Stay updated with the latest West Bengal Trending News Today. Explore breaking stories, insightful analysis, and in-depth coverage of today’s events.
What Are the Top Trending News Stories in West Bengal Today?
Today in West Bengal, the news landscape is dominated by high-stakes political visits, a major controversy surrounding the draft voter list, and a significant shift in the state’s welfare landscape.
Here is a breakdown of the trending news updates for December 20, 2025.
1. PM Modi Visits Nadia: ₹3,200 Crore Infrastructure Push
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting West Bengal today to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for two major National Highway projects.
- The Projects: Worth approximately ₹3,200 crore, these include the 4-laning of the Barajaguli–Krishnanagar section and the Barasat–Barajaguli section of NH-34.
- Strategic Impact: These projects are designed to act as a vital link between Kolkata and Siliguri, potentially reducing travel time by nearly 2 hours.
- Political Context: The visit to the Matua stronghold in Nadia is being viewed by the TMC as a “damage-control move” ahead of next year’s Assembly elections.
2. The SIR Controversy: 58 Lakh Names Deleted
The Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has triggered a massive political storm.
- Mass Deletions: The draft electoral roll shows the deletion of 58 lakh names (including 24 lakh deceased and 12 lakh missing voters).
- TMC vs. BJP: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has threatened to sit on a dharna if eligible voters are excluded, while the BJP claims the SIR is essential to “weed out illegal infiltrators.”
- Oddities Found: The draft data has revealed strange anomalies, such as records of individuals becoming “fathers at 15,” which the opposition is using to question the process.
3. Name Change: ‘Karmashree’ becomes ‘Gandhi Scheme’
In response to the Central Government’s “G RAM G” (Gramin Rozgar) Bill, Mamata Banerjee announced that Bengal’s own job guarantee scheme, Karmashree, will be renamed after Mahatma Gandhi.
- The Rivalry: This move is a direct counter to the Centre’s renaming of MGNREGA, with the CM asserting that Bengal will continue its own employment schemes despite funding disputes with the Union.
4. Security Alert: Bangladesh Unrest Impact
Events in neighboring Bangladesh continue to ripple through West Bengal.
- Border Vigilance: Security has been stepped up at the India-Bangladesh border and around the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata following the death of radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka.
- Political Framing: The West Bengal BJP has been using the violence in Bangladesh to warn the electorate, leading to sharp rebuttals from the TMC.
Other Notable Updates: West Bengal Trending News Today
- Weather: A Red Alert for dense fog has been issued for Gangetic West Bengal. Kolkata’s air quality (AQI) remains in the “Poor” category, while Darjeeling recorded some of the cleanest air in the country.
- Sports & Events: Controversy continues over the “Messi fiasco” in Kolkata, leading to the resignation of Sports Minister Aroop Biswas.
- Education: Visva-Bharati University has sparked a row by deferring semester exams to accommodate an RSS-affiliated institute’s examination.
Also, read India vs South Africa 5th T20I Live: Catch the Excitement
