FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI K Annamalai likely to launch new party on his birthday Born guilty Page 9 CBSE OSM row: Centre transfers Bengal CM mocks TMC’s ‘organisational collapse’ board chairman and secretary STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 2 June I n the wake of alleged irregularities in the digital evaluation system for the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) Class 12 examination process, the Centre on Tuesday transferred CBSE chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta and set up a onemember committee to inquire into the procurement of the newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) System by the national board. Later in the day, the Centre announced the appointment of Lokhande Prashant Sitaram as the new Chairperson of the CBSE and Varun Bharadwaj as the next Secretary of the Board. Earlier in an official circular dated 2 June, the Additional Cabinet Secretary, Satendra Singh, stated that a one-member committee chaired by S. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson, Capacity STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE ‘Barrage of cyberattacks’ hits Class 12 Board exam re-evaluation portal: CBSE New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday said that its re-evaluation portal was hit by a “barrage of cyberattacks”. The education board, in a statement posted on social media, noted that the service has been resumed on the website, with over 16,000 students having completed their submissions. “While thousands of students accessed the CBSE re-evaluation portal today, malicious actors attempted to disrupt services through a barrage of cyberattacks,” said CBSE, adding that the service attack caused 1.5 million hits on the portal within two minutes. The portal also saw more than 1 lakh attempts of unauthorised file access, the central board added. “Based on student feedback, we have further refined the platform, including extending session time limits to make the process more convenient and seamless” Building Commission, has been constituted. “The Committee will submit its report within a month to the Department of Personnel & Training,” the official order said. Earlier this month, a social media user claimed that the CBSE OSM portal had been breached on 25 February 2026, No third party role in matters between India and Nepal: MEA on Balendra Shah’s ‘encroachment’ remarks NIKHIL VYAS New Delhi, 2 June In response to Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s controversial ‘encroachment’ remarks, India on Tuesday rejected involvement of any third party in resolving bilateral matters between New Delhi and Kathmandu, adding that close to 98 per cent of the India-Nepal border has already been demarcated. The Nepal Prime Minister on Sunday admitted that the Himalayan nation has encroached on Indian territory. Addressing his weekly media briefing here, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal asserted that there is no role for any third parties in a bilateral matter between India and Nepal and the two neighbouring nations have Page 12 NATION Page 6 New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday got five new judges ~ Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli, and Justice V. Mohana ~ who were administered the oath of office by the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant. With the swearing in of the five new judges, the Supreme Court now has 37 judges, just one short of its sanctioned strength of 38 judges. Justice Nagu, Justice Chandrashekhar, Justice Sachdeva and Justice Palli were previously the Chief Justices of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Bombay High Court, Madhya Pradesh High Court and Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, respectively. Justice V. Mohana has been made an apex court judge directly from the Supreme Court Bar, the second practicing woman advocate to be so appointed. Mirra Andreeva powers into French Open SF and sets up Russia-Ukraine showdown Page 8 Trump says Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to dial back fighting EDITORIAL Five new SC judges sworn in, strength goes up to 37: Wednesday, 03 June 2026 SPORTS WORLD BRIEFLY | established bilateral mechanisms to deal with all aspects of boundary matters. He noted that there are cases of cross-border occupation in demarcated segments of the boundary, which are being mapped jointly. “We have seen the remarks of the Prime Minister of Nepal concerning India India-Nepal boundary as well as the subsequent statement made by the Nepali foreign office on this matter. While close to 98 per cent of the India-Nepali boundary has been demarcated, there are some unresolved segments,” the MEA spokesperson said. “The shifting of the Gandak River has resulted in this. In addition, there are cases of cross-border occupation and encroachment of no man's land in demarcated segments of the boundary, which are currently being mapped jointly,” a claim that subsequently formed the basis of several media reports. In a statement issued on 26 May, the Board initially dismissed the claims circulating on social media that its On Screen Marking (OSM) portal used for evaluation of answer books was compromised, asserting that no security breach has occurred in the system used for actual assessment work. On Sunday, however, the board accepted that the system was compromised, stating that it has contained vulnerabilities identified in the online marking portal of its service provider and is working with cybersecurity experts to further strengthen the system. The Ministry of Education has sought a detailed report from CBSE and the contract awarded to Hyderabad-based Coempt EduTeck amid the ongoing row regarding the board’s OSM portal. Kolkata, 2 June China should be involved in discussions on border issues. The Nepal PM had also said that his country remains committed to resolving boundary issues with India through talks. Mr Jaiswal further stated that issues such as cross-border occupation and encroachment in already demarcated “no-man's land” areas have been identified in some segments, which are currently being jointly mapped and verified by both sides. