According to sources, BJP workers raised "chor chor" slogans against the leader and Banerjee was escorted by security persons with a helmet on. 

Banerjee Visits Families Of Slain Leaders

Banerjee had reached to meet the family members of a slain TMC leader Sanju Karmakar who, as per TMC, was attacked post the assembly election results, and further members in other areas like Sonarpur South, Beleghata for similar reasons. 

This visit comes 26 days after the TMC's loss in the assembly elections in West Bengal. After receiving injuries during the visit, Banerjee was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Kolkata and was taken to treatment, when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also visited the hospital to meet the leader.

Abhishek Says Attack Was Caught On Camera

TMC had alleged Banerjee was beaten up and stones pelted at by the workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Visuals from the incident also showed security personnel with Banerjee surrounded all around, due to increasing tension. 

Abhishek said, "They threw a brick, threw an egg, and pelted stones. Please tell me what this is. And all the people standing nearby, the people of the area, they are still meeting us and still greeting us with love and respect. Go and ask those who are doing hooliganism here. We have all the video evidence. There's a community hall nearby. From 11 am onwards, goons were kept in that community hall to pelt stones," about the attack.

Banerjee Vows Legal Action Over Assault

Banerjee had later allegedly mentioned that the attackers wanted to kill him and the whole incident was recorded on camera. 

“They wanted to kill me. The whole incident has been captured on camera. We will definitely let the High Court know about this. We will also let the Governor know about this. I will definitely move to court," he said.

He added, "My head was somehow spared; fortunately, I was wearing a helmet. They have torn my clothes and broken my spectacles.”

O’Brien Raises Questions on Security

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’ Brien allegedly stated that Banerjee’s life was in danger, raising questions of the leader’s safety arrangements.

O'Brien said, "The Lok Sabha Leader of the second-largest Opposition party, All India Trinamool Congress, went to visit the family of a person murdered by BJP in post-poll violence. Abhishek Banerjee was lynched and attacked by a few BJP supporters. Life at risk. Where are the police? Why was security withdrawn on the day of counting? Let the Home Minister answer," on social media platform X.

On social media the popularity of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has caught the attention of India's political arena. The leadership of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sunil Ambekar recently offered his views on the viral phenomenon, claiming that dissent and public discourse is a normal and healthy aspect of democracy. Speaking on the matter, Ambekar stressed that India has a democratic system that is robust enough to be inclusive of different views and voices. For him, voices with differing opinions should not be treated as a threat or an ‘unexpected disturbance’ but as a keystone to living a democracy. The Cockroach Janta Party, a satirical platform with a particular following among Gen Z, has seen a wave of activity over the internet. 

For this reason, the group has amassed a huge following in social media platforms such as Instagram and, according to some reports, even surpassed the number of followers of several recognized political parties. Its jokes, memes and observations on today’s matters have become popular, and the site became one of the most-discussed trends on the internet in recent times. To the continued buzz among activists that the platform is popularising, Ambekar said India is a democracy where there are transparent elections, free media and free social media comments. 

He added that the public talks are happening every day, and that democracy is only possible when people can openly express themselves. Ambekar said CJP’s success is a testimony to how optimistic and active India’s youth has become. Gen Z’s belief in the country’s future — the hope for a brighter future — remains strong and so is their trust in the country’s institutions. The RSS leader pointed out that India's democracy has the capacity to reflect every voice and every emotion. He was confident about the country’s institutions and said people should trust that the system could deal with different points of view constructively. His comments are part of a political debate over the Cockroach Janta Party. 

Some BJP leaders have questioned the motives for the social media action. Other quarters have also raised allegations for foreign connections, but none of these have been put to the public record. Addressing concerns about whether organizations like RSS should act as a direct intervenor in the issues, Ambekar said India’s democratic institutions are well-placed to handle such issues unilaterally. Political parties, the media, and other public institutions, he said, are powerful enough to oversee any debate or discussion without immediately needing intervention from all organizations. As he put it, in any democracy, discussions and disagreements are inevitable and there are well-established democratic ways of addressing them wherever they come up. Support for the Cockroach Janta Party has also grown from leaders and public figures in opposition parties. Politicians from all parties, as well as celebrities, comedians and online stars from social media have declared their support of this channel. The Cockroach Janta Party, after all, is perhaps the biggest sensation on the internet on any social media platform, but by the time of writing, it will still be as viral as ever. The argument suggests how emerging political discourse among India's youth has become more filtered through social media.

Rahul Gandhi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have sparked a huge political dispute concerning CBSE On-Screen Marking (OSM). The beef has escalated into a vicious verbal battle as both leaders have publicly criticized the Class 12 board exam results, as well as rumors of irregularities. The controversy stems from Rahul Gandhi calling out tampering and irregularity in the CBSE Class 12 results. He called into question the transparency of the On-Screen Marking system, and called for accountability, saying the issue had impacted the futures of nearly 18.5 lakh students across India. 

