Joydeep Thakur is a Special Correspondent based in Kolkata. He focuses on science, environment, wildlife, agriculture and other related issues.
Articles by Joydeep Thakur
Assembly elections: Top leaders criss-cross nation in battle for states
Interestingly, till April 3, Modi has addressed nine rallies in West Bengal, repeatedly accusing state chief minister Mamata Banerjee for the three Ts Tanasahi (dictatorship), Tolabaji (extortion) and Tushtikaran (appeasement).
Updated on Apr 04, 2021 07:46 AM IST
PM mounts attack on rivals in battlegrounds Assam, Bengal
Kolkata/Guwahati Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held his last election rallies in Assam and West Bengal before the third phase of voting in the assembly elections, launching a fresh political attack on rivals in the two eastern states
Published on Apr 04, 2021 12:08 AM IST
Utpal Parashar and Joydeep Thakur
TMC tweet triggers speculation; Mamata as Modi challenger in Varanasi in ’24?
Banerjee late last month wrote to at least a dozen political leaders, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, and called for a united and effective struggle against the BJP. She suggested a meeting of the leaders after the assembly elections to chart a plan of action
Published on Apr 02, 2021 09:50 AM IST
High turnout, drama in pivotal second phase of West Bengal assembly elections
Tensions ran high in all 30 seats in West Bengal that went to the polls as parties traded allegations of malpractice, candidates’ convoys were attacked, and workers thrashed.
Published on Apr 02, 2021 12:14 AM IST
Bengal, Assam to vote today in high-stakes second phase
Voting to be held in Nandigram, where CM Mamata is contesting against BJP’s Suvendu; Barak Valley in focus in northeastern state
Updated on Apr 01, 2021 06:52 AM IST
All’s not well with Tagore’s Visva Bharati, section of faculty writes to PM
The letter, which was also shared with the media, said over the past few years, it has become a trend to abuse, insult, even manhandle faculty members, make them hostages and restrict their movement
Updated on Mar 31, 2021 02:39 PM IST
Mamata or Suvendu? Bengal gears up for second phase polls on Thursday
The campaigning for the phase ended on Tuesday even as both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised concerns over “outsiders” entering these constituencies
Published on Mar 31, 2021 09:51 AM IST
In Amphan-hit Sunderbans, aid ‘irregularities’ may hurt Trinamool
On May 20 last year, cyclone Amphan pummelled through six districts of south Bengal leaving 98 dead and a trail of destruction.
Updated on Mar 31, 2021 04:55 AM IST
Joydeep Thakur, Gosaba
As Sunderbans head for polls, post-Amphan corruption taint haunts TMC
The BJP is trying to leverage the alleged corruption of the ruling Trinamool Congress during the distribution of relief in the aftermath of cyclone Amphan last year.
Published on Mar 30, 2021 01:57 PM IST
After Didi, it is now Bhaipo – the new dimension in Bengal politics
BJP coined phrases like pishi-bhaipo (aunt-nephew) sarkar, tolabaz bhaipo (extortionist nephew) and attacked Abhishek Banerjee and Mamata Banerjee in a veiled manner on many fronts including for running syndicates
Updated on Mar 25, 2021 06:44 AM IST
BJP names 157 picks for Bengal elections
The list included 19 women, seven Muslims and several actors, folk singers, scholars and footballers.
Updated on Mar 19, 2021 05:33 AM IST
Joydeep Thakur, Kolkata
'Game over, development begins': PM Modi at Bengal rally
The PM also targeted the TMC’s election slogan. “TMC says Khela Hobe, BJP says there would be employment, development, education, women and youth empowerment, housing for all, hospitals and schools,” PM Modi said.
Updated on Mar 19, 2021 05:32 AM IST
Joydeep ThakurBiswa Kalyan Purkayastha, Kolkata/ Silchar
Income for all, free ration delivery in TMC manifesto
Mamata says not a political manifesto but a developmental one; BJP terms it as ‘announcements without any base’
Updated on Mar 18, 2021 04:12 AM IST
Joydeep Thakur, Hindustan Times, Kolkata
Mamata out of hospital amid political slugfest
A senior police official said on condition of anonymity that the state government report suggested the chief minister was standing on the footboard of the vehicle and something made the door of the car close and injure the 66-year-old.
Published on Mar 13, 2021 12:45 AM IST
Joydeep Thakur, Kolkata
Mamata injury draws new Bengal battle line
Doctors in Kolkata said Banerjee, 66, suffered severe “bony injuries” in her left ankle and foot, besides injuries in right shoulder, forearm and neck.
