Amitabha Chakraborti

Former President, WB Pradesh Youth Congress, Member, All India Congress Committee

[Rajdeep Sardesai @sardesairajdeep]

IMPORTANT: Dear Mr @N_RamchanderRao do read section 33 A of the Rep of People Act. Section 33A deals with disclosure of criminal antecedents by a candidate. Broadly, a candidate is required to disclose information where he or she is accused of an offence punishable with imprisonment of two years or more and where charges have been framed by a competent court, or where the candidate has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment of one year or more. None of these conditions exist in the Meenakshi Natarajan case. In fact, Hyderabad court refused to take cognisance of the case today, albeit on procedural grounds but there is no prima facie case made out against Ms Natarajan either in this private complaint . Far from it in fact with no FIR also filed naming her.
As for the returning officer, he is not expected to act in a mechanical manner. Please read para 6 (6):
Para 6(6) says there is a presumption that every nomination paper is valid unless the contrary is prima facie obvious or has been made out. In case of a reasonable doubt as to the validity of a nomination paper, the benefit of such doubt must go to the candidate concerned. Please also read Para 10(12) that says that where the prescribed affidavit has not been filled at all, or where the affidavit has been filed but is found or considered defective or containing false information, the nomination should not be rejected on that ground alone. Clearly this means that the candidate must be given a fair chance to explain if at all any defect is found.
Net net: it is apparent that the case was decided in an arbitary manner and justice should be done to avoid such rulings that diminish public faith in the election process.
I am sorry to turn to my original profession of a lawyer here with this lengthy response . I have no skin in this political game , have never even met Ms Natarajan but will speak out when there is a blatant miscarriage of justice . I sure hope the day doesn’t come when a nomination is rejected for a non disclosure of a parking offence next. Indian democracy deserves better 🙏

[Rajdeep Sardesai @sardesairajdeep]

INTERESTING: If Nehru became PM only after the 1952 election as is now being claimed , then was Sardar Patel never really Deputy PM and India’s first Home Minister since he died in 1950?
The trouble with cherry-picking history is that it eventually contradicts itself.🙏

[Mallikarjun Kharge @kharge]

The Indian National Congress (INC) unequivocally condemns the targeted assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Hosseini Khamenei, in a military strike carried out without a formal declaration of war. The INC extends its deepest condolences to the Supreme Leader's family, to the people of Iran, and the Shia community around the world in this moment of profound grief. We stand in solidarity with them as they navigate this grave crisis.

India's foreign policy is anchored in a commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and respect for international law, as mandated in Article 51 of the Constitution of India. These principles-sovereign equality, non- intervention and the promotion of peace are foundational to India's civilisational values. Given this, the conflict in West Asia is deeply antithetical to our commitment to Vasudhaiva Kutumbaka ("the world is one family"), Mahatma Gandhi's doctrine of ahimsa (non-violence), Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's policy of non-alignment.

The targeted use of force to destabilise the leadership and governing structures of a sovereign state whether in Iran or earlier in Venezuela-signals a disturbing revival of regime-change doctrines and coercive unilateralism. It also contravenes the United Nations Charter-especially Article 2(4), which expressly prohibits "the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state," and Article 2(7), which forbids intervention in matters essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state. A targeted killing of a sitting head of state strikes at the heart of these international rules. Sovereignty is not conditional, and political legitimacy cannot be manufactured through force.

The INC reiterates that it is the inalienable right of every nation's citizens to determine their own political future. No external power has the authority to engineer regime change or dictate the leadership of another state. Such actions amount to imperialism and are fundamentally incompatible with a genuinely rules- based international order.

[ANI Digital @ani_digital]

"Lot in common with countries like India, Brazil": German FM Wadephul advocates for Europe's pragmatic approach toward BRICS nations at MSC 2026

Read @ANI Story l https://t.co/85FOnX29Gv
#GermanFM #BRICS #India #MSC

[Congress @INCIndia]

Even by an accountant’s standards, it was a poor account of the management of the finances in 2025-26. Revenue receipts were short by Rs 78,086 crore, total expenditure was short by Rs 1,00,503 crore. Revenue expenditure was short by Rs 75,168 crore and capital expenditure was cut by Rs 1,44,376 crore (Centre Rs 25,335 crore and States Rs 1,19,041 crore). Not a word was said to explain this miserable performance. Actually, the Centre’s capital expenditure has fallen from 3.2 per cent of GDP in 2024-25 to 3.1 per cent in 2025-26.

In revenue expenditure, the cuts have fallen in heads that concern the common people. Examples:

⦁ Rural Development: Rs 53,067 crore
⦁ Urban Development: Rs 39,573 crore
⦁ Social Welfare: Rs 9,999 crore
⦁ Agriculture: Rs 6,985 crore
⦁ Education: Rs 6,701 crore
⦁ Health: Rs 3,686 crore

Funds have been cut in crucial sectors and programmes. Expenditure on the much-vaunted Jal Jeevan Mission was cruelly cut from Rs 67,000 crore to a paltry Rs 17,000 crore. (In 2026-27, it has been boosted to Rs 67,670 crore, but what credibility does the number have?)

After the months-long exercise, the revised estimate of the fiscal deficit has adhered to the budget estimate of 4.4 per cent, and the projection for 2026-27 is that the fiscal deficit will fall by a meagre 0.1 per cent of GDP. The revenue deficit will remain at 1.5 per cent. It is certainly not a bold exercise in fiscal prudence and consolidation.

The most serious criticism of the Budget speech is that the Finance Minister is not tired of adding to the number of schemes, programmes, missions, institutes, initiatives, funds, committees, hubs, etc. I counted at least 24. I leave it to your imagination how many of these will be forgotten and vanish by next year.