In reaction, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan assailed Rahul Gandhi saying he was toxic and demoralizing him due to repeated electoral defeats. Pradhan further claimed that the Congress leader has been consistently opposed to crucial national developments like Digital India, EVMs and many more. Rahul Gandhi appears to be “in a different state of mind,” Pradhan said, and he is trying to confuse the people rather than taking the initiative to help students during an extremely sensitive moment. He urged political leaders to ease students' pressure to fear test results. ‘He seems exasperated with repeated electoral losses. 

He has not backed anything like EVMs, Digital India, some other technologies. This is no time for politics,” Pradhan said. Soon thereafter, Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the Union Minister, saying personal attacks would not deter him from raising questions in the interest of students. He added he is focused on making the CBSE examination in India transparent and looking after the future of lakhs of the country's students. Rahul Gandhi also criticised the awarding of the CBSE OSM contract to a company called COEMPT which he said had previously been brought to the fore under another name, but which had been embroiled in various controversies. 

He accused either the government would have failed to do adequate background checks or that they would have intentionally neglected any concerns about that oversight. “On either side you either didn’t check the background or you dismissed it. “In either scenario, you are the one to blame,” Gandhi said, and calling on the government to be accountable. He also went after the Prime Minister, arguing that if he really cared for the students, he would’ve taken all the necessary steps already. 

Dharmendra Pradhan ji, you can attack me all you want but it won’t absolve you of your crimes. Nor will it stop me from demanding answers for 18.5 lakh children.

Why was the CBSE OSM contract handed to COEMPT - a company already mired in controversy under its old name,… https://t.co/Xy8MbBTnTL

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 28, 2026

Gandhi stated: Responsibility for the alleged irregularities has to be established at all levels. While the politicians had the finger-pointing incident, Dharmendra Pradhan, later acknowledged that certain inconsistencies existed during the CBSE result process. He said the government accepts responsibility and has assented to correcting shortcomings to address student grievances. Pradhan also stated the revaluation of Class 12 exams is in process. He declared the leading authorities including IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras were engaged with monitoring and reviewing the OSM technology system to promote fairness and transparency. 

It goes on to say those questions of student would be answered and that “accountability at every level of the examination system will be guaranteed.” The CBSE OSM row has now emerged as a great battleground because it raises concerns about exams, student welfare and the extent to which technology has been integrated into India’s education system. The situation is under scrutiny from students and parents as sharply exchanged views between both sides continue.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday and addressed some key issues regarding the state. It was Vijay’s first official meeting with the Prime Minister since becoming Chief Minister. In the meeting at the PMO complex in Delhi, Vijay expressed concerns over Karnataka’s planned Mekedatu project across the Cauvery River. The project goes against the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final award and Supreme Court pronouncements. The Chief Minister also said Tamil Nadu farmers are worried about the project and sought the Central government's permission not to approve it without Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry's consent. Another major issue discussed was Sri Lankan Navy's arrest of fishermen from Tamil Nadu. Vijay informed PM Modi that 58 fishermen from Tamil Nadu are held in Sri Lankan custody and 266 fishing boats have been seized. He called on the Prime Minister to help achieve their immediate release. Vijay also discussed the Tamil Thai Vazhthu issue. He asked the Centre to allow Tamil Nadu’s traditional state invocation song to continue being played first at government functions. A further question: the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was seeking help on major development projects in Tamil Nadu itself. He also requested the establishment of the DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) development centre in Tamil Nadu. Later Vijay visited Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and asked her for new funding for highway, railway, port, industrial corridors and Metro Rail projects in Hosur, Coimbatore as well as Madurai. He further called on the Centre to set up additional Institutes of National Importance in Tamil Nadu to enhance the state’s quality education. Vijay welcomed PM Modi from abroad and thanked him for bringing back the rare Anaimangalam copper plates recovered from the Netherlands.

ED Officials Attacked During Exit

According to images flashed on the television channels, alleged CPI(M) activists reached Mr. Vijayan's rental home and began to protest the raid. Things turned nasty when some activists blocked the vehicle carrying the ED officials and then pelted stones at it.

It was very difficult for police and central security personnel to contain the huge number of protestors. Women ED officials were in the vehicle when it was attacked by a large mob. The wind shield of the vehicle was smashed in the stone pelting.

Pinarayi Vijayan Calls Raid 'Targeted'

The Opposition Leader of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan termed the searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at his residence here as a "targeted crackdown" against leaders of the opposition parties.

He also claimed that it would be a 'mental satisfaction' for some like Rahul Gandhi whose residences are not raided nor who is arrested, for his frequent queries regarding why his home was not searched or why he was not arrested, the Opposition Leader added.

"Some people like (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi would be happy, as the narrative by him was why Pinarayi Vijayan is not being arrested," he said.

Pinarayi Slams BJP Over ED Action

The CPI(M) leader told reporters after completion of the hours-long searches at his rented house in Bakery Junction over the alleged CMRL monthly payment case that this raid will not weaken him or the CPI(M).

The senior leader also alleged that central agencies have been used against opposition leaders since the BJP-led central government came to power, stating that it was also the same modus operandi applied this time.

