Crude oil futures traded more than 5 per cent higher on Monday morning following the US-Israel attacks on Iran over the weekend.
At 9.25 am on Monday, May Brent oil futures were at $77.12, up by 5.83 per cent, and April crude oil futures on WTI (West Texas Intermediate) were at $70.71, up by 5.51 per cent.
March crude oil futures were trading at ₹6483 on Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) during the initial hour of trading on Monday against the previous close of ₹6092, up by 6.42 per cent, and April futures were trading at ₹6483 against the previous close of ₹6106, up by 6.17 per cent.
In their Commodities Feed for Monday, Warren Patterson, Head of Commodities Strategy of ING Think, and Ewa Manthey, Commodities Strategist, said oil markets opened significantly stronger on Monday morning, with ICE Brent trading as much as 13 per cent higher initially — trading above $82 a barrel.
“This took the market into the range we had expected following this weekend’s developments. Perhaps more surprising is that the market has given back some of these gains,” they said. There’s still hope that an off-ramp from escalation can be found amid reports that Iran’s security chief is pushing for a resumption of nuclear talks with the US.
Stating that there is still plenty of uncertainty about how the situation in West Asia develops, they said Iranian retaliation and targeting of neighbouring Gulf states are only seeing energy supply risks grow — and leaving the door open for further escalation.
A big concern is the disruption to oil and LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate that several ships have been attacked, leaving many shippers reluctant to navigate the strait due to the risks. Clearly, if these disruptions persist, it will leave further upside to prices, they said.
Meanwhile, OPEC+ (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies), which met virtually on Sunday, decided to increase production by 206,000 barrels per day in April.
An OPEC+ statement said that in view of a steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals, as reflected in the low oil inventories, the eight participating countries decided to resume the unwinding of the 1.65 million barrels per day of additional voluntary adjustments announced in April 2023 and agreed on a production adjustment of 206,000 barrels per day. This adjustment will be implemented in April 2026.
The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions, and in their continuous efforts to support market stability they reaffirmed the importance of adopting a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse the phase out of the voluntary production adjustments, including reversing the previously implemented voluntary adjustments of the 2.2 million barrels per day announced in November 2023.
Natural gas
March natural gas futures were trading at ₹266.80 on MCX during the initial hour of trading on Monday against the previous close of ₹262.30, up by 1.72 per cent.
ING Think’s Commodities Feed said the real impact for gas markets will be on European and Asian LNG prices. Around 20 per cent of global LNG supply is at risk, leaving plenty of upside for European gas prices.
“As we near the end of the European heating season, gas storage is below 30 per cent full. This leaves the market tight. Given the potential for disruptions from the Persian Gulf, we could see increased competition between Europe and Asia for alternative supplies. While there’s been a ramp-up in LNG export capacity and more to come, particularly from the US, this would not come soon enough to offset potential losses from the Persian Gulf,” the Commodities Feed said.
ensex | Nifty 50 | Stock Market Live Updates – Find here all the live updates related to Sensex, Nifty, BSE, NSE, share prices and Indian stock markets for 2nd March 2026
Gift Nifty at 25,205 indicates a gap-down opening of about 150 points for Nifty. Strong economic numbers such as GDP and GST collection will help in market recovery, market experts believe.
The rapid deterioration in West Asia stability has triggered a broad risk-off sentiment across global markets, prompting investors to shift towards safe-haven assets, said Hariprasad K, founder, Livelong Wealth.
March 2, 2026 09:24
Emerging market currencies, stocks fall on Iran-Israel conflict worries
Emerging market currencies, stocks fall on Iran-Israel conflict worries
A gauge of developing nations’ currencies dropped 0.5%, declining for a second session in a row as the dollar strengthened.
March 2, 2026 09:19
Sensex opened 2,743.46 pts lower at 78,543.73 from the previous close of 81,287.19. Nifty 50 tumbled 519.4 pts to 24,659.25 from the previous close of 25,178.65.
March 2, 2026 09:16
West Asia war to weigh heavily on China, Europe and India, economists say
West Asia war to weigh heavily on China, Europe and India, economists say
Economists warn the West Asia conflict will impact oil importers like China, Europe, and India, benefiting exporters like Russia.