: Former Finance Minister Shri @PChidambaram_IN

[Roshan Rai @RoshanKrRaii]

Listen to 5 min of P Chidambaram outlining India’s economic challenges and how this Budget doesn’t address any of them.

Listen to the depth of his intellect.

There is not one mind in BJP that has 1% of his economic prowess or can speak like this.

[ANI @ANI]

#WATCH | Mumbai | On NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar's statement on reports of Sunetra Pawar as Deputy CM, BJP Leader Ram Kadam says, "...Many leaders in NCP feel that his wife, who is a Member of Parliament, should become the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Now, what Sharad Pawar ji is saying or not saying is less important, given their blood relationship, he too would personally wish for Sunetra ji to become the Deputy Chief Minister. Perhaps, since they belong to different parties, he might have a different role in mind. But if he were asked personally, as a family member, he might also want this. However, only he can clarify his actual role in this matter"

[Ankit Mayank @mr_mayank]

This is NOT Karnataka or Kerala ❌

This is West Bengal where Congress has only 1 MP & 0 MLA

Yet Congress workers are spitting fire on ground with powerful protests against ECI Gang 🔥🔥🔥

[The Hindu @the_hindu]

Psephologist and activist Yogendra Yadav and economist Parakala Prabhakar were among the public intellectuals who forecast “the highest disenfranchisement in the history of the nation” in #WestBengal due to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters’ lists, claiming that the exercise is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ‘misuse of state machinery’ ahead of Assembly polls in the State, reports @Moyuriee

https://t.co/5ZwJzQp22C

[Vijay Thottathil @vijaythottathil]

We no longer live in democracy, it is elected autocracy!

[Amitabha Chakraborti @AmitabhaINC]

#Zohran It’s a victory for the liberals and pluralists. This victory is also a lesson for our country. A large section of people want to support those who sincerely fight against authoritarian, propagandist, right-wing forces. This is exactly what @RahulGandhi is doing here.

[Rahul Gandhi @RahulGandhi]

My thoughts are with the people of Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal as they endure the devastation caused by incessant rainfall and flooding.

Heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones.

I urge Congress workers to extend all possible support, and request State & Central Govts to act swiftly to help restore normalcy.

[Rahul Gandhi @RahulGandhi]

After our Aland candidate exposed the fraud, the local EC official filed an FIR, but the CID investigation has been - BLOCKED by CEC.

The Karnataka CID has written 18 letters in 18 months requesting all incriminating evidence - BLOCKED by CEC.

The Karnataka EC has sent multiple requests to ECI to comply with the investigation - BLOCKED by CEC.

Details of destination IP, device ports, and OTP trails have been withheld - BLOCKED by CEC.

If this vote theft had not been caught and the 6,018 votes had been deleted, our candidate could have lost the election.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar - stop giving excuses. Release the evidence to the Karnataka CID. NOW.

[Amitabha Chakraborti @AmitabhaINC]

#VoteChori To protect constitution, to protect basic fabric of the country, to protect idea of India…The war against ⁦@ECISVEEP⁩ will continue.

The voice of ⁦@RahulGandhi⁩ will percolate to the each and every booth of the country. Need our strong involvement.

[Mohammed Zubair @zoo_bear]

TOI reporter @bhartijainTOI and BJP handles @amitmalviya @BJP4Karnataka are sharing these images claiming that Rahul Gandhi lied and claimed they are 'fake voters'.
By doing so, they've themselves exposed @ECISVEEP again.
The three people ( Om Prakash Bagri, Saraswati Bagri and Mala Bagri) have two different EPIC id. One is registered in Mahadevpura and another in South Bengaluru & Cuttack.

1. EPIC numbers (SVF9456682, SVF9456690, SVF9456708) are from Mahadevpura as shown by Rahul Gandhi.

2. EPIC numbers (RDU4978128 & RDU4978136 from South Bangalore, YNY0628511 from Cuttack) as shown by their election ID.

How can someone have two EPIC numbers with different house locations @ECISVEEP ?

[Rahul Gandhi @RahulGandhi]

#VoteChori हमारे लोकतंत्र पर Atom Bomb है।

[Amitabha Chakraborti @AmitabhaINC]

#INDvsENGTest
TO REMEMBER THE MOMENT THROUGH OUT MY LIFE. SALUTE #TeamIndia

[Amitabha Chakraborti @AmitabhaINC]

THANK YOU @IYCWestBengal for hitting the street. It’s the real @IYC movement. I am very happy to part of the movement. It reminds me of Youth Congress days. The movement must be sustained. We need more targeted programs to increase our visibility. @GAMIR_INC @INCWestBengal

[The Wall @TheWallTweets]

SIR ইস্যুতে কংগ্রেসের রাজভবন অভিযানে ধুন্ধুমার।
#Congress #SIR #RajBhavan #kolkata #shortsreels #TheWallNews

[Amitabha Chakraborti @AmitabhaINC]

I am not surprised by this move of ⁦@RahulGandhi⁩ ji…it’s his natural instinct. I recall what Nirbhaya’s father’s said on Rahul ji.

“Rahul Gandhi looked after us emotionally, monetarily, but asked us to keep it a secret,”

[Amitabha Chakraborti @AmitabhaINC]

New Delhi's silence on the devastation in Gaza and now on the unprovoked escalation against Iran reflects a disturbing departure from our moral and diplomatic traditions.

CPP Chairperson Smt Sonia Gandhi ji writes a thought provoking peace for @the_hindu