www.thestatesman.com | FOLLOW US: India’s National Newspaper since 1818 @TheStatesmanLtd | Pages 16 8th Day | @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR Evolve Bitter Battle for a Sweet State | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | 26 April 2026 S P O RT S Amalfi Coast: Geography of Desire Bottom-placed KKR face 9th-spot Super Giants in battle to stay alive Page 16 TMC will return to power with massive mandate: CM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Mamata cuts short meeting after disruption: Kolkata, 25 April C BRIEFLY Araghchi leaves Islamabad, US not sending envoys: Islamabad: Washington has cancelled the visit of its representatives to Pakistan for talks with Iranian representatives at the last moment, while Iran’s top diplomat has left Islamabad. “I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going to Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians,” US President Donald Trump announced late Saturday, saying too much time is wasted on travelling. He said if Tehran want to talk, “all they have to do is call.” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad after meeting Army chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “Shared Iran’s position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy,” he later said on social media. Page 7 hief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday asserted that the All India Trinamul Congress would form the next government in the state riding on “overwhelming public support.” Addressing an election rally in Bhowanipore, her constituency, the Trinamul Congress chairperson urged voters to back the party’s symbol, the twin flowers, in the ongoing Assembly polls. “You all know that we will form the government. I will have to lead both the government and the party decisions,” she added, expressing satisfaction over the first phase of polling. Targeting Central agencies, Miss Banerjee alleged that businesspersons were being intimidated through raids by agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation. Referring to a businessman associated with an educational society in Bhowanipore, she claimed that despite facilitating land and financial support for a university project in Behala, he was subjected to raids. “Why was he targeted? Because he filed an income tax case involving me? Did I ever consider his caste, community, or background before helping him?” she asked, adding that identitybased discrimination had no place in her politics. Miss Banerjee also criticised what she described as attempts to impose restrictions on daily life. “They are saying bikes will be stopped, shops will be shut ~ everything will be closed. Will only you function and nobody else?” she asked. Miss Banerjee said: “I have never spoken of revenge. In 2011, I said ‘change, not revenge’. But this time, I say there will be a democratic response through votes.” Referring to recent comments by Union Home AAP to seek disqualification of 7 defecting MPs, Maliwal hits back, BJP targets ‘Sheesh Mahal 2’ VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 25 April A day after seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs left the party to join the BJP, senior leader Sanjay Singh (photo) on Saturday said his party would Ashok Lahiri is new NITI Aayog Vice Chairman New Delhi: A day after the government reconstituted the NITI Aayog, appointing economist Ashok Kumar Lahiri as the Vice Chairman of the government think tank, PM Modi extended his best wishes to Mr Lahiri, expressing confidence that his expertise will bolster India’s reform trajectory. "NITI Aayog has emerged as a vital pillar in India’s policymaking architecture, fostering cooperative federalism, furthering reforms and boosting ‘Ease of Living,’” the Prime Minister said in a post on X. “My best wishes to Shri Ashok Kumar Lahiri Ji on becoming the Vice Chairman. My best wishes also to Shri Rajiv Gauba Ji, Prof. K. V. Raju Ji, Prof. Gobardhan Das Ji, Prof. Abhay Karandikar Ji and Dr M. Srinivas Ji on becoming Full Time Members of NITI Aayog. Wishing all of them a productive and impactful tenure ahead,” Mr Modi stated. The new Niti Aayog team includes two eminent experts hailing from Bengal ~ Mr Lahiri as Vice Chairperson and Scientist Gobardhan Das as Member. write to the Rajya Sabha Chairman seeking their disqualification from the Upper House. “Anti-defection law clearly states that no split or faction is permitted in the Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha. Such actions carry no legal recognition, even if backed by a two-thirds majority,” Mr Singh said. On Friday, barely a year after losing power to the BJP in Delhi, AAP suffered a major jolt when seven of its ten Rajya Sabha MPs ~ Raghav Chadha, Swati Maliwal, Sandeep Pathak, Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Mittal, Rajinder Gupta, and Vikram Sahney ~ resigned from the party and joined the rival BJP. On Saturday, Ms Maliwal said that “no good person can work with him for long. He says one thing and does another”. She was speaking about the person responsible for her political success ~ AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal. “There was a time when he carried a Rs 2 pen and wore simple clothes. Today, only his status has changed,” Ms Maliwal, who formally joined the BJP today, added, alleging that Mr Kejriwal built multiple “sheeshmahals”. On Saturday, the BJP accused the AAP supremo of converting yet another official residence into a “Sheesh Mahal”, while another former friend, Mr Chadha, also joined in to slam Kejriwal for his “lavish lifestyle.” Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party leader and Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma targeted Mr Kejriwal over his lifestyle and renovated accommodation at Lodhi Estate, dubbing it ‘Sheesh Mahal 2’, alleging that private money was used to create lavish amenities in the residence. Displaying pictures, the minister said they showed that the bungalow allotted by the Centre to the AAP national president had undergone costly renovations. Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday had to cut short a public meeting in her constituency of Bhowanipore after a rival political group began using high-volume loudspeakers close to the venue, making it difficult for her to continue her speech. The incident took place at Chakraberia Road, where Miss Banerjee was addressing a gathering. Page 3 Minister Amit Shah on urban conditions in Kolkata, Miss Banerjee defended the presence of poorer sections in the city. “If poor people do not live here, who will work in your homes, shops, and fields?” she asked. No repolls for Bengal phase I, Tamil Nadu: New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Saturday said that post-poll scrutiny of Form 17A and associated election records has been completed without any irregularities warranting a repoll in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal’s Phase-I constituencies. Providing details, the Commission said the scrutiny in West Bengal was carried out across all 152 Assembly constituencies that went to polls on 23 April. The process, held on 24 April, was conducted by Returning Officers in the presence of General Observers and more than 600 candidates or their representatives. “No re-poll was recommended out of the 44,376 polling stations,” the ECI said. A similar exercise was undertaken in Tamil Nadu, where all 234 Assembly constituencies that voted on 23 April underwent scrutiny. Page 5 IMD warns of prolonged heatwave: New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday warned that heatwave conditions are likely to persist across several parts of the country over the next seven days, particularly in regions spanning northwest, central and peninsular India. The IMD has issued detailed advisories as temperatures continue to rise above normal levels. According to the latest assessment, maximum temperatures across parts of north-west, central and peninsular India are currently ranging between 40°C and 44°C, with the highest temperature of 44.5°C recorded at Sri Ganganagar. In several regions, temperatures are running significantly above normal by 5°C or more, indicating intensifying heat stress conditions.