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Mamata’s key aide Mukul Roy says he’s quitting TMC; party suspends him for 6 years

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7 years ago

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Mukul and Mamata Banerjee

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Amid rumours that the former Union railway minister may be joining the BJP, Mamata’s main concern would be the information Roy may carry to the rival camp

~By Sujit Bhar

As expected, Mamata Banerjee’s long-time aide and confidante Mukul Roy has decided to quit the Trinamool Congress (TMC). He will be putting in his papers after Dussehra, he said on Monday morning. Hours later, Banerjee’s party announced that it was suspending Roy from membership of the Trinamool for a period of six years.

Though Roy, who was elevated to be the Union railway minister during the UPA-II regime when Mamata Banerjee decided to move to West Bengal as chief minister after her party’s Assembly election victory , has not said where his next destination would be, but rumours are that he’s BJP-bound.

India Legal, the sister concern of APN, had clearly signalled the departure of Roy earlier, and this certainly is not the end of desertions from the Mamata camp.

Shortly after Roy’s announcement of his decision to quit the party and from his membership of the Rajya Sabha, Bengal’s education minister and another Mamata aide, Partha Chatterjee, declared that Roy was being suspended from the party for six years with immediate effect.

The Trinamool’s decision, however, makes little difference since Roy had anyway decided to totally quit the party.

Roy’s son Subhrangshu Roy, also a legislator, however, has decided to remain with the TMC.

Whatever the TMC reaction to this news – it was entirely expected and Mamata had made sure that Roy held no post of any importance – Roy’s resignation in itself is of little importance politically. His support base was eroding fast, and other leaders in TMC, especially Mamata’s nephew Abhisek Banerjee (the de facto No. 2 in the party today), made sure that no new shoots grew from Roy’s early importance as a grassroots leader.

Of critical importance, however, will be the loads of inside information that Roy will be carrying over to the next camp. He has been the main wheeler-dealer of the party for a long time, and there was a time when Mamata used to depend completely on the manipulative abilities of Roy.

Even during the Narada sting in 2011, Roy had enough importance within the party to be able to retrieve whatever information regarding legal and financial details of the party that he wished to review. Party funding during elections, huge amounts going into shady hands in the hills and the basic earnings from the many promoter “syndicates” that the party spawned were tied to strings that Roy controlled. Those strings are now in the hands of Abhisek, but enough footprints are available, still, to corner the TMC with several CBI and ED raids. That would certainly be the BJP initiative.

The parleys that Roy had been having in Delhi – with a section of BJP leaders including the party’s national president Amit Shah – weren’t too fruitful initially. Mamata realised his efforts and brought Roy back to Kolkata. But by then it was late. The rabble-rouser BJP president Dilip Ghosh had been tapping all available TMC leads and Roy was the weakest link of all.

What is the gain for Roy? While the probe into the Narada scam cannot really tie Roy down (he did not really handle the money), there have been several instances of his not-too-fair dealings as minister (especially as Railways minster) that could have landed him in serious trouble.

Roy has probably struck a deal with the BJP regarding his own safety. It may be recalled that his son has sought the refuge of TMC, possibly simply because he was not in demand within the BJP. He would surely be treated with suspicion within the TMC now, especially since he carries with him allegations of a huge number of suspicious dealings while his father was the railway minister.

When asked at the press conference why he was resigning, Roy said he was “forced” to, and that he was leaving with a “heavy heart and pain.” Regarding his intentions regarding the BJP, Roy just said: “After five days I will explain everything.  Today, I will not say a word, I will explain after puja.”

Roy had been removed from almost all party posts including the vice-president’s post. His Delhi tours were the source of serious discussions within the TMC, with Partha Chatterjee having thundered: “On what right is he talking to BJP leaders? Maybe on a personal level, but we are keeping a close watch.  We will take action if he exceeds his limit. He cannot be friendly with us if he is also friendly with the BJP. He has to remember that the party’s needs are bigger than personal needs.”

Not that Roy had not sent out clear signals earlier. Recently, he had given up the entire security detail (except for one bodyguard) that the state had provided for him. When asked why, he had explained that since he was not within the main party dealings anymore, there was no need for such security.

When the TMC did take strict action – like suspending him – it turned out to be too little too late.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Bollywood news

Hrithik Roshan’s Krrish 4 in trouble? Siddharth Anand exits, Rakesh Roshan steps back from direction

Krrish 4 faces another delay as Siddharth Anand exits and Rakesh Roshan steps back from direction. Budget concerns continue to stall the superhero project.

Published

3 hours ago

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March 17, 2025

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Krrish 4, Hrithik Roshan, Bollywood superhero movie, Siddharth Anand, Rakesh Roshan, Krrish franchise, Bollywood film delays, Krrish 4 budget

The much-anticipated Bollywood superhero film Krrish 4, starring Hrithik Roshan, has hit another roadblock as director Siddharth Anand and his banner Marflix have exited the project. Reports indicate that the film’s budget, reportedly touching ₹700 crore, has made it difficult for production houses to move forward with the project.

Adding to the uncertainty, Rakesh Roshan, who directed the previous installments of the Krrish franchise, has decided to step away from directing the film, choosing to “pass on the baton” to a new director.

Production struggles continue

Krrish 4 has faced multiple delays over the years, and with the exit of Siddharth Anand, the situation has become even more complicated. Hrithik Roshan, who had wanted Anand to direct, is now left looking for a new team to take the project forward.

