The elections are over, and now the state awaits the formation of a new cabinet. While many are calling the Election Commission or Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar the “man of the match,” much of the responsibility of implementing decisions amid immense pressure was handled behind the scenes by West Bengal’s Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Arindam Niyogi. He spoke to Newscope Bangla Editor Ashok Sengupta.
The murder investigation of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, gathered pace after police recovered the motorcycle and car allegedly used in the attack that shook West Bengal’s political circles. Rath was shot dead late Tuesday night near Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district while travelling in an SUV along Jessore Road.
Former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, has resigned from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Appellate Tribunal in West Bengal, citing “personal reasons.” The tribunal had been constituted to hear appeals from voters whose names were removed from the electoral rolls during the SIR exercise ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Dev Adhikari has become a rare voice of reconciliation within the TMC following the 2026 election debacle. By acknowledging the BJP’s mandate and calling for a collaborative approach to governance and culture, the superstar-politician is pushing for a peaceful transition. His specific plea to protect Tollywood from political divisions sets a hopeful tone for the state’s artistic and social future under new leadership.
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) is set to approach the Supreme Court over alleged manipulation and irregularities during the recently concluded 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The move comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a sweeping victory in the state, ending the TMC’s 15-year rule and triggering a major political confrontation between the two parties.
In a decisive crackdown on the unrest following the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, state police have arrested 433 individuals and registered 200 FIRs across various districts since results were announced on May 4. Acting Director General of Police (DGP) Siddh Nath Gupta confirmed on Wednesday, May 6, that these actions were taken to curb reports of intimidation, assault, and arson that erupted shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was declared the winner. In addition to the specific arrests, over 1,100 people have been placed under preventive detention to restore law and order.
A close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was shot dead in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district late on Wednesday night, triggering fresh political tensions in the state. The deceased, identified as Chandranath Rath, was reportedly attacked by motorcycle-borne assailants near Madhyamgram while travelling in an SUV. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene.
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 All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has faced a significant political setback in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, as visible cracks emerged in its long-standing Muslim support base, reshaping the state’s electoral landscape. For over a decade, Muslim voters,who constitute nearly a third of the state’s population, had largely remained consolidated behind the TMC, playing a decisive role in its repeated electoral successes.
