KOLKATA: The West Bengal government on Monday dissolved the Trinamool Congress-run board of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and appointed the current KMC Commissioner, Smita Pandey, as the administrator. The state municipal affairs department issued a notification stating the corporation’s board had been dissolved under Sub-Section (I) of Section 117 of the KMC Act, 1980.

The notification further said that, following the dissolution of the current board, all members of the corporation, the members of the Mayor-in-Council (MMIC), and any committee of the corporation constituted under the Act, including the Mayor and the Chairman, shall vacate their offices. It clarified that consequent to the dissolution of the current board, all powers and duties shall be exercised or performed, subject to directions from the state government, by such person or persons as the government may appoint.

Last week, the former Mayor of KMC and former West Bengal Minister, Firhad Hakim, resigned from his position. Following that, a legal dispute broke out between the state municipal affairs department and the erstwhile KMC Chairperson, Mala Roy, over the dissolution of the board.

While the state government argued in favour of dissolution under Section 117 (I) of the KMC Act, which authorises the government to dissolve the corporation’s board, Roy cited Section 28 of the same Act that speaks of the Deputy Mayor running the show until a new Mayor is elected from among the existing councillors.

Finally, on Monday, the state government officially announced the dissolution of the Trinamool Congress board and appointed Pandey as the administrator for a period not exceeding six months or until newly elected councillors take charge.

A very rare demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar by the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ has gained popularity through various social media platforms owing to a very rare yet very heart-warming exchange. Among the many faces protesting against the government and its policies, one young man has won the hearts of netizens for an extremely non-political reason indeed.

When asked for his reasoning for joining such a massive demonstration, the young man refused to give a political message or speak any ill towards government officials. Instead, he claimed that he had come there because of his girlfriend.

ALSO READ | Delhi Airport chaos: Ground equipment crashes into Air India jets during storm; operator blames lack of ATC warning | VIDEO

‘My girlfriend is depressed’

The young man explained that he and his girlfriend have been together since last year and have been preparing for the medical entrance test (NEET) to be able to join the prestigious MBBS course.

But after the leakage of the NEET papers and the cancellation of the test for this year, the young woman began suffering mentally, dealing with depression.

Unable to join the protest herself due to her emotional condition, the young man chose to join in her stead, sharing her frustration towards the current government.

Netizens award viral youth ‘internet’s greenest flag’

The commentaries in various online forums were showered with admiration for the young man’s actions, effectively breaking the tension created due to the politicized nature of the coverage.

“Where does one find such a boyfriend?” many users casually quipped.

Others called him the internet’s ‘Greenest Flag,’ a term used nowadays to refer to the ideal romantic partner who will be a perfect emotional support for you.

Some of the commenters went on to say that being able to provide an unyielding emotional and physical support through a time of trouble or stress is far better than any romantic gesture.

The meaning behind the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ protest

The protest movement was initiated by a group of people going by the name of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). The innovative protest involved hundreds of students, job seekers, and youth activists protesting against the regular recruitment scams and paper leaks.

To signify their demands of accountability, the protesters were seen wearing cockroach-themed masks symbolizing a decaying system in India’s competitive examination system.

While the unusual visual representation of the protesters managed to draw attention online, it was the boyfriend’s act of solidarity that really won him fame at Jantar Mantar.

ALSO READ | Monsoon reaches 11 states in 72 hours, but will Delhi finally get relief from heat wave? IMD issues fresh warnings

Delhi weather update: After weeks of enduring intense heatwave conditions, Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) finally found temporary respite on Thursday as scattered thunderstorms cooled the region. With the immediate heat eased, all eyes are now on the monsoon, the region’s only hope for longer relief from the scorching summer.

According to the forecast of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the national capital is likely to see “mainly clear sky” on Monday with the highest temperature reaching 41 degrees Celsius and the minimum around 28 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, at the time of writing this report, the weather department’s prediction indicated that ‘strong surface winds during daytime’ are expected for Tuesday and Wednesday. 

However, later in the week, on Thursday and Friday, thunderstorms with rain are likely for the city, as per the IMD forecast. 