March 2, 2026 08:54
Rajeev Sharan, Head – Criteria, Model Development & Research, Brickwork Ratings
“The US–Israel strikes on Iran represent a significant geopolitical shock, raising the global oil risk premium and boosting demand for safe haven assets like gold and silver. For India, with close to 90% dependence on imported crude, any sustained rise in Brent prices quickly feeds into higher fuel costs, broader inflation, and a wider current account deficit. This complicates the RBI’s disinflation path and could delay rate cuts.
Indian equities have already turned risk off, with expectations of more volatility, foreign investor outflows, and pressure on autos, financials, and energy intensive sectors. Precious metals are likely to stay supported as long as escalation risks remain. The conflict premium will ease only when there is clarity on leadership in Tehran, credible channels for de escalation, and assurance that vital oil routes such as the Strait of Hormuz remain open.”
March 2, 2026 08:11
Morgan Stanley: India Equity Strategy | Focus List Changes: Adding Adani Power, Lenskart and Prestige Estates
We add Adani Power, Lenskart and Prestige Estates to our Focus List at the expense of Reliance Industries, Titan and Interglobe Aviation. From a sector perspective, we are OW Financials, Consumer Discretionary and Industrials.
March 2, 2026 07:58
Iran conflict: Anxiety to engulf these 5 sectors’ stocks
Iran conflict: Anxiety to engulf these 5 sectors’ stocks
Airlines, oil stocks face pressure from flight cancellations, rising crude prices
March 2, 2026 07:57
Middle East Conflict Updates: UAE announces it is closing its Dubai, Abu Dhabi stock markets on Monday and Tuesday (2nd & 3rd March) following Iranian strikes.
March 2, 2026 07:57
EQUITY PREVIEW
Abbott India (BOOT): Novo Nordisk, Abbott India in Pact for Semaglutide Diabetes Drug
Adani Enterprises (ADE): Agrees to buy defense unit from Punj Lloyd by way of slump sale, no terms
Adani Green Energy (ADANIGR): Says unit to operationalize plant in Gujarat
Aurobindo Pharma (ARBP): U.S. FDA complete inspection at Eugia Pharma unit 1 with four observation
Eicher Motors (EIM): Eicher Feb. Motorcycle Sales +11% to 100,905 units
Escorts Kobuta (ESCORTS): Feb. total sales up 20.4% Y/y to 10,339 units
GAIL India (GAIL): To set up wind project in Maharashtra for INR17.4B
GlaxoSmithKline Pharma (GLXO): Says revenue officials search office in Mumbai
Hero MotoCorp (HMCL): Feb. Vehicle Sales 558,216 Units Vs. 388,068 Y/y
Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL): HPCL Buys 1M Bbl of US Crude for Early May: OIL TENDER
ICICI Bank (ICICIBC): Board approves buying 2% more shares in Life Insurance arm
Indian Oil Corp. (IOCL): Skips Mideast Supply in Latest Purchases: OIL TENDER
Mahindra & Mahindra (MM): Feb. Automotive Sales +18% Y/y to 97,177 Units
Maruti Suzuki (MSIL): Feb. Total Sales 213,995 Units Vs. 199,400 Y/y
SML Mahindra (SMLMAH): Feb. vehicle sales up 17% Y/y to 1,503 units
Tata Motors PV (TMPV): Feb. Vehicle Sales 63,331 Units
TVS Motor (TVSL): Feb. Vehicle Sales 529,308 Units
Zydus Lifesciences (ZYDUSLIF): Gets U.S. FDA final approvals for Ivermectin and Dapsone tablets
March 2, 2026 07:57
Global bits
India – Q3 GDP grew 7.8% y/y, with strong consumption and services momentum, while NTT Data announced 5,000 new jobs, signalling sustained investment confidence.
South Korea – Exports are set to rise for a ninth straight month, driven by AI-related semiconductor demand.
Germany – Inflation eased to around 2% in February, reinforcing euro zone disinflation trends.
France – Inflation rose more than expected due to slower energy price declines, highlighting uneven price pressures.
Europe – Regional equities marked an eighth consecutive monthly gain, though credit concerns weighed on financial stocks.
Canada – Prime Minister Mark Carney advanced trade ties with India, signalling diversification beyond U.S.-centric trade.
United States – Markets remain cautious amid AI-driven disruption themes and upcoming labour market data.
