The Indian National Congress has decided to support actor Thalapathy Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), in forming the next government in Tamil Nadu after the party achieved notable success in the recent state assembly elections but fell short of a majority. Congress MP Shashikant Senthil told NDTV that the party’s Political Affairs Committee approved the decision, with Rahul Gandhi reportedly backing the move from the start. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge preferred that the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee make the final call, which was later confirmed in a virtual meeting.

Congress expects to receive two ministerial positions in the upcoming cabinet, with leaders Girish Chodankar and Praveen Chakravarty maintaining contact with TVK. However, the party has set a key condition that TVK must not ally with the NDA or any of its partners, particularly AIADMK. Vijay is now required to formally approach the state governor to claim the right to form the government and take oath as chief minister.

Following the election results, Vijay expressed gratitude to the people of Tamil Nadu, calling the victory a triumph of democracy.

After the Trinamool Congress lost the West Bengal election, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared she had not been defeated and would not resign. Her government’s term officially ended on May 6, but she insisted she would remain in office, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won through dishonest means. The BJP criticized her remarks, calling them inconsistent with constitutional principles.

Legal experts cited India’s Constitution, explaining that under Article 164, a chief minister holds office at the governor’s pleasure, which depends on legislative majority support. If Banerjee refuses to resign, the governor can withdraw that pleasure and dismiss the cabinet. They also noted that under Article 172, no state government can continue beyond five years. Experts said her refusal is more political than legal, as the governor can still invite the majority party to form a new government.

Constitutional scholars added that while Banerjee’s resignation is customary, her tenure automatically ends with the assembly’s term. The situation has drawn comparisons to past instances where Indian chief ministers resisted stepping down after controversies or convictions.

Amit Shah is traveling to Kolkata tonight to attend a crucial political meeting focused on selecting the new chief minister of West Bengal. According to party sources, he will serve as the chief observer in the process of electing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s legislative party leader. Mohan Charan Majhi will assist him in this task. Under BJP rules, central observers are sent to states after elections to oversee the selection of legislative leaders.

This meeting is being viewed as highly significant, as the BJP is reportedly close to forming a government in West Bengal after being in opposition. Party insiders suggest that the decision may not only finalize the legislative leader but could also effectively determine the next chief minister, since the elected leader typically assumes that role.

Earlier, current Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dismissed speculation about her resignation, stating that her party had not been defeated. The overall political atmosphere in West Bengal remains tense amid expectations of a new government formation.

At least four people have been killed in widespread violence across West Bengal following the announcement of the state assembly election results, according to multiple Indian media reports. The clashes reportedly occurred between supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in several districts including Birbhum, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Nadia, and Bankura.

Allegations from both parties indicate that two BJP workers were killed by TMC supporters in Howrah’s Udaypur and Rajarhat New Town, while TMC claimed that two of its workers were killed by BJP activists in Birbhum’s Nanur and Kolkata’s Beleghata. Both sides have denied responsibility. Incidents of vandalism and arson were reported in Asansol, where several TMC offices were attacked, and fires spread to nearby shops. BJP leaders denied involvement, alleging that miscreants were using their party’s name to create unrest.

India’s Chief Election Commissioner Jnaneesh Kumar has ordered strict action to control the situation, directing immediate arrests and instructing state authorities and central forces to remain on alert.

Post-election violence has continued across West Bengal two days after the announcement of assembly election results. Reports from Tuesday night indicate multiple incidents of vandalism and arson targeting Trinamool Congress offices in the Asansol industrial area. Party offices were attacked and set on fire at Asansol Court More, while similar incidents occurred in Rupnarayanpur, Kumarpur, Kulti, Raniganj, Jamuria, Barabani, and Burnpur. Some offices were also painted saffron. The Bharatiya Janata Party has denied involvement, with newly elected BJP legislators stating that no party workers were connected to the violence.

In response, Chief Election Commissioner Jnanesh Kumar announced strict measures to curb the unrest. He ordered immediate arrests of anyone found involved in vandalism or attacks and advised the state’s Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Kolkata Police Commissioner, and the Director General of Central Armed Forces to remain vigilant.

The Election Commission’s directive signals heightened enforcement efforts to restore order amid ongoing political tensions in the state.

Widespread unrest has erupted across West Bengal following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) major victory in the recent state assembly elections. Reports indicate incidents of violence, vandalism, and intimidation targeting minority Muslim communities in several districts. Threats of bulldozer action similar to those seen in Assam and Uttar Pradesh, along with attacks on religious sites, have created deep anxiety among residents. Offices of the Trinamool Congress were reportedly destroyed or set on fire in areas including Tollygunge, Asansol, and New Town, while former minister Arup Biswas’s office was also attacked.

Witnesses from counting centers alleged that BJP agents used force even in the presence of central security forces, driving out opposition agents with threats and verbal abuse. In Minakha, a Trinamool panchayat member and her family were assaulted, and opposition offices across multiple districts were allegedly seized and marked with saffron flags. Residents in Muslim-majority neighborhoods described sleepless nights amid fears of bulldozer attacks and communal provocation.

Local observers warned that such violence and intimidation could severely damage Bengal’s long-standing tradition of communal harmony and push the state toward deeper political and social instability.

Post-election unrest has persisted across West Bengal despite repeated warnings from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership. Scattered incidents of violence have been reported in multiple districts, with BJP supporters holding victory processions using bulldozers and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) losing ground in North Bengal. In Jalpaiguri’s Maynaguri block, BJP members were accused of forcing Muslim-owned shops to close. Reports of clashes also came from both North and South 24 Parganas, where several deaths occurred.

