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As the final five phases of polls draw closer, rift among <keyword id="20101713" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="INDIA-bloc-partners" source="keywords">INDIA bloc partners</keyword>, <keyword id="21533469" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress-Left-combine" source="keywords">Congress-Left combine</keyword> and the <keyword id="19942089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TMC" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="TMC" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="TMC">TMC</keyword>, which are fighting separately has intensified, triggering a fierce contest across half of the remaining 36 constituencies in West Bengal driven by local issues such as <keyword id="20074422" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sandeshkhali" source="keywords">Sandeshkhali</keyword> and the SSC scam. TMC's decision to contest independently in the state, rather than as part of the bloc, has led to a three-way contest, with the other contenders being the BJP and the Congress-Left alliance. Nevertheless, both TMC and Congress have asserted that they are part of the INDIA bloc at the national level and are authentic representatives of the opposition front in Bengal. Political analysts suggest that without a dominant national narrative like national security after the 2019 Pulwama attacks, local concerns such as corruption allegations, the cancellation of School Service Commission (SSC) jobs, incidents in Sandeshkhali and implementation of the <keyword id="19965573" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Citizenship-Amendment-Act" source="keywords">Citizenship Amendment Act</keyword> (CAA) are altering election dynamics. Maidul Islam, a political scientist at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, remarked, "Till a few months ago, it seemed the elections in Bengal will be a bipolar contest between the TMC and BJP. But with issues like corruption and Sandeshkhali gaining prominence, the Left-Congress alliance is fast gaining traction in several seats and turning the polls into a three-cornered contest in at least 18-20 LS segments." He said besides the two and three seats in Malda and Murshidabad districts, where TMC and Congress secured two each and the BJP one in 2019, there are 13 seats spread across South Bengal, where the TMC and the Left-Congress alliance are engaging in intense competition. "It's not that the Left-Congress will win many seats, but in segments where their vote share is above 10 per cent, there is a likelihood that they might influence the outcome, to the disadvantage of either the TMC or the BJP, if they manage to secure two per cent more votes," Islam added. According to sources in TMC and CPI(M), the electoral battleground extends beyond Malda and Murshidabad, encompassing Lok Sabha segments like Dum Dum, Srerampore, Arambagh, Hooghly, Howrah, Barrackpore, Bardhaman-Purba, Bardhaman-Durgapur, Bankura, Purulia, Tamluk, Kolkata North, and Jadavpur, all poised for a three-cornered fight. Notably, eight of these seats were won by TMC and the remaining by BJP in the 2019 parliamentary polls. "The shift in dynamics presents the Congress-Left alliance as a significant player, and its emergence complicates the electoral narrative, transcending the conventional TMC versus BJP dichotomy," political analyst Subhomoy Moitra said. While the Left Front is contesting 30 seats, the Congress has fielded candidates in 12 out of 42 seats. "We wanted an alliance with the Congress, but they were delaying the seat-sharing arrangements, so we decided to go alone. Now the Left-Congress alliance is helping the BJP by trying to eat into our votes," remarked TMC leader Santanu Sen. According to TMC leaders, the breakup of INDIA alliance in Bengal has both electoral advantages and disadvantages. "After the Left and Congress alliance fell apart in West Bengal in 2019, it had led to a four-cornered contest with BJP bagging the entire chunk of the anti-TMC votes in the state," they said. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP bagged 18 seats and its vote share rose from 17 to 40 per cent. Meanwhile, despite a 3 per cent rise in vote share, the TMC lost 12 seats, dropping from 34 to 22. The Left drew a blank with a vote share decline from 24 per cent to 6 per cent, and the Congress lost two seats, shrinking its vote share from 9.5 per cent to 5 per cent and bagging just two seats. "Local issues such as corruption and SSC scam are helping the Left-Congress in the state as there is anger among a section of people against the TMC and also against the BJP over the perception of a tacit understanding," a TMC leader said. Analysts observe that <keyword id="43868" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mamata-banerjee" source="Orion">Mamata Banerjee</keyword>'s intensified criticism of Left and Congress, accusing them of aiding BJP, and the ensuing sharp responses from CPI(M) and Congress, alleging a secret pact between TMC and BJP, as indicative of the growing significance of Left-Congress alliance. Data from various local elections and by-polls conducted after 2021 assembly elections indicate a shift in anti-TMC votes as there has been a resurgence of Left-Congress combine. Incidentally, the BJP had witnessed a decline in its vote share as compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha and 38 per cent in 2021 assembly polls. In 2023, violence scarred panchayat polls which covered nearly 70 per cent of the state's electorate, the TMC had bagged 51 per cent of votes whereas the BJP had bagged 22 per cent. The Left-Congress-ISF alliance had, however, bagged 23 per cent votes. The ISF this time, however, has decided to contest alone in 17 seats. Congress leader Suvankar Sarkar emphasized, "People are disenchanted with the TMC and the BJP, as they are both sides of the same coin. People are coming out in large numbers to support the Left-Congress candidates." CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty expressed confidence in the Left-Congress alliance's potential to deliver surprising results in the elections, claiming initial success in breaking bipolar politics in Bengal. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar downplayed the significance of the rift in opposition alliance and the three-cornered fight in various seats. "People know that BJP is only fighting TMC's misrule in Bengal. Those who want to vote against TMC, will vote for us only just like in the 2019 and 2021 polls," he said. Political scientist Biswanath Chakraborty suggested that TMC stands to gain the most from the three-cornered contest. In minority pockets, the Left-Congress alliance could dent TMC's vote base, potentially aiding BJP's prospects, he noted.