Crude Oil (Brent) – Brent surged ~10% to around $80–$82/bbl (with risks of $90–$100+) as U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran and severe disruption in the Strait of Hormuz threatened roughly 20% of global oil flows.
Refined Fuels (Gasoline) – U.S. gasoline prices are expected to climb above $3/gallon amid supply fears and tanker disruptions in the Gulf.
LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) – LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have been heavily disrupted, raising supply concerns for major Asian buyers.
Shipping/Tanker Markets – Freight and insurance costs spiked after vessel damage and halted traffic near Hormuz, effectively tightening global energy supply chains.
Source: Reuters
March 2, 2026 07:53
GST Collection Update – February
Gross GST Revenue
• Total Gross Collection: ₹1,83,609 Cr
• Growth: ↑ 8.1% YoY
Year-to-Date (YTD)
• Gross Collection: ₹20,27,033 Cr
• Growth: ↑ 8.3% YoY
Net GST Revenue (After Refunds)
• Net Collection: ₹1,61,014 Cr
• Growth: ↑ 7.9% YoY
Refunds
• Total Refunds: ₹22,595 Cr
• Growth: ↑ 10.2% YoY
Moderate but steady tax growth trend continues.
March 2, 2026 07:48
Nifty to shed 150 points at open amid Iran tension
Domestic markets are likely to open marginally in the negative on Monday amid escalation of war in the Gulf region, involving Israel, the US and Iran. Gift Nifty at 25,205 indicates a gap-down opening of about 150 points for Nifty. Strong economic numbers such as GDP and GST collection will help in market recovery, market experts believe.
Maruti Suzuki February Sales Update: Total Sales at 2.13 Lakh Units
Total Sales: 2.13 lakh units vs 1.99 lakh units YoY (Up 7.32%)
Domestic PV Sales: 1.61 lakh units vs 1.60 lakh units YoY (Up 0.6%)
Exports: 39,155 units vs 25,021 units YoY (Up 56.5%)
Poll Check: Missed CNBC-TV18 poll estimate of 2.19 lakh units.
March 2, 2026 07:06
Stock Market Live Updates | Tamil | Nifty & Bank Nifty இந்த வாரம் (02 Mar’26 to 06 Mar’26) என்ன ஆகும்? எங்கு செல்லும்?
March 2, 2026 07:06
Nifty and Bank Nifty Prediction for the week 02 Mar’26 to 06 Mar’26 by BL GURU
March 2, 2026 07:03
Auto Sales Update
M&M Auto: Total Sales At 97,177 Units Vs Poll Of 98,250 Units (Inline with estimates)
M&M Tractor: Total Tractor Sales At 34,133 Units Vs Poll Of 33,000 Units (Marginally better than estimates)
SML Mahindra Feb Auto Sales: Total Sales Up 17% At 1,503 Units Vs 1,288 Units (YoY) (Numbers seen higher YoY)
Maruti Suzuki Feb Auto Sales: Total Sales At 2.13 Lk Units Vs Poll Of 2.19 Lk Units (YoY) (Numbers trailed with the estimates)
ESCORTS: Total Sales At 10339 Units Vs Poll Of 10500 Units (Inline with estimates)
Hyundai: Auto Sales At 66134 Units Vs Poll Of 65500 Units (Marginally better than estimates)
Eicher Motors CV: Total Sales At 9986 Units Vs Poll Of 10200 Units (Inline with estimates)
Tata Motors CV: Total Sales At 42940 Units Vs Poll Of 42000 Units (Numbers seen marginally better than estimates)
VSTTillers: Total Power Tiller & Tractor Sales Up 36.04% At 4,435 Units Vs 3,260 Units (YoY) (Numbers seen better YoY)
Tata Motors PV: Total Sales At 63300 Units Vs Poll Of 64300 Units (Numbers seen marginally lower than estimates)
TVS Motors: Total Sales At 5.29 lakh Units Vs Poll Of 5.10 Units (Numbers seen better than estimates)
Eicher Motors RE: Total Sales At 1.01 lakh Units Vs Poll Of 1.03 lakh Units (Numbers seen inline with the estimates)
March 2, 2026 06:57
OPEC+ is discussing oil output hike of 206,000 bpd, source says
Eight OPEC+ countries have in-principle agreement to raise oil output by 206,000 BPD, says source
March 2, 2026 06:48
Week Ending: 27 February 2026: What mattered. What didn’t. What it means | This Week in One Frame
India continued its quiet macro reset. Growth metrics were revised. Capital frameworks were rationalised. Energy and defence self-reliance themes strengthened. At the same time, U.S. trade friction resurfaced, reminding markets that export momentum remains geopolitically sensitive.