“The BJP government has always targeted political adversaries. The Congress also took the stand that if not their leaders, then there is no issue. But we are not going to be cowed down," he added.

ED Probes Veena Vijayan CMRL Case

The central agency’s actions were initiated following a dismissal by the High Court to quash the ED's procedures and cancellation of the summons issued by the agency. The complaint made by the ED was that Rs 1.72 crore from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) were collected over time by an IT firm called Exalogic, which is owned by the daughter of former CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Veena T. 

It was not used to provide IT services that were never provided, but instead to settle the loans given to Veena's firm. The case registered by ED in 2024, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), will investigate these charges.

The political heat in Uttar Pradesh is rising along with the summer temperature. This has led to a bitter quarrel between the ruling party and opposition in UP with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav charging his rivals in the face for a major heatwave that claims power cuts across the state. UP Power Crisis Heats Up Political Battle Between BJP and SP

Akhilesh Yadav took a sharp jibe at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, questioning the state government’s handling of electricity supply. In a post on social media platform X, he mocked what he called a lack of coordination between the Chief Minister and Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister AK Sharma.

He alleged that the government was unable to handle regular outages of electricity, in particular during peak summer demand when people need reliable power the most. Akhilesh also sneered, saying the public was going to “thrash the BJP” in the next elections because they are unhappy with basic services, including electricity. He also blasted the administration over reports that police had been sent to power substations. Power cuts were not a real factor and so the government was trying to control popular anger, he said. He also mentioned some BJP members even complaining of their own government, indicating inner frustration.

The same government in Uttar Pradesh defended its power management mechanism. Officials emphasized that the state saw its most electricity supply ever through the current heatwave. Demand for power, it said, has skyrocketed, but supply has stayed at all-time highs to power this increase in consumption.

According to official data gathered by Uttar Pradesh State Load Dispatch Centre, electricity consumption in the state has more than doubled over the last 12 years. It has grown to over 1,62,858 million units by 2025–26 from around 76,574 million units in 2012–13. The increase demonstrates population expansion and greater penetration of electricity in rural and urban areas.

Energy Minister AK Sharma also reacted by sharing a new power supply record. He said Uttar Pradesh recently reached a peak electricity supply of over 31,000 MW this year which is the highest in the state’s history. The supply at one point soared to almost 31,824 MW during peak evening demand.

The state, he said, is consistently shattering its own record and running its own power supply even in the face of extreme weather. At this point, Uttar Pradesh has even exceeded all major states for peak power supply during this time.

Now the ongoing clash between Akhilesh Yadav and the BJP government has made power supply a crucial issue. With power cuts being the backdrop for the opposition on the one hand, the ruling party is playing up record electricity distribution to maintain its record.

As the heatwave presses on, the topic of UP’s power crisis will probably be a continued political talking point in the state.

Karnataka’s political tensions have flared again over rumours regarding the possible resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Amid persistent speculation Karnataka minister G Parameshwara stated that the “confusion” from the state leadership will get clearance by Thursday, May 28. Since the last time the Congress government won the 2023 Assembly elections, the news around the potential power struggle has been unrelenting in Karnataka.

Siddaramaiah is now reported to step down from his position as the Chief Minister, with Congress party reportedly not confirming. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is viewed as one of the strongest contenders for CM, is at the heart of the discussion. Still, there is no finalized ruling on the decision-making regarding Shivakumar and whether he will become the next Chief Minister or whether the party leadership will take on another person.The rumours grew after Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar left for Delhi on Tuesday to visit senior Congress leaders. It is said discussions with top party leadership were held around political developments in Karnataka at that meeting. After the meeting, minister G Parameshwara said no one who isn’t in the meeting room knows precisely what had been discussed in public.

Karnataka Congress under the leadership of Randeep Surjewala is also arriving in Bengaluru, and the situation should be clear soon, he said. “We do not yet know the inside of discussions. And what KC Venugopal said publicly we only know,” Parameshwara said to reporters. Congress leader KC Venugopal attempted to cast aside the resignation rumours and explained that the meeting in Delhi was centered on upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and Karnataka Legislative Council seats. The talks on leadership at this juncture are purely speculation, he said. But reports from people on the ground indicate that the Congress upper echelons may be urging Siddaramaiah to walk away from the CM role.For his part, he might be offered a Rajya Sabha seat and a cabinet position for his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah. 

The Congress party has not formally declared a leadership change in Karnataka yet. Political reports have shown that Siddaramaiah would not entirely be able to accept the role of Chief Minister in DK Shivakumar. Congressional leaders also reported to Siddaramaiah that the ultimate decision on representation and leadership would be made by the party senior leadership in Congress — Mallikarjun Kharge. 

Interestingly, Siddaramaiah has invited DK Shivakumar for a breakfast meeting on May 28. Political authorities say this meeting is likely to determine Karnataka’s next leadership. It is not the first time rumours of a leadership change have been reported in Karnataka. The same kind of political dynamics had come to the fore at the end of 2022 and large issues were now under discussion domestically and beyond the party Congress. As we watch at this time, the eyes are on Bengaluru and Delhi to see if Siddaramaiah will hold the same post as Chief Minister or Karnataka is heading towards another dramatic political transition. It was expected immediately after the Congress leadership had declared its stand.