Also Read: Monsoon hits full swing, IMD issues alerts: Heavy rain in South & Northeast India – check when your state will get rain

Southwest monsoon 

The IMD has reportedly indicated that the southwest monsoon is likely to reach Delhi and the NCR between June 25 and June 30, offering residents a clearer timeline for the arrival of the much-awaited rainy season.

The southwest monsoon made its onset over Kerala on June 4, three days later than its normal date and five days after the IMD’s initial forecast. Despite the delayed start, weather experts expect the monsoon to advance steadily and cover most parts of the country by the third week of June.

Maharashtra monsoon 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that the likelihood of monsoon rains across the state remains low at least until June 15, as per news agency ANI.

Sharing a weather update issued by the state government, Fadnavis stated that although the southwest monsoon has entered the South Konkan region, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in parts of Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts until June 9.

Explaining the prevailing weather situation, the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office stated, “Likelihood of monsoon rains across the state remains low at least until June 15. However, according to the current weather forecast, the overall intensity of rainfall in the state, as well as the pace of the monsoon’s progress, is likely to decrease at least until June 15. As a result, the possibility of satisfactory rainfall across the state during this period is low.”

The state government also issued an advisory through the Agriculture and Disaster Management Department, urging farmers and citizens to remain cautious amid changing weather conditions.

(with agencies’ inputs)

Also Read: Kerala heavy rains: MeT department issues ‘orange’ alert for Idukki, night travel in hilly regions prohibited

Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Friday announced his exit from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and launched a new political outfit, ‘We the Leaders’, declaring that the it would contest the next Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

In a video message, Annamalai said the decision was driven by his desire to pursue the mission that had originally drawn him into public life.

Annamalai said he had joined the BJP with the aim of bringing positive change to Tamil Nadu and improve people’s lives, but had now decided to chart a new political course.

He further revealed that he had conveyed his decision to quit the BJP to the party leadership in December 2025. According to Annamalai, senior leaders had urged him to remain with the party until the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections before formally stepping down.

Annamalai said he had held discussions with top BJP leaders before taking the final decision. While expressing his deep respect for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he acknowledged that he had disagreed with the BJP on several issues over the past 18 months.

He also reiterated his long-held belief that the BJP should have contested the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections independently, signalling his disagreement with the party’s alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Annamalai said he did not want to become a problem for the party and therefore decided to part ways with the party. Announcing the formation of his new political outfit, ‘We the Leaders’, he said that both he and the party would contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

Also Read | End of an era: Annamalai quits BJP; will he launch new nationalist movement?

Describing his political journey as a “solo battle”, he said he was trying to create a new path for himself while staying committed to Tamil Nadu’s identity and aspirations. 

The former IPS officer said his aim was to work closely with ordinary citizens and promote a model of politics focused on public welfare. He contended that national parties often struggle to fully grasp the emotions, concerns, and aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu.

Annamalai also launched a sharp attack on the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, asserting that politics should not be confined to a single family.

Declaring that there was “no place for cult and dynasty politics”, he said he was determined to move beyond personality-driven politics and build a people-centric political alternative in the state.

He also claimed that several well-known figures, including superstar Rajinikanth, had urged him to join them politically, but he opted instead to pursue an independent path.

Annamalai has stepped down from the BJP, with party national president Nitin Nabin formally accepting his resignation from primary membership on Friday. His announcement has intensified speculation that the former IPS officer may soon disclose his next political step, following days of rumours about his exit from the party.

Ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections this year, Annamalai had quit the party posts, reportedly in response to the BJP’s decision to enter into a pre-poll alliance with the AIADMK in the state.

However, even after quitting the party positions, he continued to participate in the party’s election campaigning in the assembly polls.

Also Read | K Annamalai quits BJP as party chief Nitin Nabin accepts resignation

A former Karnataka cadre IPS officer, Annamalai, resigned from the Indian Police Service in 2019 before entering politics. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2020 and quickly rose through the ranks. Within a year, he was appointed Tamil Nadu BJP president, becoming one of the youngest state chiefs in the party and a prominent face of BJP’s expansion efforts in the state.

With the IANS inputs…