In Kolkata’s Beleghata area, the body of TMC worker Biswajit Pattnayak was found under suspicious circumstances, prompting a police investigation. Violence also erupted in New Town after a BJP worker was allegedly beaten to death, while in Bolpur’s Santoshpur village, a TMC member named Abir Sheikh was killed. BJP supporters reportedly took control of several TMC offices in Nandigram and Falta, replacing TMC flags with BJP ones.

State BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya warned party members against seizing offices of other parties and said disciplinary action would follow if such incidents continued.

Post-election violence has spread across several districts of West Bengal, including South 24 Parganas, Birbhum, Nadia, Howrah, and Bankura. Reports indicate incidents of murder, assault, vandalism, and party office takeovers, leading to rising tension in multiple areas. In a particularly brutal case in Nanur, Birbhum, a Muslim Trinamool Congress worker named Abir Sheikh was killed. His family alleged that BJP supporters attacked him with sharp weapons when he was alone. Police have been deployed to control the situation.

In another incident, tension flared in Champahati under the Baruipur East constituency of South 24 Parganas. Allegations surfaced that BJP workers blocked the entrance of a panchayat office with bamboo poles after hoisting their party flag. The BJP has completely denied these accusations.

Authorities are maintaining a heightened presence in affected areas to prevent further escalation, as political unrest continues following the election results.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has dismissed speculation about her resignation following the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) major setback in the state assembly election. Speaking to journalists in Kalighat on Tuesday, she appeared defiant and accused the Election Commission of bias, alleging that the central government seeks one-party rule. Banerjee insisted that she would not resign, declaring, “Why should I resign? We have not lost.”

According to the election results, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 207 of the 293 assembly seats, while the TMC secured 80. The outcome triggered widespread political discussion about Banerjee’s future as chief minister. Senior TMC leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, Firhad Hakim, and Derek O’Brien, were present during her remarks.

Banerjee said she had endured much during her tenure but now felt free to fight against what she described as oppression. She vowed to continue her struggle from the streets, emphasizing her identity as a grassroots leader.

Following the announcement of election results, widespread political violence has erupted across several districts of West Bengal. Incidents of killings, assaults, vandalism, and alleged party office takeovers have been reported from South 24 Parganas, Birbhum, Nadia, Howrah, and Bankura. Both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have accused each other of orchestrating the attacks.

In Birbhum’s Nanur, a Trinamool worker named Abir Sheikh was killed, with his family alleging that BJP supporters attacked him with sharp weapons. In Howrah’s Udayanpur, a BJP supporter named Yadav Bar died after an alleged assault by Trinamool activists. Multiple Trinamool offices in Baruipur, Siliguri, Nadia, and Bankura were reportedly vandalized or taken over, while BJP denied involvement in each case. Police were deployed in several tense areas.

The situation remains volatile across the state, with both parties trading blame and reports of continued unrest in multiple districts.

A major political shift is unfolding in West Bengal as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prepares to form the next government following its victory in the recently concluded assembly elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit the state to meet newly elected BJP legislators and oversee the selection of the party’s legislative leader, a key step in forming the new government. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will assist Shah as co-observer in the process.

According to party sources, the BJP has secured 207 seats and is moving toward government formation. The central leadership has confirmed that Shah will lead the process to elect the new legislative party leader, who will also become the next Chief Minister of West Bengal. Shah’s direct involvement signals the importance the BJP attaches to this victory, as such high-level participation is rare in similar state-level processes.

The date for the new government’s swearing-in has not yet been finalized, though May 9 is being discussed as a possible date, pending a final decision by the party’s central leadership.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee firmly rejected speculation about her resignation following the state assembly election results announced on May 5, 2026. Speaking to reporters at Kalighat alongside Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and senior party leaders, she declared that there was no question of stepping down, asserting that her party had not been defeated.

According to the election outcome, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 207 of the 293 assembly seats, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) won 80. The results triggered widespread political speculation about Mamata Banerjee’s possible resignation. However, she dismissed such rumors, emphasizing her determination to continue fighting against what she described as oppression.

Mamata stated that she had endured much during her tenure but now considered herself a free citizen ready to resist injustice. Her remarks signaled a defiant stance as she pledged to remain active in public life and political struggle.

India has condemned Monday’s missile and drone attack in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, which injured three Indian nationals, calling the incident “unacceptable.” In a statement issued Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs described the assault as intolerable and urged an immediate end to hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent people.

The attack in Fujairah, reportedly attributed to Iran, prompted India to emphasize the need for de-escalation and the protection of international shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz. The ministry highlighted that India relies heavily on these maritime routes for energy imports, making regional stability a matter of critical importance for the country.

New Delhi also appealed to all concerned parties to exercise restraint and ensure the safety of civilians amid the ongoing tensions in the region.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has not formally conceded defeat in the recently concluded state election, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the help of the Election Commission, took away around 100 seats from her party. She and Abhishek Banerjee are expected to hold a press conference in Kolkata’s Kalighat to explain how the party was allegedly defeated. Despite her claims, the BJP is set to form its first government in the state with more than a two-thirds majority.

Analyses of the results suggest several factors behind Trinamool’s loss after 15 years in power. These include erosion of female voter support due to failures on women’s safety, large-scale voter list revisions that removed over nine million names, and widespread allegations of corruption and administrative inefficiency. The party also faced setbacks from Hindu-Muslim polarization, with BJP gaining from consolidated Hindu votes.

Observers note that the Election Commission’s control over the administration and deployment of over 240,000 central security personnel limited Trinamool’s traditional advantage as the ruling party, contributing further to its electoral defeat.

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.