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday took a swipe at Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamul Congress, claiming that the poor turnout at the party chief’s protest programme in Kolkata reflected the deep organisational crisis gripping the Opposition camp after its crushing electoral defeat. “I’m told only three MPs and six MLAs attended. The party’s condition has become like Falta,” Mr Adhikari said while speaking to reporters during an visit to Tarakeswar. The chief minister’s remark was a reference to the recent Falta repoll, where Trinamul candidate Jahangir Khan secured just over 7,000 votes and finished fourth in the contest. The chief minister also added that Tuesday’s programme had exposed how much support Mamata Banerjee had lost within her own party. At Mamata Banerjee’s sitin protest at Y-Channel in Kolkata, only a handful of legislators and senior leaders were seen on the stage despite the Trinamul Congress officially still having 78 MLAs on paper. The BJP leader argued that the turnout demonstrated the extent of the Opposition party’s organisational decline. Last Sunday, Mamata Banerjee had convened a meeting of the party’s victorious legislators at her Kalighat residence. However, with only around 20 MLAs reportedly attending, the meeting had to be called off at short notice. Against that backdrop, political observers viewed Tuesday’s protest as an attempt by the former chief minister to demonstrate that she still retained control over the party. However, the turnout fell short of expectations. Apart from a few senior leaders such as Nayana Bandyopadhyay, Madan Mitra, Firhad Hakim and Biman Banerjee, few prominent faces were seen at the protest venue. When reporters told the chief minister that Trinamul national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had allegedly been making repeated calls to MLAs in an effort to ensure their presence at the venue, Mr Adhikari responded with a sarcastic dig. “I heard he is unwell and on saline. Can someone make so many phone calls if he is ill?” he remarked. Despite the sparse turnout, Mamata Banerjee sought to project defiance from the protest stage. Launching a fresh attack on the BJP, she declared, “Jiyenge to BJP ko hata ke jayenge” (If we live, we will remove the BJP from power). Will Trinamul split up à la Shiv Sena? JAYANTA ROY CHOWDHURY he said. “We have established bilateral mechanisms to deal with all aspects of boundary matters. It should be clear to all concerned that there is no role for any third parties in a bilateral matter between India and Nepal,” he added. The MEA spokesperson was responding to a query about Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah reportedly suggesting that the UK and Kolkata, 2 June Speculation over a significant rupture within the Trinamul Congress intensified on Tuesday after a poor turnout at a meeting and protest programme convened by the party chief and former West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee. The developments have fuelled growing discussion within Bengal’s political circles over whether the Trinamul could face a crisis similar to that which fractured the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. The signs of discontent have become increasingly difficult to ignore. Only a small number of Trinamul legislators and parliamentarians attended Tuesday’s protest programme called by Miss Banerjee, reinforcing persistent rumours of unrest within the party’s ranks. Earlier, Trinamul Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy had warned that the party was facing an internal schism. “The party is splitting. MLAs are looking out for themselves,” Mr Roy told UNI. The warning followed Sunday’s legislative party meeting, which exposed the scale of the challenge confronting the leadership. According to party sources, around 60 of the Trinamool’s 80 MLAs stayed away from the gathering, an absence that has triggered intense speculation about organised dissent. Adding to the uncertainty, the party on Monday expelled two legislators, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, for alleged anti-party activities. Their expulsion has lent further momentum to reports that meetings involving dissatisfied legislators have been taking place at a hotel in Kolkata. Both lawmakers are believed by party insiders to have played a role in organising discussions among MLAs unhappy with the current leadership. While there is no public evidence of a formal breakaway faction, political observers note that any group seeking recognition under anti-defection provisions would need the support of at least 53 MLAs. The controversy has been further complicated by allegations that signatures purportedly backing senior Trinamul leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay for the post of Leader of the Opposition were forged. The claims have deepened confusion over the loyalties of individual legislators and the extent of support enjoyed by competing camps. Miss Banerjee, meanwhile, has sought to portray the developments as the result of external pressure rather than internal rebellion. In a Facebook Live address, she alleged