and the future of the dissident MPs.
TMC in Freefall: Fake Signatures Scandal Triggers Expulsions as Mamata Left With Just 22 MLAs
The change of government in Bengal has led to a state of turmoil within the TMC. The current TMC is grappling with serious internal strife and political crisis. Following its crushing electoral defeat, widespread discontent has spread within the party regarding leadership, corruption, and ticket distribution. The party is now embroiled in a new controversy: the “fake signatures” controversy, which has sparked a deep internal crisis within the party. A major controversy has emerged within the party regarding the forged signatures of MLAs on a letter. Two rebel TMC MLAs, Sandipan Saha and Ritubrata Banerjee, have filed a complaint with the Assembly Secretariat, further compounding the party’s difficulties. In this case, the TMC has expelled two MLAs, including Sandipan Saha and Ritubrata Banerjee, citing anti-party activities. Abhishek Banerjee’s Controversial Letter Triggers Major Rebellion While the TMC won 80 seats in the Bengal elections, following the expulsion of MLA Ritubrata Banerjee from the party on June 1st and the rebellion of 58 other MLAs, Mamata Banerjee now has only 22 MLAs left. This clearly demonstrates Mamata Banerjee’s weakening grip on the party. Senior party leader and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, wrote a letter to the Assembly Speaker proposing Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition. The letter reportedly contained the signatures of 70 MLAs. Later, the BJP and Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, held a press conference and alleged that many of these signatures were forged. Minutes after Adhikari’s revelation, both MLAs, Sandipan Saha and Ritubrata Banerjee, filed a complaint with the Assembly Speaker, stating that they had not signed the letter proposing the Leader of the Opposition’s name and that their handwriting did not match. Following the public outcry, the TMC took swift action, immediately expelling both complainants on charges of anti-party activities. Amid the internal rebellion, Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday dissolved all state committees and frontal organizations with immediate effect.
Major Expansion of West Bengal Cabinet: 35 BJP MLAs Sworn in as Ministers
The cabinet of the government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in West Bengal was expanded on Monday (June 1, 2026). During this ceremony, 35 BJP MLAs took the oath of office as ministers. Those who took the oath as Cabinet Ministers include Swapan Dasgupta, Dudh Kumar Mondal, Deepak Barman, Manoj Oraon, Gouri Shankar Ghosh, Arjun Singh, Tapas Roy, Saradwat Mukherjee, Jagannath Chatterjee, and Shankar Ghosh. All of them will now serve as senior ministers in the state government. Additionally, Rajesh Mahto, Indranil Khan, and Malti Rao Roy took the oath as Ministers of State (Independent Charge). They will be entrusted with the responsibilities of their respective departments. Several BJP MLAs—including Shantanu Pramanik, Purnima Chakraborty, Umesh Roy, Joel Murmu, Ashok Dinda, Anandamay Barman, Kaushik Chowdhury, Gargi Das Ghosh, Bhaskar Bhattacharya, Dibakar Gharami, and Sumana Sarkar—took the oath as Ministers of State. list of Ministers of State sworn-in today: list of MLAs who take oath today: Ministers of State (independent charge)
19th Job Fair organised in Dhanbad, PM Modi hands over appointment letters to 51 candidates
With the aim of securing a bright future for youth and fostering a spirit of national service, the 19th annual employment fair was held today, May 23rd, at the Railway Auditorium in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi, Dhanbad MP Dhulu Mahato, and MLA Raj Sinha were the chief guests at the event. Dhanbad Railway Division DRM Akhilesh Mishra welcomed them with bouquets and mementos. Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed appointment letters to over 51,000 candidates across the country via video conferencing. At a local function in Dhanbad, 76 successful candidates were also handed appointment letters by guests. In his address, PM Modi stated that the nation’s youth power is India’s greatest asset. Youth play a crucial role in building a developed India. He also urged the newly appointed personnel to join the national service with complete dedication, transparency, and honesty. Union Minister Annapurna Devi stated that the Modi government is continuously working to make youth self-reliant and employable. Calling the occasion historic, MP Dhulu Mahto said the central government is recognizing the talents of young people and providing them with employment. MLA Raj Sinha, praising the transparent selection process, said the job fair has become a medium to give new wings to the dreams of young people. This will strengthen the country’s administrative and technical infrastructure.