State

Kolkata: Riding high on its resounding victory in Bihar, the BJP is now intensifying its efforts to strengthen its political foothold in West Bengal ahead of next year’s assembly elections. With the state election around the corner, the party is gearing up with full force. In an exclusive interview with Poonam Pandey, BJP Rajya Sabha MP and West Bengal state president Samik Bhattacharya spoke candidly about the party’s strategy, key election issues, and organizational preparations. Q: With elections approaching in West Bengal next year, what is BJP’s preparation, and what lessons have you learned from previous elections?A: Every election teaches us something, and we take those lessons internally. This time, it’s not just the BJP that is ready; the people are also prepared. This election...

Kolkata: A Boeing 737-200 aircraft, abandoned at Kolkata Airport for over 13 years, has finally left the premises on a tractor-trailer bound for Bengaluru, where it will be used to train maintenance engineers. This marks the 14th retired aircraft to be removed from the airport over the past five years. The 43-year-old aircraft, which had been lying idle at the southeastern edge of the airport since 2012, was transported on 14 November as part of ongoing efforts to clear old planes from the premises. The space it vacated will soon be used for one of two proposed new hangars. A Surprising Story Behind the PlaneThis Boeing has an unusual story. First, Air India itself had no record of the plane’s existence. Second, it was the only aircraft sold with Pratt & Whitney engines intact—un...