The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a historic victory in West Bengal, winning 206 of the state’s 294 assembly seats and ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost her own Bhabanipur seat to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared in traditional Bengali attire in Delhi, pledging to build a “Sonar Bangla” and calling the 2026 election a triumph of good governance.

Analysts cited religious polarization, anti-incumbency, and strategic campaigning as key factors behind the BJP’s success. The party’s focus on administrative failures, local issues, and Bengali cultural symbols helped counter the “outsider” label. Trinamool’s image suffered from corruption scandals, unemployment, and local-level extortion. The Election Commission faced allegations from Trinamool of voter list manipulation, which BJP described as a victory for neutrality.

Post-election violence and unrest were reported across the state, prompting deployment of central forces. Discussions have begun over who will become West Bengal’s next chief minister, with several BJP leaders under consideration. The results mark a major political realignment in India, with BJP and its allies also performing strongly in Assam and Puducherry, while new forces rose in Tamil Nadu and Congress regained Kerala.

In the 2026 Indian state elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved sweeping victories in West Bengal and Assam. In West Bengal, the BJP ended Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year Trinamool Congress rule by winning 202 of 294 seats, while Trinamool secured 71. The Congress won 2 seats and the CPI(M) 1. In Assam, the BJP-led NDA returned to power for a third consecutive term, with the BJP alone winning 82 of 126 seats. The NDA also retained control in the union territory of Puducherry.

In Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), made a historic debut by winning 105 seats, becoming the single largest party and positioning Vijay as a potential chief minister. The DMK and AIADMK won 58 and 46 seats respectively. In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF regained power after ending a decade of Left Democratic Front rule, securing a majority with Congress winning 63 seats and CPI(M) 26.

The results mark a major political shift across several Indian states, reshaping regional power balances and leadership dynamics.

Bangladesh today observes Shapla Massacre Day, commemorating the deadly crackdown on Hefazat-e-Islam’s rally at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013. The operation, known as “Operation Secure Shapla,” was carried out jointly by law enforcement agencies during the night, leaving an unresolved debate over the number of casualties. While the then government claimed minimal deaths, rights group Odhikar listed 61 victims. The International Crimes Tribunal’s (ICT) investigation agency has now confirmed evidence of 32 killings, citing the use of lethal weapons and sound grenades after cutting electricity.

Following political changes in 2024, previously suppressed information about the incident has begun to surface. The ICT investigation agency is preparing to submit a report accusing 25 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, and ex-DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed. Families of victims, long silenced by fear, are now demanding justice and accountability.

Hefazat-e-Islam leaders have urged current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible, emphasizing that justice for the May 5 killings is essential to uphold the rule of law in Bangladesh.

Leaders of various political and religious organizations have demanded an impartial investigation and punishment for those responsible for the killings at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka on May 5, 2013. The demand was made in statements sent to the media on Monday, marking the anniversary of the incident. Commemorative discussions and prayer gatherings were held in the capital and other parts of the country.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh issued a statement urging nationwide prayers and discussions in memory of the victims, calling on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to ensure justice. The group held events in several Dhaka zones, while Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s leader, the Chormonai Pir, called the killings a shameful chapter in national history and demanded recognition and compensation for the victims. He also urged the state to officially commemorate the day.

Today, multiple organizations are continuing related programs, including discussions at Dhaka University and exhibitions at the National Museum. On Friday, the Shapla Smriti Sangsad will host a memorial event titled “Shaplar Shohidgantha—5 May Massacre: Remembrance and Evaluation.”

The Election Commission (EC) has approved the gazette declaring Nusrat Tabassum, joint convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) under the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, as a member of parliament for a reserved women's seat. Senior Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud confirmed the approval on Monday, stating that the document has been signed and will now be sent for printing.

Earlier, the alliance had nominated Monira Sharmin for the same seat, but her nomination was canceled by the returning officer because she had not completed three years since leaving her job, as required by law. Her appeal to the EC was rejected, prompting her to file a petition with the High Court. The hearing was scheduled for Monday afternoon, but one of the judges declined to hear the case, and it is now expected to be heard by another bench on Tuesday.