Something big happened in Tamil Nadu when a Congress MLA started shouting slogans about Rahul Gandhi during the swearing-in ceremony. This got a reaction from the Governor. The Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was making his cabinet bigger by adding 23 ministers.

This new cabinet is a deal for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government, which just came to power with help from friends like the Congress party.

When Congress MLA S Rajesh Kumar from Killiyoor was taking his oath he did not just stop at the words. He went on to say some things.

He said "Long live Kamarajar long live Rajiv Gandhi and long live Rahul Gandhi". This got everybodys attention in the room.

The Governor Had To Interrupt

Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar gently told the MLA that this was not part of the oath.

The Governor said "It is not part of your oath" in a way and that brought everything back to normal. The ceremony went on without any problems.

This small incident became a talking point in politics showing how even ceremonial events can become a platform for parties to express themselves.

The Cabinet Expansion Under CM Vijay Government

The oath ceremony was part of a change in the cabinet by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who added 23 new ministers. Two of these ministers are from the Congress party and the rest are from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

The Congress MLAs who are now in the cabinet are S Rajesh Kumar, who's in charge of Tourism and P Viswanathan, who is in charge of Higher Education.

This change happened a few weeks after the new government was formed in Tamil Nadu and it is a big step in making the friendship between the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and Congress stronger.

Congress Is Getting Stronger In Tamil Nadu Politics

For the time in a long time Congress is in a good position in the Tamil Nadu government. The party has five MLAs in the state assembly. Was one of the first to support CM Vijay.

The friendship between the parties has given Congress jobs in the government.After the ceremony Congress minister P Viswanathan said that the party will support all the development plans of Chief Minister Vijay.

What The Incident Means For Politics

The small problem during the oath ceremony has started a discussion in politics. Some people think the MLAs remark was a way of showing loyalty to the party leader while others think it is important to follow the rules during events.

As the new government settles in the friendship between the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and Congress will play a role, in shaping the future of Tamil Nadu politics.

The Enforcement Directorate talked about Robert Vadras case. Robert Vadras team said that the land transaction happened between 2008 and 2012. They also said that some crimes were added to the list of scheduled crimes under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in 2013 and 2018.. The Enforcement Directorate did not accept this. The Enforcement Directorate said that Robert Vadras case falls under their jurisdiction.

Here are the details of the Haryana Land Case.

 It is a 3.53-acre land parcel in Shikohpur, Haryana. The Enforcement Directorate says that Robert Vadras company, Sky Light Hospitality bought the land from Onkareshwar Properties in 2008. The Enforcement Directorate is looking into this land deal.

The investigators say that the land was bought in a way that's not right. They got a license using influence and the payment records showed some irregularities. The Enforcement Directorate also said that a cheque worth ₹7.5 crore, which was supposed to be the payment for the land was never cashed. This makes people suspicious about Robert Vadras deal. The land was later sold to a real estate company called DLF at a certain price.

The Enforcement Directorate has taken some actions. Attached some properties. In one year they issued an order to attach properties approximately ₹37.64 crore. This included 43 properties linked to Robert Vadras case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The Enforcement Directorate is still looking into transactions, property records and alleged links between companies involved in Robert Vadras land deal.

What will happen next in Robert Vadras case? Now that Robert Vadras plea has been withdrawn the trial court proceedings in Robert Vadras case will continue. The Enforcement Directorate will likely continue their investigation and present evidence related to the alleged land scam. Robert Vadras case will now move deeper into trial proceedings. Both sides will present their arguments and financial documents. Robert Vadras case is still very sensitive because of his family connections.

The authorities say that the investigation is based on evidence in Robert Vadras case. For now Robert Vadras case is one of the watched money laundering investigations involving big names, in politics. The Enforcement Directorate and Robert Vadra will be closely watched in Robert Vadras case.

They did this after they looked again at the kind of threats these people might face.

The government has taken away some of the police guards who were watching the homes of these people. They have also reduced the number of security personnel who were protecting them.

This happened after the state government also reduced the security provided to Abhishek Banerjee, who's a big leader in the All India Trinamool Congress.

The government officials said they made this decision after they thought about whether these people needed all that security.

Why the Bengal Government Reduced VIP Security

The government looked again at the threat levels for some leaders and officials.

As part of this review they reduced the security provided to politicians and former senior police officials.

The list of people who got reduced security includes:

 Banerjee

 Arup Biswas

 Subrata Bakshi

 Kunal Ghosh

 Sovan Chatterjee

 Rajeev Kumar

 Manoj Malaviya

 Piyush Pandey

The police guards who were outside their homes are now gone.

The officials said some of these people do not have jobs that require a lot of security anymore.

They will still get the kind of security that is required for their jobs.

For example Kalyan Banerjee and Rajeev Kumar will still get the security that is provided to Members of Parliament.