Although there are reports suggesting that the film’s ₹700 crore budget is the reason for the hurdles, another source has denied these claims, stating that the “astronomical figures doing the rounds are completely untrue.”

New production plans in motion

While Marflix will no longer be part of the film, FilmKraft, the production house owned by the Roshan family, is reportedly looking for a new studio to back the film. With no director or confirmed production house in place, it remains to be seen how and when the film will move forward.

For now, Krrish 4 remains in limbo, with fans eagerly waiting for an official update on its future.

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Cricket news

IML final: West Indies Masters get bigger prize money despite finishing as runners-up, check prize money

India Masters clinched the IML 2025 title, winning ₹1 crore in prize money, while West Indies Masters secured ₹5 crore for finishing runners-up.

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4 hours ago

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March 17, 2025

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IML 2025, India Masters, West Indies Masters, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ambati Rayudu, Shahbaz Nadeem, cricket prize money, IML final 2025

Sachin Tendulkar’s India Masters emerged victorious in the inaugural International Masters League (IML), defeating Brian Lara’s West Indies Masters by six wickets in the final. The match, played with intense competition despite featuring retired cricketers, saw India dominate from the start, thanks to a stellar bowling performance by Shahbaz Nadeem and a match-winning knock from Ambati Rayudu.

Prize money breakdown

The India Masters, featuring cricket legends like Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, and Irfan Pathan, were awarded a cash prize of ₹1 crore for their triumph. Surprisingly, the West Indies Masters, despite finishing as runners-up, took home a higher prize amount of ₹5 crore.

Ambati Rayudu Shines in the Final

Ambati Rayudu played a crucial role in India’s victory, scoring 74 runs off 50 balls, earning him the Player of the Match award along with a cash prize of ₹50,000.

Full List of Award Winners

Match Awards

Player of the Match: Ambati Rayudu (74 runs off 50 balls) – Rs 50,000

Masterstroke of the Match: Ambati Rayudu (9 fours) – Rs 50,000

Most Sixes in the Match: Ambati Rayudu (3 sixes) – Rs 50,000

Gamechanger of the Match: Shahbaz Nadeem (2/12 in 4 overs)

Most Economical Bowler: Shahbaz Nadeem (economy rate of 3.00)

Season Awards

Most Fours in the Season: Kumar Sangakkara – 38 fours (Rs 5 lakh)

Most Sixes in the Season: Shane Watson – 25 sixes (Rs 5 lakh)

The tournament saw heated moments, including a verbal altercation between Yuvraj Singh and Tino Best, proving that even legends still bring passion and intensity to the game.

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Bollywood news

Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency tops Netflix, sparks debate over Oscars

Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Emergency’ is the #1 trending movie on Netflix. She calls the Oscars “silly,” stating that America wouldn’t acknowledge the film’s political message.

Published

4 hours ago

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March 17, 2025

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Kangana Ranaut, Emergency movie, Emergency on Netflix, Netflix India trending, Kangana Oscars comment, Bollywood news, Sanjay Gupta on Emergency, Indira Gandhi movie

Kangana Ranaut’s latest film, Emergency, has taken the top spot on Netflix India, making it the #1 trending movie on the platform. The film, which portrays the events of the 1975 Emergency in India with Ranaut playing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has garnered widespread praise.

However, when a social media user suggested that the film should be India’s entry for the Oscars, Ranaut had a bold response, dismissing the Academy Awards as “silly.”

Kangana Ranaut’s take on the Oscars

A fan on Twitter wrote, “#EmergencyOnNetflix should go for the Oscars from India. Kangana, what a film.” In response, Ranaut reposted the tweet, stating:

“But America wouldn’t like to acknowledge its real face, how they bully, suppress, and arm-twist developing nations. It’s been exposed in #Emergency. They can keep their silly Oscar. We have National Awards.”

Her remarks come amid growing recognition for the film, which she directed, produced, and starred in.

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta praises ‘Emergency’

Despite initial skepticism, filmmaker Sanjay Gupta was highly impressed by the film. Sharing his thoughts, he tweeted:

“Today I watched EMERGENCY by @KanganaTeam. Very frankly I wasn’t planning to as I had prejudged it. I am so glad that I was wrong. What a fantastic film by Kangana—both performance & direction. Top Notch & World Class.”

Ranaut acknowledged his praise, calling for the industry to shed its “hate and prejudices” and judge films based on merit rather than preconceived notions.

Ranaut on her performance in ‘Emergency’

Many fans have lauded her acting in the film, with some calling it her best performance to date, surpassing her acclaimed roles in Queen, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Fashion, and Thalaivi.

In response, Ranaut said:

“People are calling my acting in #Emergency amazing and my best ever. Could I surpass Queen, TWM2, Fashion, Thalaivi? Watch #Emergency and find out.”

Emergency tops Netflix charts

Released on March 15, 2025, Emergency has climbed to the #1 spot on Netflix India’s movies list, ahead of Ajay Devgn’s Azaad and Naga Chaitanya-Sai Pallavi’s Thandel.

Apart from Kangana Ranaut, the film features a stellar cast including Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Vishak Nair, Milind Soman, and the late Satish Kaushik. Produced by Zee Studios and Manikarnika Films, the film offers a dramatic retelling of the 21-month Emergency period imposed in 1975.

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