Ravik Bhattacharya is assistant editor of Hindustan Times. He has spent over 16 years in journalism covering political, trafficking, crime and human rights issues in various parts of India.
Articles by Ravik Bhattacharya
Mamata sees red as CPM backs Pranab
The CPM’s support to Pranab Mukherjee for the presidential poll may further sour relations between the warring allies, the Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC), according to some TMC leaders. Ravik Bhattacharya reports.
Updated on Jun 21, 2012 11:00 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Hopes of thaw ride on Pranab's Bengal visit
Both the Congress and the Trinamool are looking to President-in-waiting Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to West Bengal on June 23-24 to bring about a thaw in the frozen relations between the two parties.
Updated on Jun 19, 2012 11:58 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Is Kalam choice Mamata's bid to woo NDA?
Mamata Banerjee's apparently all-or-nothing move on the presidential candidate - risking stay in the Congress-led UPA - are well thought out, keeping in mind the next Lok Sabha polls, sources close to her said on Thursday. Ravik Bhattacharya reports. Didi's strategy
Updated on Jun 15, 2012 02:47 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Man behind the Mulayam, Mamata union
After losing an election in 2011, former West Bengal fisheries minister Kironmay Nanda’s star seemed to be falling until he emerged as a backroom mediator between his leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee.
Updated on Jun 15, 2012 12:46 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
TMC bargains: Give funds, get support
Will Trinamool chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee use her support for Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee’s presidential candidature as a bargaining tool to extract a financial package for her state? Trinamool leaders think so.
Updated on Jun 11, 2012 11:12 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Trinamool Congress not against Pranab as Prez
It would be difficult for Trinamool Congress to say no to Pranab Mukherjee in case the Congress nominates him as the next President, although Mamata Banerjee has already expressed her choice of names. HT reports. CPM waits for Congress choice
Updated on Jun 11, 2012 12:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Mamata sweeps urban Bengal, but loses Haldia
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s continuing hold over the urban voter was again proved on Tuesday, when her party won in four of the six municipalities that went to the polls on June 3.
Updated on Jun 06, 2012 01:30 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Trinamool now seeks job quota for Muslims
After wooing imams and muezzins by announcing freebies recently, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is now aiming at job reservations for Muslims.
Updated on May 23, 2012 01:23 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
‘Obey traffic rules, don’t misuse letterheads’
Days before her government celebrates its first anniversary, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has drawn up a list of dos and don’ts for party leaders to keep administration out of the sphere of their influence.
Updated on May 19, 2012 01:01 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Mamata to support Pranab if nominated for prez
Congress ‘trouble shooter’ Pranab Mukherjee is Mamata Banerjee’s first choice as the presidential candidate. Trinamool Congress would support Mukherjee if he is nominated, senior party leaders told HT on Wednesday. Ravik Bhattacharya reports.
Updated on May 02, 2012 09:08 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Now, Bengal teachers, profs face govt audit
The ruling establishment of West Bengal has stepped up its policing of the education sector.
Updated on Apr 25, 2012 10:58 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Steep land price scuttles CRPF project
The CRPF has been forced to cancel plans for setting up a permanent base in Maoist-affected West Midnapore because the Union home ministry has found the price of the land prohibitive.
Updated on Apr 19, 2012 02:19 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Mamata's team tracks net for more spoofs
Professor Ambikesh Mahapatra, who was arrested over a spoof on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, was the first victim of a watchdog body put in place by her party two months ago. Ravik Bhattacharya reports.
Updated on Apr 16, 2012 07:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Inmates in Bengal jail to stage English drama ‘Begum Samru’
Convicts in a Bengal jail are all set to give Bollywood and the likes of Rani Mukherjee a run for their money. Inmates are preparing an English drama "Begum Samru" which is to be staged in two months.
Updated on Apr 12, 2012 07:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Bengal jail inmates all set to stage English drama
The convicts of Bengal jails are all set to give Bollywood and the likes of Rani Mukherjee a run for their money. The inmates are preparing an English drama ‘Begum Samru’ which is to be staged in two months.