Arup Biswas will not get the kind of security that ministers get because he is not a minister right now.

Kunal Ghosh will only get the security that is provided to a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

The government also took away the security from a lawyer who used to represent the Trinamool Congress and the state government in court.

Piyush Pandey, who used to be the acting DGP will now get the security that is required for his job.

Mamata Banerjees Security Remains Unchanged

Even though the government reduced the security for important people they said they will not reduce the security for Mamata Banerjee.

The police in Kolkata have been told to make sure she is fully protected at her home when she travels and at events.

The government said they will not tolerate any mistakes, in her security.

This is part of the governments policy that people should only get the security they really need.

Some people who watch politics think this is a sign that the government wants to make sure that security is only provided to people who really need it and not to everyone.

 He took oath in a ceremony. The Governor of Kerala RV Arlekar was there to give him the oath. VD Satheesan and his team of ministers also took oath. There are 20 ministers in his team.

Many big leaders of the Congress party came to the ceremony. These leaders were Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. They came to show that Kerala is important for the Congress party.

The Congress party is back in power in Kerala. They won the election. Removed the Left Democratic Front from power. VD Satheesan was a person in the Congress partys campaign. He got a lot of support from the party workers and the people of Kerala.

There were talks inside the Congress party about who should be the Chief Minister. Another leader, KC Venugopal was also considered for the job.. Finally the party chose VD Satheesan. This decision was made after talks between leaders like Sonia Gandhi and AK Antony.

Now the Congress party is in power in three states in the south. Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana.The new cabinet of Kerala has 20 ministers. There are new faces in the cabinet. Eleven ministers are from the Congress party. Some of the ministers are Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, AP Anil Kumar and Sunny Joseph.

The Indian Union Muslim League got five positions in the cabinet. Leaders like PK Kunhalikutty and KM Shaji are part of the ministry. Other parties like Kerala Congress and Revolutionary Socialist Party also got positions.

Fourteen ministers in the government are new to the cabinet. This shows that the Congress party wants to do things. The new government will focus on governing the state developing it creating jobs and gaining the trust of the people again.

The Congress party won the election. Now they have to work for the people of Kerala. VD Satheesan and his team have to make sure that they do a job. The people of Kerala are watching them. They want to see changes. The Congress party has to work to keep the trust of the people.

VD Satheesans government has a task ahead. They have to make Kerala a better state. They have to create jobs improve the economy and make sure that everyone is happy. It is not a job but VD Satheesan and his team are ready, for the challenge. They will work hard to make Kerala a great state again.

Bandi Sanjay Says Law Equal For All

Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar said everybody is equal before the law, whether it was his son or any common man and everybody should obey law. Kumar said his son repeatedly assured he committed no wrong and that they had thought of handing over him immediately to the police as the complaint was lodged. They consulted lawyers with available evidence and lawyers felt that the case would be dismissed and bail would be granted at any cost. Due to that delay it was prolonged.

He added that even now lawyers feel that bail would be granted. So he himself decided not to wait and handed over his son to the police personally with help of lawyers for the sake of investigation.

Telangana HC Refuses Interim Protection

Police had issued a look-out notice against Bhageerath by registering a case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Telangana High court refused to grant him interim protection from arrest in an interim anticipatory bail petition late on Friday night observing that it was not inclined to pass any interim order in the case at this stage. Bhageerath's counsel asked the court to provide him interim protection till the order was granted on his application.

Minor Girl’s Family Files Serious Charges

The police registered the case on May 8 on the complaint filed by the mother of a 17-year-old girl on the charge that Bhageerath was in a relationship with her daughter and had sexually harassed her under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and POCSO Act. The complainant said that the relationship with the minor started in June 2025 with the mutual acquaintance between them through Instagram and Snapchat.

The mother alleged that Bhageerath tricked the minor into trust by assuring to marry her once she attains majority and exerted emotional pressure over her and police, after recording the statement of the minor, applied severer sections under POCSO Act. 

Bhageerath Alleges Extortion And False Case

Bhageerath filed a counter complaint. He stated that the girl who got acquainted with him, invited him to family functions and group get-togethers. The police registered his FIR too. He said that he accompanied her family and friends to some holy places believing the family, which can be trusted. He said that then they insisted him to marry the girl and on refusal the parents of the girl demanded money by threatening to register a false complaint. 

Bhageerath alleged that he paid Rs 50,000 to the father out of fear and then parents demanded Rs 5 crore by threatening to commit suicide by the mother.

Naidu Announces New Population Incentives

In an event held at Narsannapeta in Srikakulam district on Saturday, Naidu addressed the public and said that it was a cabinet decision and announcement for details to be made within a month's time.

"I have thought about this many times. In the past, I worked towards family planning. But today, once again, children are our wealth, and a need has arisen for all of us to work for the sake of our children, that is why I have taken another decision, and I am coming to you this month with it. For the third child, we will give Rs 30,000 immediately upon birth. For the fourth child, we will give Rs 40,000," he said.