West Bengal Elections: Rift among INDIA bloc partners triggers three-cornered intense contests

<ul><li>The Indian government has been shutting down internet services in select parts of the country amid protests against the <keyword id="6564012" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="citizenship-amendment-act">Citizenship Amendment Act</keyword> (CAA).</li><li>The internet shutdowns have led an outcry from human activists that such measures aren’t coming down through the ‘right channels’.</li><li>The accelerated pace and expanse of the internet shutdowns also has China citing India as ‘setting an example’.</li><li>Businesses aren’t immune to the effects either as many online retailers rescheduled orders or reported a dip in sales.</li></ul>Amid the protests, violence and discord over India’s newly formed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), authorities have been shutting down access to the internet in selected areas to control the situation. When the internet isn’t being shut down, it’s at least being slowed down — known as throttling. Human rights activists claim that the order did not come down the ‘right channels’ making the entire exercise ‘illegal’. 
 <div type="image" title="protest2_edited" msid="72931875" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Throngs of anti-CAA protests outside the Red Fort in New Delhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 It can only be ordered by a competent authority like Union home secretary or state home secretary, but this order was not issued by them," technology lawyer Mishi Choudhary told <a href="https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/delhi-internet-shutdown-did-not-come-via-right-channel-digital-right-activists/72897911">ET</a>. And, this is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/internet-shutdowns-in-india-have-skyrocketed-but-now-the-indian-government-wants-that-to-stop/articleshow/67178243.cms">not the first time</a> that the government is being accused of using <keyword id="991379" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Internet-shutdown">internet shutdown</keyword> as a ‘quick fix’ solution for ‘potentially’ volatile situations. 
 <div type="image" title="protest6_edited" msid="72931857" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Phone with postpaid connections finally get network access in Kashmir on 14 October 2019 after 71 days of an internet shutdown&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 In fact, India has turned so infamous for it during the last few months that China — known for its strict surveillance of online activity — is citing India as an example. India’s internet shutdown shows normal practice for sovereign countries," said an editorial by Qing Qiu in <a href="http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/1217/c90000-9641267.html">People’s Daily</a> — China’s largest newspaper and a controlled entity of the country’s ruling party. Internet shutdown capital of the world The government is allowed to sanction an internet shutdown in the case of a public emergency under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017. The problem is that internet shutdowns have become so common in India that it now has a reputation for being the ‘<a href="https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/inside-the-internet-shutdown-capital-of-the-world-11575644823381.html">internet shutdown capital of the world</a>’. Kashmiris had to endure a four-month-long shutdown while the networks in Assam and parts of West Bengal were sporadically cut and activated. 
 <div type="image" title="protest7_edited" msid="72931888" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Parts of Kashmir remain under curfew and internet black out&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 Since 2012, the internet has been shut down in India a total of 375 times and most of them have occurred during the last two years — 134 in 2018 and 103 in 2019. It means that shutting down the internet in a state of emergency should be standard practice for sovereign countries," according to the <a href="http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/1217/c90000-9641267.html">People’s Daily</a> editorial. Impact of internet shutdowns The damage of an internet shutdown isn’t restricted to missing messages on WhatsApp or an update on Instagram either. Although, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did ironically try and send out a tweet his ‘brothers and sisters in Assam’ when it was under an internet blackout. 
	<div type="twitter" handle="narendramodi" handlename="Narendra Modi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1134082549041393672/QbihPzrL_normal.png" favoritecount="77241" retweetcount="15350" status="I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB. I wa… https://t.co/VPsj5t5opd" createdat="1576124902000" id="1204981291730341888"></div>