Updated on Apr 12, 2012 07:44 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Myanmarese rebels give up home for Netherlands
While Myanmar takes baby steps towards democracy, 33 Myanmarese rebels released last year from West Bengal jails are relocating to the Netherlands with United Nations support because they see no hope of returning to their country.
Updated on Apr 06, 2012 01:28 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Sailing through controversies, Mukul ship reaches railway port
Blocked once by the prime minister himself, there was no stopping Mukul Roy the second time. The man who once defied the PM and refused to visit 100 people injured in a train wreck, now heads the railway ministry.
Updated on Mar 21, 2012 12:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Mamata keeps backroom negotiations open with Akali and SP
Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee may have given Chandigarh and Lucknow a last minute pass, but she is continuing backroom negotiations with both Akali Dal and Samajwadi Party not only for tacit understanding in the Parliament now, but also keeping in mind the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Ravik Bhattacharya reports.
Updated on Mar 12, 2012 08:29 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Kolkata fuelling Maoist run in Chhattisgarh: STF
The Maoists' domination in their self-labelled liberated zone in Chhattisgarh is being aided and controlled from Kolkata, according to special task force (STF) officials of Kolkata Police.
Updated on Mar 06, 2012 02:43 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Mamata plans to ban trade unions in colleges, varsities
The Mamata Banerjee government has finalised plans to ban trade union rights of teaching and non-teaching staff in colleges and universities across the state. The logic that drives the decision is that teachers and non-teaching staff of educational institutions do not qualify as factory workers.
Updated on Mar 01, 2012 05:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Don’t trust Mamata, Naxal prisoners tell Irom Sharmila
Maoists in West Bengal jails have urged Manipur activist Irom Sharmila to have no faith in the genuineness of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
Updated on Feb 15, 2012 12:06 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Trinamool holds fire, offers talks
After her outburst on Saturday when Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee said the Congress was free to leave the ruling alliance in West Bengal, her party piped down considerably on Sunday, leaving the door open for negotiations. Ravik Bhattacharya reports. More ally trouble for Congress
Updated on Jan 09, 2012 01:12 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Cong-baiter Didi now pushes youth button
Taking forward the war with her ally, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has asked youth and student wings of the Trinamool Congress to hit the streets to counter the Congress.
Updated on Jan 06, 2012 02:19 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya& Aurangzeb Naqshbandi, Kolkata/new Delhi
Didi probes unions for Maoist links
The Mamata Banerjee government is investigating all trade unions in the state after it became known that Maoists have infiltrated many of them. Letters found in possession of senior Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji, who was recently killed by security forces, indicated a high level of communication between Maoists and trade union leaders.
Updated on Jan 01, 2012 11:15 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Former Goa CM D’Souza to join Trinamool today
The base of the Trinamool Congress has solidly spread from the eastern part of the country to the furthest point in the western region. Ravik Bhattacharya reports.
Updated on Jan 01, 2012 01:14 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
No year-end holidays, revelry, gifts for West Bengal ministers
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has laid down three commandments for her ministers in the run-up to the New Year, banning year-end holidays, uninhibited revelry at parties and acceptance of expensive gifts from contractors, promoters.
Updated on Dec 28, 2011 12:26 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
150 of AMRI saviours face serious health problems
Much in the manner of cholera following floods, slum-dwellers who had risked their lives to save people trapped in the fire-ravaged AMRI Hospital on Friday early morning are in danger of contracting serious diseases such as pneumonia.
Updated on Dec 14, 2011 12:57 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Govt docs moved in to treat 19 still admitted in AMRI Hospital
The West Bengal government has decided to move in government doctors to the fire-ravaged AMRI Hospital to take charge of the treatment of 19 patients who are still housed in the main building because they are too unwell to be moved out.
Updated on Dec 11, 2011 11:22 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
Dhirubhai books to help win back Maoists
Guess who the security forces are banking on to bring arrested Maoists in Bengal back into the mainstream.
Updated on Dec 01, 2011 12:57 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata
CRPF to hire surrendered Maoists
As a measure to wean them away from the path of rebellion, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) wants to induct surrendered and arrested Maoists of West Bengal into its ranks.
Updated on Nov 29, 2011 02:10 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Ravik Bhattacharya, Kolkata