Govt Earlier Approved Second Child Aid

The current decision comes in addition to the incentive of R 25,000 offered for the birth of a second child. On March 5, Naidu informed the Assembly that the government was considering giving R 25,000 incentive for the birth of a second child.

Andhra Pradesh TFR Falls Below 2.1

Naidu cited a growing socio-economic trend in which families tend to go for fewer children in increasing income range and for having two children with the condition that one is not a boy. He warned against these factors that might affect state's long term population dynamics and the need to attain the total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1 which denotes replacement level.

According to SRS 2020 data of Sample Registration System, Andhra Pradesh’s TFR has been recorded as 1.5, much lower than replacement level (2.1) and even the national TFR (2.0). TFR in urban areas is as low as 1.4 which indicates continued declining population growth in future.

Anganwadi Centres To Support Mothers

Naidu mentioned that whereas his government was always ahead in implementing family planning measures, the current situation calls to make people realize that children are wealthy. He informed that by the strengthening of Anganwadi centres through the Department of Women and Child Welfare, adequate food will be supplied to mother and child. He also informed that R 15,000 cash is being provided as 'Talli ki Vandanam' (Salute to the mother).

 This is because of his appeal to citizens. He asked them to reduce travel due to global tensions and rising fuel concerns.

The problem started when Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked people to avoid foreign travel. He also asked them to postpone buying luxury things like gold and to use fuel. This is because of the situation in West Asia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also encouraged citizens to use transport share cars with others and work from home when they can. This will help conserve resources and manage pressure.

Bhagwant Mann reacted to this appeal. He questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modis foreign visits. Bhagwant Mann said that while the government is asking citizens to cut down on travel Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself continues to go on trips. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently travelled to countries, including the Netherlands. He is also scheduled to go on foreign tours. Bhagwant Mann questioned the consistency of the message. He said that if citizens are expected to avoid travel the same rule should apply to leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well.

First Prime Minister Narendra Modi should stop his visits. He has asked people to avoid travel. He himself is going abroad. Bhagwant Mann said that leaders should reflect the discipline they expect from the public.

Bhagwant Mann also talked about the rising fuel prices. He criticized the government for increasing the prices of petrol and diesel. The prices were recently increased by ₹3 per litre. This is the hike in over four years. It is because of the changes in crude oil prices and the financial stress on fuel retailers.

Bhagwant Mann commented on Indias standing. He said that while India once wanted to become a "Vishwaguru" the current policies show a reality. He asked why other countries facing challenges do not have the same restrictions on fuel and travel.

The Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also talked about the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. It is scheduled from June 15 in Punjab. He said that it must be conducted transparently. Bhagwant Mann said that his party would closely watch the process. They will make sure that no eligible voter is removed and no fake entries are added.

Bhagwant Mann emphasized that if any political party raises concerns about the voter list accuracy the Election Commission of India should address them fairly and transparently. He stressed the importance of maintaining trust in the system.

Looking ahead to body elections Bhagwant Mann said that he is confident that his party will do well. He also mentioned that his party would welcome former minister Surjit Singh Rakhra into their party.

The situation between the Aam Aadmi Party and the central government is still tense. Issues like policy, economic decisions and electoral transparency are still being discussed. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have views, on these issues.

Adhikari Cites Probe Mishandling Allegations

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari made this announcement from the state secretariat and stated that, on the grounds of a departmental inquiry instituted against them, former Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal and former deputy commissioners Indira Mukherjee and Abhishek Gupta had been dismissed.

He asserted that the three officers were responsible for the 'mishandling' of the RG Kar case, which included allegations of bribery to the parents as a bribe and an 'unauthorized press conference' with reference to the August 2024 incident. 

"The Bengal government suspended three police officers for ‘lapses’ in the investigation of the RG Kar rape-murder case. The government will start a departmental probe against ex-Kolkata CP Vineet Goyal, two other officers", said Adhikari.

Inquiry Ordered Under Home Secretary

Adhikari clarified that the government was not interfering with the actual criminal investigation and that it was under judicial investigation and the purview of the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Chief Minister asserted that disciplinary procedures would be held by the state's home secretary under the supervision of the chief secretary. 

Victim’s Mother Seeks Arrest of Three Accused

The Sealdah court received on Wednesday, on a petition filed by her, from the mother of the victim of the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder (who is now an MLA), assisted by her husband for the arrest of former Panihati MLA Nirmal Ghosh, Somnath Das and Trinamool Congress activist Sanjib Mukhopadhyay, alleging that the three were the perpetrators of evidence destruction in the rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee doctor and that it was essential for the investigation that they be arrested. 

RG Kar Doctor Found Murdered in Hospital

The postgraduate student at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was raped and murdered at her workplace on August 9, 2024. On Friday morning (August 9), her body was discovered inside a seminar room of the state-run hospital's chest department, bearing extensive injury marks and the preliminary report of autopsy confirming violent sexual assault.

The Sealdah court at Kolkata had convicted former civic volunteer Sanjay Roy of rape and murder in RG Kar case, but he still claimed that he was being framed. 