 Internet shutdowns are affecting businesses as well. Between 2012 to 2017, they cost the economy nearly $3 billion, according to an estimate by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (<a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2018/apr/26/internet-shutdown-cost-indian-economy-usd-3-billion-from-2012-17-study-1806393.html">ICRIER</a>). This time around, food delivery apps like Zomato, Uber Eats and Swiggy saw their <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cabs-to-food-e-biz-hit-by-internet-shutdown/articleshow/72920805.cms">volumes dip by 10 to 20%</a> in Delhi. Grofers, an online grocery delivery service, had to reschedule 20,000 to 25,000 of its orders in Lucknow. 
 <div type="image" title="protest1_edited" msid="72931915" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Traffic comes to half as roads get blocked by anti-CAA protestors in New Delhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 In addition the effect on businesses, this might not be the best time for the Indian government to be exercising its power in such a way with the Personal Data Protection Bill underway. The bill is currently under discussion by a joint committee after being tabled in the Parliament in its last session. There are concerns that it has too many loopholes that will give the government access to user data in the name of ‘national security’ or a ‘public emergency’ — the very same reason used to justify the many internet shutdowns across the country. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/internet-shutdowns-in-india-have-skyrocketed-but-now-the-indian-government-wants-that-to-stop/articleshow/67178243.cms">Internet shutdowns in India have skyrocketed — but now the Indian government wants that to stop</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/All-the-countries-where-someone-managed-to-shut-down-the-entire-internet-160and-why-they-did-it/articleshow/70009168.cms">All the countries where someone managed to shut down the entire internet - and why they did it</a> <a href="http://businessinsider.in/india-accounted-for-most-number-of-intentional-internet-shutdowns-in-south-asia-2017-18-unesco/articleshow/64189016.cms">India accounted for most number of intentional internet shutdowns in South Asia 2017-18: UNESCO</a>

Indian government shut off the Internet over a 100 times in 2019 — and China is lovin' it