Published on Mar 11, 2021 11:52 PM IST
Joydeep Thakur, Kolkata
Nandigram: Mamata Banerjee alleges attack after filing nomination papers
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders said the incident happened around 6.30pm, when Banerjee was about to leave the area after offering prayers at a local temple. She was interacting with the crowd when the men approached her, they added.
Published on Mar 10, 2021 11:18 PM IST
Joydeep Thakur, Hindustan Times, Kolkata
'Don’t play Hindu card with me': Mamata Banerjee
“Those who are playing the Hindu-Muslim card, I would like to tell them clearly that I am also girl from a Hindu family. Don’t play the Hindu card with me,” said Banerjee.
Updated on Mar 10, 2021 01:32 AM IST
Joydeep Thakur, Hindustan Times, Kolkata
Lack of data makes Bengal lone state which didn’t appear in Ease of Living index
Launched in 2018, the ranking has assumed importance over the years in shaping government policies and determining expenditure priorities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been emphasizing the ease of living along with the ease of doing business as a key policy priority.
Published on Mar 04, 2021 08:01 PM IST
‘Bengal wants its daughter’: TMC launches new slogan
“The poll bugle has been sounded and this time we would reach out to the people with a slogan ‘Bangla Nijer Meyekei Chay’,” said Subrata Bakshi, general secretary of TMC.
Published on Feb 21, 2021 03:24 AM IST
Joydeep Thakur, Kolkata
CM Mamata gets a makeover in TMC's poll slogan, goes from Didi to daughter
Political analysts said that the makeover of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee from didi (elder sister) to Nijer Meye (own daughter) was aimed at strengthening the special bond which Banerjee shares with women voters.
Published on Feb 20, 2021 09:44 PM IST
A living lab: A community hosts innovations at Bengal research institute
The CMERI is India’s apex research and development institute for mechanical engineering under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Published on Feb 13, 2021 11:40 AM IST
Protein deficiency, not age or weather, reason for spread of Covid in Europe, US
The variant of the virus that spread rapidly across the world had acquired a mutation since it left Wuhan that allowed it to use another human protein called neutrophil elastase to also cleave the S1-S2 junction
Updated on Feb 10, 2021 10:52 AM IST
Joydeep Thakur and Anonna Dutt
If you want to remove BJP...: Mamata Banerjee rushes to consolidate Muslim votes
According to surveys done by the TMC and the BJP, swing in Muslim votes can influence poll-results in as many as 120 assembly seats in Bengal.
Updated on Feb 09, 2021 08:38 PM IST
Joydeep Thakur | Edited by Sparshita Saxena, Kolkata
Heritage tour on vintage cars for Kolkata’s senior citizens this Valentine week
This is for the first time that a heritage tour on vintage cars has been organized in Kolkata for senior citizens.
Published on Feb 07, 2021 12:09 PM IST
BJP plans to sign off Rath Yatras with Modi's rally in Kolkata in March
BJP leaders said the last part of the procession will begin on Sagar Island around February 12 and reach Kolkata in March. Union home minister Amit Shah is expected to flag it off.
Updated on Feb 06, 2021 01:28 PM IST
Joydeep Thakur, Kolkata, West Bengal, Jp Nadda
Ahead of polls, TMC woos ST voters with demand for recognition of Sarna dharma
At a public rally in Aipurduar, TMC chief Mamata Baneree said her government has written to the Centre to recognise Sarna dharma as a separate religion.
Published on Feb 03, 2021 07:44 PM IST
Amit Shah, JP Nadda to launch Parivartan Rath Yatras in poll-bound Bengal
While Nadda is scheduled to flag off the first rath yatra from Nadabdwip town in south Bengal’s Nadia district on February 6, Shah is expected to launch one on February 11, from Cooch Behar
Updated on Feb 03, 2021 09:36 AM IST
BJP’s course correction in Bengal: Doors shut against mass joining of turncoats
The BJP said it will be very particular about leaders’ antecedents and no leader associated with the mafia raj that the state’s ruling party is engaged in will be allowed
Published on Feb 02, 2021 11:41 AM IST
Amit Shah to virtually address Bengal rally while BJP placates Matuas
Senior BJP leaders had been busy placating the Matuas, who were upset with the cancellation of Union minister Amit Shah's Bengal rally on Saturday.
Updated on Jan 31, 2021 11:43 AM IST
Joydeep Thakur, Kolkata
More politicians likely to join BJP during Amit Shah’s 2-day visit to Bengal
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, in a rally earlier this week, had sent a strong message to rebels within the party and had said that some leaders who had amassed huge wealth are now rushing to join the BJP to hide their money
Published on Jan 29, 2021 09:10 AM IST