According to the communication, all the students will be singing the national song at the beginning of each day. All heads of institutions have been directed to strictly follow it.

CM Congratulates Students After Exam Results

The announcement was made by the Chief Minister while addressing students and the gathering after the announcement of the results of Class 12 examinations and it is expected to take place from Monday. He also congratulated all the students who have qualified themselves in the Higher Secondary examinations and said they must march ahead in life with the confidence and principles drawn from Indian thinkers.

“I want to congratulate all those who have passed class 12 exams. They should all move ahead in life inspired by the vision of Swami Vivekananda. I would like to send my best wishes to the future generation. From Monday, all schools should sing Vande Mataram. I shall reach secretariat and issue an order,” Adhikari said.

Schools To Record Assemblies For Monitoring

As per the communication released on May 13, the Director of Education informed the school heads that they must sing the national anthem in the beginning of the day, before classes begin. A few officers in the department also revealed that the schools will also have to record the meetings they held to showcase their correct implementation.

Centre Pushes Stronger Respect For National Symbols

This step is being taken in view of the Union Government's move to intensify and strengthen all the provisions relating to respects for national symbols which has also prompted the latter to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 to include punishment for anyone obstructing the singing of Vande Mataram.

The final decision to be made as the result of the lengthy discussion over the last few days came at noon Thursday where a press conference was convened by Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Deepa Dasmunshi where the formal announcement was made to the public.

Three names in particular: KC Venugopal, V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala were speculated for the CM post.

Satheesan Stresses Teamwork and Unity

VD Satheesan, who has been chosen by the party as the next Kerala CM said it was a team responsibility rather than a personal one and thanked his peers KC Venugopal and the rest of the leaders who are involved in the decision making process of the Kerala CM race and said the team's hard work was to achieve the goal that was set out by the public.

"I do not see this position as a personal achievement, but as something divine. It was KC Venugopal who coordinated all the activities of the AICC. His support was immense. Ramesh Chennithala is also my leader. I will take all of them into complete confidence. I seek the support of every section of people in Keralam. Only a collective effort can build a new Keralam. No one can do it alone; a team can achieve it," Satheesan said.

KC Venugopal Welcomes Congress Decision

KC Venugopal appreciated the decision taken by the Congress party president to appoint VD Satheesan as the Kerala CM, thanked the members, functionaries and MLAS for their support. He also claimed that the decision to appoint VD Satheesan as the new Kerala CM was an outcome of exhaustive discussion and consideration at every level in the Congress.

Venugopal said, "The final decision has come, and the Congress high command decided VD Satheesan as the Chief Ministerial candidate for Keralam Government. I am welcoming that decision wholeheartedly. I am congratulating VD Satheesan on this position. I think that people of Keralam have given a big verdict for the UDF. The government and the leadership of VD Satheesan can fulfil the aspirations and promises of the people of Keralam. Certainly, we are totally behind the government of Keralam.”

Rahul, Kharge Held Final Discussions

The UDF coalition, which is headed by the Congress, had gained over two-thirds of the seats but couldn't announce its candidate as its chief minister owing to worker's protests in the ground level due to the existence of lobby groups and individual campaigns throughout the state. The leader appointed on Thursday has been accepted by all members of the Congress party although it is after a great deal of effort from the Congress leadership at various stages.

The declaration came a day after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi was in conversation with the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for roughly 40 minutes where later confirmed that all discussions at the high command were complete and final. 

His statements came in the wake of severe condemnation from the opposition parties toward the BJP government as NTA cancelled NEET-UG exam following the leak allegations.

Kejriwal Attacks Centre over NEET Row

During the press conference the AAP supremo stated that the faith of the exam aspirants was broken due to the series of paper leaks, asking whether stringent action has ever been taken against the culprits for past leak cases investigated by the CBI.

“If Gen Z in countries like Bangladesh and Nepal could change the government, then Indian youth could also ensure accountability in cases of paper leaks,” he said.

Kejriwal Questions Effectiveness of CBI Probe

In his response over the past CBI investigation in the paper leak cases the leader also doubted whether those responsible have been subjected to a severe punishment or not and he also alleges that the probe in the case of NEET paper leak by CBI would be "fruitless" as the same has happened in other cases too.

Citing multiple paper leak cases since 2014, Kejriwal stated that crores of student's lives were destroyed because of this, and most of the cases occurred in BJP ruled states.

NEET Paper Leak Through Guess Paper

On Tuesday the National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET-UG test conducted on May 3, with reports of questions worth about 600 marks were allegedly leaked prior to the conduct. Investigators have revealed a widespread, countrywide network of coach centres, hostellers, impersonators, and solvers. 

The actual question paper was purportedly used to set a 410-question "guess paper" with around 120 actual NEET questions incorporated, which was widely disseminated through coaching centres, hostels and paid WhatsApp groups. The CBI is now investigating the matter.

Prateek Yadav Died After Sudden Illness

Prateek, 38, suddenly fell sick in the morning, was admitted to civil hospital early hours but died there itself, the sources said. Although he belonged to a renowned political family, Prateek has stayed out of active politics.

