FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | Monday, 09 March 2026 SPORTS NATION NATION Unexpected twist: Vijay’s TVK in talks to join NDA ahead of TN polls NORTH-EAST Son launched, lens on Nitish’s stance on dynastic politics Page 08 Boong is a burnished boon from Manipur Page 5 Page 11 ‘I’m excited to watch this group move forward,’ says Alyssa Healy after farewell match Page 12 India exorcise Ahmedabad ghosts, crush New Zealand to win third T20 World Cup TRIDIB BAPARNASH Ahmedabad, 8 March N early 28 months after heartbreak gripped the Narendra Modi Stadium on 19 November 2023, India returned to the same venue to script redemption on 8 March 2026. Heading into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final as defending champions, India chose the grandest stage to deliver a complete performance, crushing New Zealand by 96 runs to become the first team to lift a third T20 World Cup title. In the process, India also became the first side to successfully defend the trophy and the first team to win a T20 World Cup on home soil. Usually, the pressure of a World Cup final forces even the best teams into mistakes, and on Sunday, New Zealand paid the price for a series of tactical errors coupled with a batting blip to go down to India for the first time in a T20 World Cup. At the toss, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner put India in to bat and provided the hosts, particularly Abhishek Sharma, a significant boost by replacing off-spinner Cole McConchie with seamer Jacob Duffy. Sharma accepted the offer with both hands, smashing an 18-ball fifty while Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan also slammed audacious half centuries to power the hosts to a massive 255/5 for the third-highest team total in a T20 World Cup. In response, local lads Jasprit Bumrah (4/15) and Axar Patel (3/27) led India’s charge to outclass New Zealand. The Kiwis suffered early blows as the in-form Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips fell cheaply. Given a life earlier in the innings, Allen was caught at long-on off Axar Patel, who was brought in early to take on the explosive opener. In the next over, Bumrah struck first ball again, deceiving Ravindra with a slower ball for Kishan to complete the PM Modi slams Bengal ‘insult’ to Prez Murmu, Mamata says no protocol lapse, blames BJP for politicising issue STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 8 March Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made a sharp attack on the Bengal government over alleged disrespect shown to President Droupadi Murmu during her recent visit to North Bengal. Addressing a public gathering in Delhi for the launch of multiple development projects, the Prime Minister expressed concern over what he called the “boycott and mismanagement” of the President’s programme during her participation in the 9th International Adivasi Santal Conference in Siliguri. Mr Modi said politics driven by ego and disrespect for constitutional institutions would ultimately be rejected by the people. “The boycott and mismanagement of the President’s programme is an insult to the Constitution and every daughter of this nation,” he said, adding that “the people will never forgive this arrogance of power.” The controversy centres on President Murmu’s visit to Siliguri to attend the 9th International Adivasi Santal Conference organised by the International Santal Council. During the visit, the President is said to have expressed displeasure over protocol-related issues and the absence of senior state leaders during the programme, even hinting that the Chief Minister might have been upset with her. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, swiftly rejected the accusations and issued a detailed clarification, insisting that the state government had followed the approved protocol and that the controversy was being unnecessarily politicised by Ananda Bose says resignation was a ‘conscious decision,’ will reveal reasons at the right time UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Kolkata, 8 March The resignation of West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose ahead of the elections continues to trigger political discussions, even as the outgoing governor on Sunday said the decision to step down was entirely his own. Speaking to reporters at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport after returning to Kolkata from Delhi, Mr Bose said: “This is my conscious decision. This is the right time to say goodbye. One person must leave so that another can come.” Mr Bose also expressed gratitude for his tenure in West Bengal, greeting reporters with folded hands and saying his time in the state had been a “beautiful experience.” He added that he has now become a voter in the Chowringhee Assembly constituency, which he described as a matter of “double happiness.” However, the outgoing governor remained tight-lipped about his future plans. When asked whether he intends to contest the upcoming elections or pursue a different role, Mr Bose indicated that no such decision has been taken yet. At the same time, he kept the speculation alive, remarking that he would disclose the reasons behind his resignation “at the right time.” Reporters also asked Mr Bose about the recent unprecedented confrontation between the state administration and the office of the President during a programme in Siliguri. On this issue, he declined to comment, saying: “As the outgoing governor, I do not want to comment on this. But the President is a very good and highly respected person.” The Centre had received Mr Bose’s resignation on Thursday evening, triggering intense speculation about the circumstances behind his sudden decision. CM Mamata Banerjee had hinted at possible pressure behind the move in a post on social media, stating that she was “extremely surprised” by the development and suggesting that the BJP might be linked to it. the Bharatiya Janata Party. In a post on her WhatsApp channel, the Chief Minister said the invitation to the event had come from a private organisation and not from the state government. She further stated that the district administration had already raised concerns about the preparedness of the organisers during an advanced security liaison meeting. According to her, these concerns were formally conveyed to the President’s Secretariat. “After Advanced Security Liaison, district administration flagged in writing to the President’s Secretariat that the organiser appeared inadequately prepared; the concern was also conveyed telephonically,” she said. “The President’s Secretariat advance team visited on 05.03.26, was apprised of the lack of arrangements, yet the prog- ramme continued as scheduled,” Miss Banerjee added. She also emphasised that the reception and departure arrangements for the President were conducted strictly in accordance with the official protocol approved by the President’s Secretariat. “Hon’ble President was received and seen off by Mayor Siliguri Municipal Corporation, DM Darjeeling and CP Siliguri Police Commissionerate strictly as per the approved lineup shared by the President’s Secretariat. CM, West Bengal was not part of the lineup or the dais plan. No protocol lapse happened on part of district administration,” she asserted. Miss Banerjee accused