March 2, 2026 06:43
Index Outlook: Bourses ‘Trumped’
Nifty 50, Sensex and Nifty Bank index were knocked down last week. The indices opened the week with a gap-up but did not see a strong follow-through rise.
The US beginning its attack on Iran over the weekend can drag the benchmark indices further lower. This could keep the sentiment negative for some time.
However, on the charts, long-term supports are there which have the potential to limit the downside from here. So, the fall from here is going to give us a very good buying opportunity.
The stock of Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL) has been rallying since early February. It established the uptrend after finding support at ₹1,020. Last week, the scrip gained 7.6 per cent and breached the neckline of an inverted head and shoulder chart set up at ₹1,185. This is a strong indication that the trend has turned bullish.
Oil Prices: ईरान पर अमेरिका और इजरायल के हमलों के बीच ग्लोबल मार्केट में कच्चे तेल की कीमतों में 10 परसेंट का उछाल आया है. रविवार को एशियाई बाजार खुलने के साथ ही कच्चे तेल की कीमतों में 10 परसेंट की जोरदार तेजी देखने को मिली.
ब्रेंट क्रूड और निमेक्स लाइट स्वीट क्रूड दोनों की कीमतें सोमवार को शुरुआती ट्रेडिंग में तेजी से बढ़ीं. एक समय में ब्रेंट 12 परसेंट से ज्यादा उछलकर लगभग 82 डॉलर प्रति बैरल तक पहुंच गया, जो शुक्रवार को 73 डॉलर प्रति बैरल के बंद भाव से ज्यादा है. हालांकि, बाद में दोनों में थोड़ी नरमी देखी गई.
एक झटके में बढ़ गई कीमतें
एशियाई बाजारों में सोमवार सुबह तक क्रूड ऑयल लगभग 9 परसेंट की बढ़त के साथ 79.30 डॉलर के करीब कारोबार करता नजर आया. इस दौरान अमेरिकी क्रूड लगभग 8 डॉलर या 12 परसेंट बढ़कर 75 डॉलर प्रति बैरल हो गया, जबकि वेस्ट टेक्सास इंटरमीडिएट लगभग 8 परसेंट बढ़कर 72 डॉलर पर दिखा.
इस साल पहले से ही तेल की कीमतों में तेजी देखने को मिल रही है. जनवरी से इंटरनेशनल बेंचमार्क कीमतों में लगभग 20 परसेंट की बढ़ोतरी हुई है. ऊपर से अब फिर से तेल की कीमतें बढ़ना चिंताजनक है. एक्सपर्ट्स ने चेतावनी देते हुए कहा है कि आगे अगर कीमतें और बढ़ीं तो एनर्जी की लागत और बढ़ सकती है. हालांकि, यह ईरान की जवाबी कार्रवाई और सप्लाई रूट पर आने वाली बाधाओं पर निर्भर करेगा.
होर्मुज स्ट्रेट को लेकर चिंताएं
खासकर चिंता होर्मुज स्ट्रेट (Strait of Hormuz) को लेकर है, जो फारस की खाड़ी के मुहाने पर स्थित एक संकरा सा रास्ता है. यही एकमात्र समुद्री रास्ता है, जो फारस की खाड़ी को ओमान की खाड़ी या अरब सागर से जोड़ता है. इसके उत्तर में ईरान और दक्षिण में ओमान और संयुक्त अरब अमीरात है.
होर्मुज स्ट्रेट को फारस की खाड़ी का प्रवेश द्वार भी कहते हैं क्योंकि इसी संकरे से रास्ते से सऊदी अरब, कुवैत, कतर, इराक जैसे दुनिया के प्रमुख उत्पादक देश अपना तेल बाहर भेजते हैं. हर दिन करीब 15 मिलियन बैरल कच्चा तेल इसी रास्ते से होकर गुजरता है, जो दुनिया की सप्लाई का करीब पांचवां हिस्सा है.
