Author: Md Nasimuddin
Suvendu Adhikari will take oath as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday (May 9, 2026).
A 42-year-old man accused of posing as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s personal secretary to allegedly cheat party leaders of crores of rupees has been sent to 14-day judicial custody by a court in Uttarakhand.
The AIADMK is learnt to have sent feelers to the DMK seeking support to form a government in Tamil Nadu where the elections resulted in a hung Assembly. The DMK leadership, however, gave short shrift to the proposal, sources said. The DMK “was firm on sitting in the Opposition”, as it was not interested in going against the people’s mandate.
After its historic win in West Bengal, all eyes are on the BJP’s choice of chief minister. Even before a name is finalised, discussions have begun on whether the new chief minister will operate from Nabanna or shift back to the Writers’ Buildings – a historic seat of power in Bengal
The DravidaMunetraKazhagam (DMK) has attacked its INDIA bloc ally, the Congress, over its decision to extend support to actor-turned-politician Vijay’s TamilagaVettriKazhagam (TVK) to form a government in Tamil Nadu, calling the grand old party a “backstabber”
The political map of India was redrawn on May 4, 2026, as Assembly election results across five regions delivered a series of historic upsets. In West Bengal, the BJP scripted a monumental victory, securing 207 seats to unseat Mamata Banerjee, who lost her own seat in Bhabanipur. Tamil Nadu witnessed a “cinema-to-citizens” earthquake as actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats, defeating incumbent CM M.K. Stalin in his stronghold of Kolathur. Meanwhile, Kerala stayed true to its “pendulum” tradition as the Congress-led UDF swept to power with 102 seats, ending a decade of Left rule. In Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma secured a record third term for the NDA with a three-fourths majority, winning 102 of 126 seats.
High-voltage drama unfolded in Kolkata on the night of April 30 and early May 1, 2026, as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally inspected the EVM strong room at Sakhawat Memorial School in Bhabanipur. Citing “suspicious activity” seen on CCTV, the TMC supremo warned of a “life-and-death battle” if any attempt is made to tamper with the machines before the May 4 counting date. While the Election Commission dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” clarifying that officials were merely segregating postal ballots in the presence of observers, the visit has intensified the prestige battle in Bhabanipur, where Banerjee faces a fierce challenge from BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari.
As polling concludes across four states and one Union Territory, exit polls present a shifting political landscape for 2026. While the BJP is projected to dominate in Assam and maintains a slight edge in West Bengal, the battle for Kolkata remains tight with some pollsters backing a TMC victory. In Tamil Nadu, while the DMK remains a favorite, actor Vijay’s TVK has emerged as a major disruptor, with some polls even suggesting a hung assembly. Meanwhile, Kerala appears set for its traditional power shift with the UDF leading the race, and Puducherry looks likely to retain its NDA government.
Gujarat’s local body election results have delivered a strong political message, with the BJP sweeping urban corporations, dominating municipalities and panchayats, and tightening its grip across the state, while Congress has suffered a sharp collapse and AAP managed only scattered, symbolic gains. The outcome is being seen as the first major political signal ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Gujarat’s local body verdict
A.G Perarivalan, one of the life convicts in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, released on remission in 2022 donned the black robes on Monday (April 27, 2026). He was enrolled to the Bar Association of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and will practice as an advocate in the Madras High Court.