the BJP of exploiting the issue for political gain. “BJP is disrespecting and misusing the highest chair in the country for its own party agenda. Most unfortunate,” she said. rest with a superb diving catch. Patel then castled Phillips to reduce the Kiwis to 47/3. At the other end, Tim Seifert managed to hold the innings together, dispatching Varun Chakravarthy for a couple of sixes to get to a 23-ball half century. But the spinner had the last laugh. In between, Hardik Pandya packed Mark Chapman (3) off cheaply, leaving the Kiwis at 72/5 by the 9th over. With the asking rate rising to 17 runs per over, Axar Patel produced another chance only for Hardik Pandya to spill it by dropping a regulation catch off Kiwi skipper Santner, but the left-arm spinner managed to get his third in the same over, with Ishan Kishan making no such mistake in packing back Daryl Mitchell. Needing 117 off the final five, New Zealand found the going tough. Bumrah cleaned up James Neesham and Matt Henry off consecutive balls, before castling Santner (43) as the visitors eventually folded for 159. As crisis deepens in West Asia, India ramps up alternative oil buys AGENCIES New Delhi, 8 March India has started securing additional crude oil supplies from alternative global sources as the conflict involving Iran continues to disrupt energy flows in West Asia. Indian refiners are negotiating cargoes from countries such as the United States, Russia and producers in West Africa to ensure stable fuel supplies if the geopolitical tensions persist, according to the sources. The move comes as tensions in the region have raised concerns about disruptions in oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route used by global energy markets. Nearly half of India’s crude oil imports passed through the strait in February. India imports around 88 per cent of its crude oil requirement, making stable supply routes critical for the country’s energy security. To prepare for possible disruptions, refineries have postponed planned mainte- nance shutdowns and are maintaining normal processing rates so that enough fuel can be produced to meet demand in the near term. “Non-strait sources are fully operational and we are sourcing more supplies from non-conflict zones,” as per the sources, adding that about 60 per cent of India’s crude imports came from outside the Strait of Hormuz in 2025. After the escalation in the West Asia conflict, that share has increased to nearly 70 per cent. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said India’s energy supply situation remains stable despite the geopolitical tensions. Wang Yi calls for India-China unity amid West Asia conflict AGENCIES Beijing, 8 March Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for enhanced cooperation between New Delhi and Beijing during a news conference held on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress in Beijing. The senior diplomat emphasised the importance of bilateral collaboration, stating that “India and China must step up and support each other’s presidency of BRICS over the next two years.” These comments come at a time of significant global upheaval, specifically amid the escalating US-Iran conflict in West Asia. Highlighting the potential for a unified front between the two Asian giants, Wang Yi underscored the impact their partnership could have on the international stage. “Together, we can bring new hope to the Global South,” he stated, suggesting that a coordinated leadership within the BRICS bloc would serve as a stabilising force for developing nations. In addition to fostering regional ties, the Chinese Foreign Minister condemned the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, asserting that the escalation should “never have happened”. According to Al Jazeera, the senior diplomat called for an “immediate” end to the current hostilities and a swift return to diplomatic negotiations. During the same news conference in Beijing, Mr Wang emphasised that the use of military power “will never resolve” the deep-seated crisis in the region. He warned that the reliance on force undermines the established international order, stating: “A strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle.” Al Jazeera further reported that the Foreign Minister expressed China’s firm opposition to any efforts aimed at destabilising the Iranian government. Mr Wang noted that he believes there is no popular support for regime change in Iran, suggesting that such objectives would only serve to further inflame regional tensions. Balen Shah’s RSP gets three fourth majority in Nepal elections JAYANTA ROY CHOUDHURY Kathmandu/New Delhi, 8 March Nepal’s political landscape was dramatically reshaped on Sunday as the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party led by rapper-turned-politician Balendra (Balen) Shah surged to a commanding victory in parliamentary elections, delivering a stunning rebuke to the country’s long-dominant political establishment. According to figures released by Nepal’s Election Commission, the RSP has won 119 of the 165 directly contested constituencies and is leading in six more, placing it firmly on course to dominate the new parliament once final results are declared. Officials said the remaining results were expected soon. “There is a huge expectation from Balen Shah’s rise and the young cabinet that he will bring with him when they are sworn in the coming week,” said Kuvera Chalise, Consulting Editor of Nepalkhabar. Almost all top leaders of the Nepal Congress and the two communist parties have lost the elections to the Rastriya Swatantra Party, which was formed just four years back in 2022. Among prominent losers was the ousted prime minister KP Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), who lost by over 50,000 votes to Shah. The scale of the victory marks one of the most decisive electoral shifts in Nepal’s recent democratic history and signals the rise of a new youthful political force propelled by widespread public frustration with corruption, economic stagnation, and entrenched political elites. The Nepali Congress, once the country's most influential democratic party, has won 17 seats in a directly-elected lower house of 165 members. The Nepali Communist Party and the Communist Party of Nepal–Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) have each secured seven seats, while the Shram Sanskriti Party has won three. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party and an independent candidate have each captured one constituency. The CPN-UML remains ahead in three of the remaining contests, while results from one constituency have yet to be reported. The election, Nepal’s first since last year’s youth-led uprising that forced the government from power, was widely seen as a referendum on the country’s political establishment. The new would-be Prime Minister of Nepal, Balen Shah, 35, has risen from music celebrity to anti-establishment political leader, galvanising young voters across the country. He resigned his previous position as Mayor of Kathmandu in order to lead the newbie party to success in Thursday’s elections. “This is truly Balen’s moment. He worked hard for this victory and even his opponents admit that a ‘Balen wave’ took the country by storm and ousted long-established leaders,” said Chalise.