<ul><li>India’s Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> will host the year’s first <keyword id="245371" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Council-of-Ministers">Council of Ministers</keyword> today evening in the national capital. </li><li>Allies of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) are hoping that Modi will expand his cabinet to accommodate ‘respectable’ representation. </li><li>The council will also have to address the issues of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the <keyword id="36141" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-slowdown">economic slowdown</keyword>. </li></ul>India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to kick off the new year with his first Council of Ministers today evening. Not only is it the first meeting of the year, but it may also be important with rumours of Modi wanting to reshuffle and expand his cabinet. <a href="https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/pm-narendra-modi-to-review-ministerial-work-in-years-first-council-of-ministers-meet-today/535060">Times Now</a> reports that Modi will be returning to Delhi to hold the Council of Ministers at 5:30 pm today after returning from the Indian Science Congress (ISC) in Karnataka. Allies of the <keyword id="58687" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP) — like <keyword id="6358821" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="shiv-sena">Shiv Sena</keyword> and the <keyword id="123462" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Janata-Dal">Janata Dal</keyword> — have been asking for ‘respectable’ representation sources told <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/cabinet-expansion-reshuffle-on-the-cards-amid-demands-from-bjp-allies-119110400024_1.html">Business Standard</a>. That’s not surprising since there are currently 72 ministers on Modis’ Council of Ministers — not one from BJP’s allies. Slots are still up for grabs since the council can accommodate a total of 81 ministers, excluding Modi — 15% of the total number of members in the lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha. Addressing the issues While the political elements may be more interested in getting a seat at the table, there are other pressing issues on the docket as well. Multiple reports of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/caa-internet-shutdowns-make-india-example-for-china/articleshow/72931761.cms">clashes between protestors and the authorities</a> have been coming in over the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indian-citizenship-bill-challenged-by-iuml-in-supreme-court-one-day-after-passing-rajya-sabha/articleshow/72487481.cms">Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)</a>. In addition, the global economic slowdown has the Indian economy on the edge. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/imf-calls-out-indias-growth-rate-which-did-not-translate-into-jobs/articleshow/72947797.cms">India’s ‘growth rate’</a> which did not translate into jobs was recently called out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Modi held the last Council of Ministers on the 21 December, four days before Christmas. Today’s council will the first major hurdle of 2020. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/caa-internet-shutdowns-make-india-example-for-china/articleshow/72931761.cms">Indian government shut off the Internet over a 100 times in 2019 — and China is lovin' it</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/5g-data-privacy-surveillance-ai-digital-tax-and-e-commerce-to-drive-tech-debate-in-india-in-2020/articleshow/73054149.cms">5G, AI, data privacy and mass surveillance — 12 biggest tech policy challenges India will have to face in 2020</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/8-charts-that-show-that-corruption-is-still-a-way-of-life-in-india/articleshow/72260521.cms">8 charts that show that corruption is still a way of life in India</a>

Narendra Modi to lead the first Council of Ministers of the year today— cabinet expansion may be on the cards

