Eminent Rabindra Sangeet exponent Sumitra Sen dies
Kolkata (PTI): Eminent Rabindra Sangeet exponent Sumitra Sen died at her city residence on Tuesday morning.
She was 89.
The renowned singer was suffering from broncho-pneumonia and was hospitalised on December 21 but discharged three days later, with her two daughters taking her back to her south Kolkata home.
"Mother left us this morning," her daughter Srabani Sen said in a Facebook post.
Both her daughters -- Srabani and Indrani -- are popular Rabindra Sangeet singers. Her family said she caught cold in mid-December and her condition turned serious due to her advancing age.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled the death of the eminent singer.
"I am deeply saddened by the sudden demise of Sumitra Sen, who had enthralled the audience for decades. I had a close relationship with her for a long time. The West Bengal government had awarded her 'Sangeet Mahasamman' in 2012.
"Her passing away is an irreparable loss to the music world. My sincere condolences to Sumitra di's daughters Indrani and Srabani, and her fans," Banerjee said.
Songs sung by her such as 'Megh Bolechhe Jabo Jabo', 'Tomari Jharnatalar Nirjone', 'Sakhi Bhabona Kahare Bole', 'Achhe Dukho Achhe Mrityu' were among the hundreds of tracks that regaled Rabindra Sangeet lovers for over four decades.
She stayed in Ballygunge and had many students and followers, who would regularly visit her. She was very active till a few years back.
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Kharge rules out Chief Minister change in Karnataka 'for now'
Kalaburgai (Karnataka) (PTI): AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said there was no Chief Minister change in Karnataka "for now" and that the leadership issue in the state will be resolved soon.
The Congress chief's statement comes amid speculations within the party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in Karnataka, are announced.
Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have been insisting on his elevation in lines with a rumoured power-sharing agreement with CM Siddaramaiah when the party won the 2023 Assembly polls.
"You (media), he (Parameshwara) and people at the top say that it is better if I become (the chief minister). But, more than fate, as per my ideology and as per my service to the party so far, Sonia Gandhi takes decisions regarding me," he said in response to a question about Home Minister G Parameshwara's statement about Kharge becoming the CM.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "But, that question does not arise now. There is already a Chief Minister here. If Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and I, together, have to take any decision in the direction of a change, it will take some time. Let's wait and see."
Amid speculations about the leadership change in Karnataka, Parameshwara said on Wednesday that everyone in the ruling Congress party will welcome, if Kharge, a senior politician with a lot of experience, becomes the chief minister.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
To a question on JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy's statement that about 40 Congress MLAs having booked tickets to Delhi next month, amid the leadership tussle in the Congress, Kharge said, "I don't know, ask him for details."