भारत भी अपने लिए कच्चे तेल की जरूरतों का एक बड़ा हिस्सा इसी रास्ते से आयात करता है. ईरान-इजरायल के बीच जंग के कारण इस रास्ते के बंद होने की आशंकाएं लगाई जा रही हैं. ऐसे में शिपमेंट की रफ्तार धीमी पड़ सकती है या पूरी तरह से रूक सकता है. इससे एक्सपोर्ट पर रोक लग सकती है और दुनिया भर में कच्चे तेल और पेट्रोल की कीमतें बढ़ सकती हैं.
A satellite image of a residence complex belonging to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran February 1, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
VANTOR
Israeli and American authorities spent weeks tracking the movements of senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sharing information that allowed the strikes to be carried out in a surprise daylight attack, according to an Israeli military official and a person familiar with the operation.
The eventual barrage of US-Israeli attacks on Iran came so quickly that they were nearly simultaneous — with three strikes in three locations hitting within a single minute — killing Khamenei and some 40 senior figures, including the head of the Revolutionary Guard and the country’s defence minister, the Israeli military official said Sunday.
The official insisted on anonymity to more fully detail the attack, but said that a variety of factors created a golden opportunity to take out much of Iran’s leadership, like weeks of training and monitoring the movements of senior figures as well as intelligence in real-time before the attack began that key targets were gathered together.
Striking by day also gave an additional element of surprise, said the official, who said that so many major, rapid-fire strikes were critical to keep key officials from fleeing after the first strike. The official said Israel closely cooperated with its US counterparts and had used a similar tactic at the beginning of last June’s war — which resulted in the killing of several senior Iranian figures.
The official also noted Khamenei having posted defiant tweets taunting President Donald Trump in the days before the attack.
The details about the strikes came as the conflict entered its second day, with Trump saying in a video message Sunday that he expected it would continue until “all of our objectives are achieved.” He did not spell out what those objectives were.
The Republican president also said the US military and its partners hit hundreds of targets in Iran, including paramilitary Revolutionary Guard facilities, Iranian air defense systems and nine warships, “all in a matter of literally minutes.”
CIA had long tracked top Iranian leaders
Before the attacks, the CIA had for months tracked the movements of senior Iranian leaders, including the country’s supreme leader.
The intelligence was shared with Israeli officials, and the timing of the strikes was adjusted in part because of that information about the Iranian leaders’ location, according to the person, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The intelligence-sharing between US and Israel reflects the preparation that went into the strikes, which continued for a second day Sunday after Khamenei’s killing threw the future of the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and raised the risk of escalating regional conflict.
Arkansas Republican Sen Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that tracking the movements of the supreme leader and the heads of other adversarial nations “is obviously one of the highest priorities of our intelligence community.” The US regularly shares intelligence with allies including Israel. Those partnerships, and the accuracy of the intelligence they yield, is often critical not only to the success of a military operation but also to the public’s support for it.
Virginia Sen Mark Warner, the senior Democrat on the committee, told The Associated Press that, historically, “our working relationship with the Mossad and Israel is really strong.” Mossad is the Israeli spy agency.
Warner said he has serious concerns about the justification for the strikes, Trump’s long-term plans for the conflict and the risks that US service members will face. The military announced that three American troops had been killed in the Iran operation.
“No tears will be shed over their leadership being eliminated, but always the question is: OK, what next?” Warner said.
Iran has signalled it’s open to talks with the US
A senior White House official said Iran’s “new potential leadership” has suggested it is open to talks with the United States. That official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations, said Trump has indicated he’s “eventually” willing to talk but that for now the military operation “continues unabated.” The official did not say who the potential new Iranian leaders are or how they made their alleged willingness to talk known. Separately, Trump told The Atlantic that he planned to speak with Iran’s new leadership.
“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them,” he said Sunday, declining comment on the timing.
The potential future diplomatic opening comes as the details were emerging about the detailed planning that went into the US-Israeli strikes and some of the targets that were hit in Iran.
US Central Command said that B-2 stealth bombers struck Iran’s ballistic missile facilities with 2,000-pound bombs. That mirrors the approach that the military took in June, when Trump agreed to deploy B-2 bombers to attack three key Iranian nuclear sites.
Trump said during his State of the Union speech last week that Iran had been building ballistic missiles that could reach the US homeland — a justification he repeated again Saturday as he announced that the bombardment of Iran was underway.