<ul><li>Digital activists have issued a legal notice to the <keyword id="6358992" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Police">Delhi Police</keyword> against the use of the Automated Facial Recognition Software (AFRS).</li><li>They assert that such mass surveillance is 'completely illegal' and 'unconstitutional'.</li><li>Even though AFRS is being used to monitor crowds in Delhi, its original intent was to help the police track down lost children.</li></ul>The Delhi Police has come under the scanner for using camera <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/delhi-police-using-drones-to-track-down-protestors/articleshow/72902707.cms">drones to track demonstrators</a> during protests against the <keyword id="6564012" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="citizenship-amendment-act">Citizenship Amendment Act</keyword> (CAA). 
 <div type="image" title="afrs7_edited" msid="73052603" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Drone spotted flying over Delhi during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 However, they've also been using <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-plans-for-facial-recognition-without-law-in-place-to-regulate/articleshow/70201128.cms">facial surveillance</a> to monitor crowds even when there are no signs of non-cooperation. A report by <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/police-film-protests-run-its-images-through-face-recognition-software-to-screen-crowd-6188246/">The Indian Express</a> states that Delhi Police used the Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS) to screen the crowd during Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>'s Ramlila Maidan Rally on 22 December. 
 <div type="image" title="afrs4_edited" msid="73052609" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Crowd gathered for Prime Minister Narendra Modi&amp;#39;s rally at Ramlila Maidan on 22 December&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 That kind of mass surveillance, according to digital rights activists at the Internet Freedom Foundation (<a href="https://internetfreedom.in/we-demand-the-delhi-police-stop-its-facial-recognition-system/">IFF</a>), is "completely illegal". "From building an underlying database of people from public protests to running it on crowds of people attending rallies. This directly impairs the rights of ordinary Indians from assembly, speech and political participation," it said in an <a href="https://internetfreedom.in/we-demand-the-delhi-police-stop-its-facial-recognition-system/">open letter</a> to the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Commissioner of Delhi Police. 
 <div type="image" title="afrs8_edited" msid="73052612" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act at Prime Minister Narendra Modi&amp;#39;s rally at Ramlila Maidan on 22 December&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 It was supposed to find lost children The original intent of AFRS, however, was to find lost children. But even then, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-plans-for-facial-recognition-without-law-in-place-to-regulate/articleshow/70201128.cms">success rate fell far short of expectations</a>. The High Court called out its inefficiency on at least three occasions. "Since this High Court case contains no clear direction for the use of facial recognition software, even for instances of locating missing children a question arises - What is the legal authority under which this facial recognition system is being implemented," said the IFF. 
 <div type="image" title="afrs_edited" msid="73052614" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Telangana Director General of Police M Mahender Reddy along with senior officials launch &amp;#8216;Facial Recognition System&amp;#8217; integrated with the TSCOP mobile app to aid investigators in identification of criminals in Hyderabad &amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 The danger of mass facial surveillance Sources told the Indian Express that the Delhi Police has over 1.5 lakh 'history-sheeters' in its photo dataset so far. It's already being used in day-to-day crime investigations. When it comes to public events, a smaller, secondary dataset made up of 2,000 images of terror suspects is used. A third database of 'rabble-rousers and miscreants' has only recently been added to their arsenal. 
 <div type="image" title="afrs5_edited" msid="73052618" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;AFRS was also reportedly used to monitor the crowds during India&amp;#39;s Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 "We submit that the use of the AFRS for profiling and surveillance at public congregations is illegal and unconstitutional," said IFF's <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-GA-LlcVlnm0Ln4nuA_E_gLBMr6zeWzn/view">legal notice</a> to the Delhi Police. Since there are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-plans-for-facial-recognition-without-law-in-place-to-regulate/articleshow/70201128.cms">no guidelines for the use of AFRS</a>, there are no guidelines for the formulation of the databases. Thus, there is no checklist for the list of people including or excluded from the databases. AFRS — a system without a purpose Even if AFRS is to be used, it <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-plans-for-facial-recognition-without-law-in-place-to-regulate/articleshow/70201128.cms">needs to have a legitimate aim and purpose</a>. Its application should not be random and as per arbitrary rules. "The use of AFRS for surveillance must clearly define the legitimate aim and purpose of such use, even if legality is presumed," said the IFF. This is extremely important because while the authorities may see the AFRS as a way to make their jobs easier, the system needs to be balanced against fundamental civil rights — like the <keyword id="515140" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="right-to-privacy">right to privacy</keyword> and freedom of speech. 
 <div type="image" title="afrs3_edited" msid="73052619" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Citizenship Amendment Act protestor being hauled off by the Delhi Police&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 "There is no material/references available that state what legitimate aim would be achieved by the use of AFRS in political rally or protest given even at such spaces voicing dissent or assembly is an exercise of the fundamental right of a person," the IFF points out. As for the 'trinity of databases', the collection of data can't be a blanket exercise. It needs to be specific and targeted while also preventing bias. "If the goal is to identify a specific instance of wrong-doing or prevent crime (in policing), the State cannot achieve that by blanket and indiscriminate data collection, that fails to distinguish between those against whom there is probable cause of suspicion, and against whom there is not," said the IFF. If checks and balances aren't put in place, it will be easy for misuse to seep through the cracks and take advantage of the lack of oversight and accountability. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/delhi-police-using-drones-to-track-down-protestors/articleshow/72902707.cms">Police using drones to identify key protestors⁠— and it may lead to harassment in the future</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/news/indias-new-data-protection-is-in-the-works-and-companies-will-only-have-to-pay-2-million-for-violations/articleshow/72381112.cms">India's new data protection law is in the works and companies will only have to pay $2 million for violations</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-plans-for-facial-recognition-without-law-in-place-to-regulate/articleshow/70201128.cms">India is all set to deploy facial recognition but there is no law in place to keep a check</a>

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West Bengal Elections: Rift among INDIA bloc partners triggers three-cornered intense contests

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Indian government shut off the Internet over a 100 times in 2019 — and China is lovin' it

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Narendra Modi to lead the first Council of Ministers of the year today— cabinet expansion may be on the cards

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Outcry over mass facial surveillance — digital rights activists say it’s ‘completely illegal’ and ‘unconstitutional’

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