The EC stated that if the High Court issues any directive, the commission will comply by canceling or amending the gazette accordingly.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Paltan Zone has expressed deep grief and anger over the killings at Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013, and demanded a speedy and impartial trial for those responsible. The demand was made during a discussion and prayer meeting held on Monday evening at the organization’s Paltan office in Dhaka, marking the anniversary of the incident.

The meeting was presided over by Mufti Salah Uddin, president of the Paltan Zone, and conducted by general secretary Mufti Imranul Bari Siraji. Several religious leaders, including Maulana Abdullah Al Masud Khan, Maulana Manjurul Haque, Maulana Makhdoom, and Maulana Abdullah Rasel, addressed the gathering. Speakers emphasized that in a just and civilized state, no citizen should lose their life through oppression or injustice. They described the Shapla incident as both a humanitarian tragedy and a question of justice and human rights.

The speakers urged a full and impartial investigation, legal action against all directly or indirectly involved, and justice and compensation for the victims’ families. They stated that establishing justice would be the true way to honor the sacrifices of those who died.

Thirteen years after the May 5, 2013 operation at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar, families of those killed continue to live in deep poverty and sorrow. The coordinated security raid, known as “Operation Secure Shapla,” left many families without their main earners. Survivors describe losing loved ones, facing social ostracism, and struggling with debt and illness. Most families have received little or no state assistance or recognition, and many remain traumatized by the events of that night.

The article recounts testimonies from several families who lost relatives, detailing their economic hardship and emotional devastation. It also highlights the government’s long-standing denial of casualties, with officials claiming no one died during the operation. Human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Odhikar reported dozens of deaths, but official investigations were blocked and data suppressed. Media outlets were shut down during the raid, creating what witnesses called a blackout.

Following the fall of the previous authoritarian government in August 2024, victims’ families now see a renewed possibility for justice and international recognition of the killings as crimes against humanity.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called for ensuring justice for all perpetrators, including Hasina, involved in the July massacre. He made the demand while addressing a citizens’ reception organized by the Islamic Mission Japan at Kaminakazato Takinogawa Hall in Tokyo on Monday afternoon. Rahman emphasized that the sacrifices made by Bangladeshis in 1947, 1971, and 2024 must be honored through building a corruption-free state.

Addressing expatriates, Rahman urged them to enhance their knowledge and skills to contribute to national progress and strengthen the economy through remittances. He expressed gratitude to expatriate voters, noting that 65 percent supported Jamaat in the 13th national election, and pledged to uphold their rights both in parliament and on the streets. He also advised Bangladeshis in Japan to respect local laws and preserve their cultural roots.

Other speakers, including MPs Saiful Alam Khan Milon and Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman, highlighted the importance of expatriate participation in advancing Bangladesh’s ongoing movement and protecting their rights abroad.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of large-scale electoral fraud after the party took a strong lead in the state elections. Speaking to reporters on May 4, 2026, Banerjee alleged that the BJP had 'stolen more than 100 seats' and that the Election Commission had turned into a 'BJP commission'. She claimed that repeated complaints were ignored by authorities.

Banerjee further alleged that the BJP’s victory was unethical and that the Prime Minister and Home Minister were complicit in manipulating the Election Commission. She accused officials of coercion, abuse, and arresting counting agents, vowing to continue the political fight. As of 8:30 p.m., the BJP had won 136 seats and was leading in 72 more, while the Trinamool Congress had secured 49 seats and was ahead in 30, according to BBC Bangla.

The allegations have heightened political tension in West Bengal as counting continues and official results are awaited.

Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, stated that citizens must not be held hostage by extortionists, mafias, and terrorists. Speaking on Monday at a meeting of party organizers from the Dhaka-12 constituency at Segunbagicha’s Sanghati Auditorium, he emphasized the need to dismantle criminal syndicates across the country to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property. He said protecting citizens’ livelihoods should be a top priority for the elected government.

Haque warned that criminals often operate under political and administrative protection, and in some cases maintain unholy ties with members of law enforcement agencies. He stressed that such collusion must end if extortion, terrorism, and illegal occupation are to be stopped. He also noted that no political identity should shield criminals from accountability.

