I am a special correspondent with Hindustan Times, Kolkata. Currently, I am reporting on the administrative and political scenarios in West Bengal. I have spent around 21 years in reporting in areas like politics, state administration and state finance.
Articles by Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri
CPM plans to woo back ‘Mamata’s intellectuals’
In an attempt to make a dent in Mamata Banerjee’s intellectual brigade, the CPI(M) has decided to make all-out attempts to re-establish links with those intellectuals who despite backing Trinamool Congress before 2011 state assembly elections have slowly distanced themselves from the ruling force
Updated on Oct 13, 2012 01:00 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
RBI ranks Bengal among laggards in drawing FDI
Bengal ranks among the six worst performing states in attracting foreign capital between April-June 2012.
Updated on Sep 14, 2012 11:31 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
State to install CCTV camera at liquor shops
There have been complaints often from local residents about drunken behaviour outside off-shops.
Updated on Aug 23, 2012 11:58 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Up in arms against hooch sale
On the back of the Sangrampur hooch tragedy, in which 169 people have died so far, the West Bengal government may allow 200-250 new country liquor retailers to start business so that people refrain from consuming illicit drink.
Updated on Dec 19, 2011 12:30 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Development without displacement a test for Didi
The development versus displacement debate acquired a whole new significance under Mamata Banerjee, who pounced on a landmark automobile project and turned it into a political milestone.
Updated on May 14, 2011 05:13 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Avijit Ghoshal & Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
LF loses rust belt
The writing on the wall was there since the beginning and the Left Front was worried of the continuously eroding vote bank in the industrial belts of West Bengal. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri & Mohammad Asif report.
Updated on May 14, 2011 05:11 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri & Mohammad Asif, Kolkata/burdwan
Uneasy lies the Left headquarters
While one has to wait till May 13 to know whether the exit polls predicting an absolute disaster for the ruling Left Front, would ring true, it seems to have had an impact on the morale of the grassroots level CPI(M) workers, who can't imagine a Left rout in Bengal even in their wildest dreams. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on May 12, 2011 03:21 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Exit polls predict defeat for almost entire cabinet
Change was in the air in West Bengal, but as it took over the airwaves, the morale of the ruling CPM all but disappeared. Tuesday’s exit polls had not only predicted a rout for the Left in the polls, it also said at least 14 of its ministers would bite the dust. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on May 12, 2011 12:13 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
CPM’s next worry is sorry presence in RS
If poll prospects for assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala are CPI(M)’s immediate concerns, the dwindling fate of the party’s position in the Rajya Sabha seems to be the next worry. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on May 04, 2011 04:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Post-delimitation, only seat where contest is neck & neck
This post-delimitation is probably the only constituency in East Midnapore district where the poll battle is neck and neck. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on May 03, 2011 05:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri
CPM banks on old strategy in E midnapore
CPI(M)’s strategy for East Midnapore district is likely to be an exact replica of Jadavpur, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s constituency. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on May 03, 2011 04:24 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Haldia
No to division of votes
Though its real strength is limited to only a few pockets in South 24-Parganas, the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) has played spoilsport for the ruling Marxist consistently.
Updated on Apr 29, 2011 12:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Excise war in an area of dissidence
Poll equations for Metiabruz, the Muslim-dominated constituency in South 24-Parganas, are as complicated as in Kolkata Port. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on Apr 25, 2011 04:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Will Sovan drown Left in his seat?
The Behala East constituency is set to witness a keen tussle for the ballot, where Trinamool Congress has fielded heavyweight Trinamool leader and mayor Sovan Chatterjee against three-time CPI(M) MLA Kumkum Chakraborty. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports
Updated on Apr 24, 2011 04:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri
CPM's lost chance on Partha turf
For Anupam Deb Sarkar, the CPI(M) candidate from Behala West, the task is especially tough. The tsunami of change had virtually washed out the party from this constituency both in 2009 Lok Sabha and 2010 civic body polls, a reversal of which is not expected by even the most ardent CPI(M) optimist. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on Apr 24, 2011 04:12 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri
Left in the lurch after shutters down
The once-thriving industrial belt of Bengal is now a tale of factories that will possibly never reopen. The workers’ anger is directed at the Left. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on Apr 23, 2011 03:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Who will stay afloat at the port?
The poll equation is really complicated this time at Kolkata Port; a post-delimitation assembly constituency formed with four wards from erstwhile Kabitirtha, three from erstwhile Garden Reach and one from Chowringhee. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on Apr 22, 2011 03:13 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
CPM’s next worry is Rajya Sabha
If poll prospects for assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala are CPI(M)’s immediate concerns, the dwindling fate of the party’s position in the Rajya Sabha seems to be the next headache. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on Apr 21, 2011 03:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Rainbow coalition for Left
The Lesbian Gays Bisexual Transsexual (LGBT) community in the state is in favour of the Left Front government, but expect a more pragmatic approach while addressing the concerns faced by the community. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on Apr 20, 2011 02:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Buddha practises what he preaches
Practise what you preach. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is doing just that in his constituency. For quite some time, Bhattacharjee has been cautioning his comrades about the highhanded attitude towards people. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on Apr 13, 2011 04:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Criticism forces Buddha to change his election agent
West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has got himself the soft-spoken, suave, former Kolkata Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya as his election agent. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on Apr 13, 2011 02:03 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
It’s voter knows best for Asim
Approaching the common man with humility is often considered the most effective way to counter the volley of allegations from the Opposition and more so when one is pitted against a formidable rival. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri writes.
Updated on Apr 11, 2011 03:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Buddha busy in own constituency
Is chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee being haunted by the spectre of a possible defeat? The question is becoming louder as he has confined himself to his own constituency, conducting 13 meetings since March 1 when the poll dates were announced.
Updated on Apr 09, 2011 04:30 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Buddha sticks to his own constituency
Is chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee being haunted by the spectre of possible defeat? Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on Apr 13, 2011 03:19 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
When the going gets tough, CPM starts campaigning
He knows the turf is tough this time. The area is also new for him. So an admission of mistakes and appealing for apologies were the buzz while he was treading the narrow and dingy lanes of Meher Ali Lane in Beleghata on Sunday morning. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on Apr 06, 2011 12:48 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Konar's abuse of trinamool chief leaves party red-faced
Read the party's lips: No more tirades against Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee as a section of Alimuddin Street apparatchiks have at last realised that abusing the railway minister like what Benoy Konar did on Tuesday is backing on the already beleaguered party.
Updated on Apr 05, 2011 04:18 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Politicians Planning a World Cup Break
Move over politics, it’s now time for the gentleman’s game. While all Trinamool and Congress candidates have suspended door-to-door campaigning on March 30, the date of the India-Pakistan World Cup Cricket semi-final, some CPI(M) candidates have also dropped plans to approach voters on the high-voltage evening. Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri reports.
Updated on Apr 01, 2011 06:05 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata
Young world of CPM
Facing an anti-incumbency wave for the first time since it came to power, the Left Front has found a way to get round the problem. Of the 294 seats in the state, it is putting up 149 candidates the electorate has not tested before. For some, politics is an inheritance
Updated on Mar 18, 2011 02:02 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri, Kolkata