Iran has not acknowledged that it is building or seeking to build intercontinental ballistic missiles. The US Defence Intelligence Agency, however, said in an unclassified report last year that Iran could develop a militarily viable intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 “should Tehran decide to pursue the capability.”
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Iran’s new leadership wants to talk to him and that he has agreed, according to an interview with the Atlantic magazine. “They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them. They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long,” Trump said in the interview from his Florida residence. Trump did not specify who he would be speaking with or say whether it would occur on Sunday or Monday.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said a leadership council composed of himself, the judiciary head and a member of the powerful Guardians Council had temporarily assumed the duties of supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump said some of the people who were involved in recent talks with the US are no longer alive.
“Most of those people are gone. Some of the people we were dealing with are gone, because that was a big – that was a big hit,” he was quoted as saying in the interview with Atlantic staff writer Michael Scherer. “They should have done it sooner, Michael. They could have made a deal. They should’ve done it sooner. They played too cute.”
People check their names in the voters’ list after publication of the post-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) electoral rolls, in Birbhum, West Bengal
| Photo Credit:
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As West Bengal’s final electoral roll after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) saw a net deletion of over 61.78 lakh voters and over 60.06 lakh names under adjudication, the ruling Trinamool Congress in the State on Sunday termed the four-month-long process conducted by the Election Commission as a “silent invisible rigging”.
The Mamata Baneree-led party alleged the “arbitrary deletions” of voters under SIR is a systematic humiliation engineered to disenfranchise and to silence Bengal’s voice.
West Bengal Pradesh Congress also alleged that the tagging of over 60 lakh names as “under consideration” under the SIR process reflects a grave political conspiracy.
The Election Commission of India published Bengal’s final electoral roll on Saturday after the Special Intensive Revision, which has emerged as a major political issue ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.
In the final electoral roll, net deletion of voters stood at over 61.78 lakh after removal of a total of around 63.67 lakh names and addition of around 1.88 lakh names. Additionally, the list notes that the names of 60.06 lakh voters are under adjudication as on date.
According to the Election Commission, the State has six crore forty-four lakh fifty-two thousand six hundred and nine (6,44,52,609) total electorate as on February 28, 2026, down from seven crore, sixty-six lakh, thirty-seven thousand, five hundred twenty-nine voters (7,66,37,529) as on October 27, 2025, before the SIR exercise.
The poll body said 60.06 lakh “doubtful and pending cases” have been marked under adjudication in the electoral roll. Names approved by judicial officers will be added by way of supplementary list later.
Stepping up his attack on the Election Commission over the post-SIR electoral roll, Trinamool Congress MP and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday alleged that the “target of deleting over one crore voters was decided even before the exercise began”.
Banerjee said BJP leaders had publicly stated that around “1.2 crore names” would be removed from the electoral roll for West Bengal. “If you add the deletions and those put under adjudication, the number corresponds closely to the figure of 1.2 crore,” the Trinamool Congress leader said during a media conference in Kolkata.
Sit-in protest
He said Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee will stage a sit-in protest in the city on March 6 on the issue. She will further declare the next course of action.
The BJP was unable to win elections politically in Bengal and was therefore trying to “influence the poll result by deleting genuine voters by using the Election Commission”, Banerjee added.
The Trinamool Congress claimed that the name of World Cup-winning Indian women’s cricket team member Richa Ghosh has been placed in the “under adjudication” category in the final electoral roll released by the poll body.
“A World Cup-winning star like Richa Ghosh, Bengal’s pride, India’s hero, the wicketkeeper-batter who donned the blue jersey and brought glory to the nation, has now been placed “under adjudication” in the final electoral rolls,” the party said in a post on X.
“When even celebrities and national icons can be arbitrarily targeted, questioned, and subjected to this degrading process, what hope for the common Bengali voter? This is systematic humiliation engineered to disenfranchise, to silence, to erase Bengal’s voice one name at a time,” it added.
In a statement, West Bengal Pradesh Congress president Subhankar Sarkar alleged that by marking a large number of voters as “under consideration,” the Election Commission is attempting to alter the demographic character of West Bengal.
Sarkar cited figures indicating that while slightly over 1.8 lakh voters have been included through Form 6, more than 5 lakh voters have been deleted — a trend contrary to other States where the SIR process has been conducted.