that Trinamul legislators were being intimidated and pressured to stay away from meetings convened by her. Senior party leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay has attempted to calm nerves, insisting that the overwhelming majority of Trinamul legislators remain loyal to both the party and its founder. Yet the sparse attendance at recent events and the increasingly public airing of grievances have raised fresh questions about the party’s cohesion at a moment when it is confronting one of the most difficult periods in its history. Venezuela’s acting President INDIA bloc to hold key strategy meeting in Delhi Delcy Rodríguez to visit India on 8 June amid push for greater Opposition unity STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 2 June Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez will undertake a five-day working visit to India from 3 to 7 June, with discussions expected to focus on energy security, trade, investment, and expanding bilateral cooperation across key sectors. Announcing the visit, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Ms Rodríguez, who was earlier scheduled to attend the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) Summit on 1 June before it was deferred, will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising the ministers of foreign affairs, economy and finance, science and technology, communication and information, and transportation. Ms Rodríguez is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, covering the full spectrum of India-Venezuela ties and exploring avenues for deeper cooperation in energy security, trade and investment, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, transportation, and renewable energy. “This will be her sixth visit to India, reflecting her long association with our country,” Mr Jaiswal said, noting that Ms Rodríguez had earlier visited India as Venezuela’s foreign minister in 2015 and subsequently as vice president in 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Highlighting the importance of the relationship, Mr Jaiswal said India remains an important partner of Venezuela in the fields of energy and investment. “Indian public sector undertakings have made significant investments in Venezuela's energy sector, and they are keen to explore further opportunities to enhance their presence there,” he said. As part of the visit, the Venezuelan delegation will tour facilities linked to India's energy, pharmaceutical, and automobile sectors to explore opportunities for industrial and technological collaboration. The visit comes as New Delhi seeks to diversify its crude oil sources amid uncertainty in global energy markets. Venezuela, which possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, has re-emerged as a potential supplier for India. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 2 June With an eye on strengthening Opposition cohesion and sharpening its political strategy against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, senior leaders of the INDIA bloc are scheduled to meet in New Delhi on 8 June for what is being seen as a crucial coordination exercise ahead of an eventful political calendar. The meeting is expected to bring together top leaders from several constituent parties of the opposition alliance and comes at a time when political parties are assessing the implications of recent Assembly election results and preparing for upcoming electoral and parliamentary challenges. Leaders are likely to review the prevailing political landscape, discuss ways to enhance cooperation among alliance partners, and chart a common course of action on key national issues. According to leaders familiar with the preparations, the discussions will focus on reinforcing the unity of the Opposition coalition, improving coordination between regional and national parties, and identifying areas for collective action both inside Parliament and on the ground. The meeting is also expected to deliberate on strategies for raising issues of public concern in a coordinated manner and presenting a united opposition voice on matters of national importance. Among those expected to participate are Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Uddhav Thackeray and Akhilesh Yadav, along with representatives from other INDIA partners. Sources indicated that beyond parliamentary coordination, the leaders may explore ways to broaden cooperation in states headed for elections in the coming months. Discussions are also likely to cover issue-based campaigns, joint public outreach programmes, and mechanisms for ensuring greater coordination among alliance partners on political and policy matters. The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), formed in 2023, brings together a diverse group of opposition parties seeking to mount a united challenge to the BJP-led NDA. Political observers view the 8 June gathering as an important opportunity for the opposition bloc to take stock of its strengths and shortcomings after recent electoral contests, while also working towards a more cohesive organisational and political framework. The meeting is expected to provide a platform for alliance partners to discuss state-specific challenges, strengthen communication channels, and address any differences through dialogue. While no formal agenda has been made public, opposition leaders are expected to use the occasion to project unity and collective resolve. The deliberations are likely to shape the alliance's approach for the upcoming Parliament sessions and future electoral battles, as opposition parties seek to build momentum and present a coordinated political alternative in the months ahead.