Party leaders at the meeting called for strengthening political and social resistance alongside administrative measures against extortionists and violent offenders.

The High Court has issued a rule asking why each of the 208 expatriate July movement fighters should not receive compensation of 2.5 million taka. The order was given on Monday by a bench led by Justice Fatema Nazib. The court directed the secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and other concerned authorities to respond to the rule. Barrister H. M. Sanjid Siddiqui represented the petitioners during the hearing.

According to Barrister Siddiqui, among the 208 individuals, 57 workers were convicted in the United Arab Emirates during the July movement. The government has officially recognized all 208 individuals, including those 57 workers, as July fighters. The case centers on their imprisonment and suffering abroad due to their involvement in the movement.

The High Court’s directive initiates a process to determine whether the recognized July fighters are entitled to state compensation for their hardships, pending responses from the relevant ministries.

Nearly 4,000 members of the Warriors of July, a group formed by participants of the July uprising, are set to join the National Citizen Party (NCP). Leaders from both the NCP and the Warriors of July confirmed the development. The joining ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the NCP headquarters, where senior leaders of the Warriors of July will formally enroll in the party.

Ahead of the event, Warriors of July leaders met with NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan. The meeting was attended by the organization’s president Md. Salman Hossain, general secretary Hasibul Hasan Jisan, and other senior officials. Salman stated that the decision was made collectively, citing limited progress in achieving their goals as an independent group. He said the move aims to realize the aspirations of the July uprising and the July Charter.

NCP spokesperson Bhuiyan described the inclusion of the July fighters as a positive development, emphasizing that people from diverse backgrounds are choosing the NCP to pursue politics focused on national interests.

Fatema Thahliya of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) won the Perambra assembly constituency in Kerala, a traditional Left stronghold, defeating LDF convenor and veteran CPI(M) leader Ramakrishnan. The 34-year-old secured 63,999 votes, winning by a margin of 4,700. With this victory, she became the first woman legislator in IUML’s history.

Born in Peruvayal, Kozhikode district, Thahliya began her political journey through student politics, leading the Muslim Students Federation before serving as a councillor in Kozhikode Corporation. She currently serves as the state secretary of the Muslim Youth League. A lawyer by profession, she holds degrees from Government Law Colleges in Kozhikode and Thrissur and practices at the Calicut District Court.

Her campaign faced intense online harassment and cyberattacks, particularly targeting her identity as a hijab-wearing Muslim woman. Despite the challenges and controversies, including communal polarization allegations during the campaign, her victory is seen as signaling a new political equation in Kerala’s landscape.

After a series of procedural and legal developments, Nusrat Tabassum, the Jamaat alliance candidate and joint convener of the NCP, has been declared elected unopposed to a reserved women’s seat in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament. The returning officer and Election Commission joint secretary Md Moin Uddin Khan confirmed the announcement on Monday, noting that the gazette publication process is underway.

Earlier, Nusrat’s nomination was initially rejected for being submitted 19 minutes after the deadline on April 21, following speculation that another alliance candidate, Monira Sharmin, might be disqualified due to her recent retirement from a state-owned bank. When Monira’s nomination was later canceled during scrutiny on April 23, Nusrat filed a writ petition with the High Court, which directed that her nomination be accepted and reviewed. On May 2, the returning officer declared her nomination valid and published her name as a qualified candidate on May 3.

With this decision, Nusrat becomes the 50th member elected to the reserved women’s seats, completing the allocation of 50 positions in the 13th Parliament.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed stated that the outcome of the West Bengal state assembly election in India will not affect relations between Bangladesh and India. She made the remarks on Monday, May 4, during a discussion with journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.

The minister emphasized that Bangladesh will continue to act in its own national interest regardless of which party comes to power in West Bengal. She also said that discussions with India on issues such as cross-border movement and the Ganges water treaty are ongoing, expressing optimism about progress on the Ganges agreement. Additionally, she hoped that the visa process between the two countries would return to normal soon.

Her comments reflect Bangladesh’s position of maintaining stable diplomatic engagement with India while addressing bilateral matters through continued dialogue.