"The demise of Shri Pratik Yadav Ji is extremely heartbreaking! May God grant peace to the departed soul. Humble tribute!," the Samajwadi Party posted on social media platform X.

Yogi Adityanath Calls Demise Heartbreaking

Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said that the 'sudden demise' of Prateek Yadav was "extremely heartbreaking" while extending his condolences to his family.

He wrote, “The sudden demise of Mr. Prateek Yadav, son of the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and ‘Padma Vibhushan’, and husband of Mrs. Aparna Yadav, Vice Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission, is deeply saddening. Humble condolences." 

“My condolences are with the bereaved family. We pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant salvation to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense sorrow. Om Shanti,” on X.

Postmortem Confirms Cardiorespiratory Collapse

The postmortem report on Prateek Yadav's body reveals that he died of a massive blockage in the blood vessels of lungs causing collapse of heart and respiratory system. The provisional cause of death was declared as "Cardiorespiratory collapse due to massive pulmonary thromboembolism" according to the post mortem report.

Simply put doctors say there was a huge blood clot causing blood not to flow to the lungs causing his breathing and heart to fail. The report further said the doctors preserved the entire heart along with a clot-like mass recovered from the lungs in formalin for thorough histopathological examination.

This is the first order issued by the actor-turned-politician, whose party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam won big in last month’s Assembly election. 

717 TASMAC Shops to Close Soon

The order is to be implemented within two weeks for the public good, said a press release. 

The release said, "With the welfare of the general public in mind, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C Joseph Vijay, has issued orders to close - within two weeks - 717 retail liquor shops situated within a 500-meter radius of places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands."

“TASMAC currently operates 4,765 liquor shops in the state, 276 are near places of worship, 186 are near educational institutions, and 255 are near bus stands," it added.

Survey Identified Outlets Near Public Spaces

Soon after taking office as CM, Vijay had ordered a detailed survey of the TASMAC shops to ascertain their location relative to sensitive public places like religious sites, educational institutions and major bus stops. The survey revealed that 276 shops were located near temples, 186 near educational institutions and 255 near bus stands, making a total of 717 liquor shops that were designated to be closed down. 

TVK Begins Promise of Drug-Free Tamil Nadu

Officials indicated that the move will ensure that more stringent regulations are applied to liquor outlets and that public concerns over the proximity of TASMAC outlets to sensitive public areas are addressed. Many supporters following TN politics had already anticipated this move, as the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's election manifesto included a "drug-free Tamil Nadu." 

This is considered one of the first actions to enact the party's pre-election promises, even though closing liquor shops has been a persistent demand by many opposition parties, activists and residents due to their considerable revenue. 

A lot of names were removed from voter lists in West Bengal during this revision a total of 91 Lakh names.Out of these 34 lakh people said they were voters and their names were removed by mistake, which's really sad.Shashi Tharoor said many of these people did not get time to fix their appeals before voting happened so they missed their chance.

A few hundred cases were looked at before the elections, which is not a lot.Lakhs of appeals were still pending which means they were not resolved.

He thinks this might have changed the election result, which's possible.Many people who thought they could vote were not able to, which is not fair.

Shashi Tharoor also pointed out that the BJP won West Bengal by 30 lakh votes, which's a big margin.He asked if the process was fair if many appeals were not resolved during the election, which's a good question.

In the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections the BJP won 207 seats, which's a lot.This meant the end of the Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee, which had been in power for 15 years so it was a change.The TMC only won 80 seats, which's not a lot.

Shashi Tharoor also said that in Kerala the Congress might have benefited from the voter list revision, which's interesting.He said some voters had their names registered times in different booths, which is not right.

These were mostly supporters of the CPM so it affected them.He said these extra names were removed during the revision, which's good.This might have helped the Congress-led alliance in Kerala, which's possible.The Congress-led United Democratic Front won 102 seats in the Kerala Assembly elections, which's a win.They defeated the Left Democratic Front, which had been in power for 10 years so it was a win.

The BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is now the Chief Minister of West Bengal which's a new role for him.The BJP won a victory in the elections that is a fact.The Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is still worried, about the voter lists and the election result, which is understandable.

Anti-Sabotage Squad Seizes Gelatin Sticks

A policeman deployed on special duty was on duty when he spotted the gelatin sticks and informed the anti-sabotage squad. An anti-sabotage team arrived at the scene and seized two gelatin sticks. A special task force team has been constituted to inquire into the issue.

The explosives were found 25 ft away from the main road to the Art of Living ashram where Modi was scheduled to arrive on Sunday. Security officials were alerted and panic struck the officials due to the presence of the explosives which led to major concerns regarding the security during the PM's high-profile visit.

Police Investigate Motive Behind Explosives

Police are investigating whether the gelatin was planted or for what purpose. Kaggalipura police are investigating the matter.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Central range) S. Girish stated that there is a task force in place to investigate explosives planted along the convoy route and he congratulated the police constable who spotted the explosives and immediately alerted the anti-sabotage squad.

Officials Assure No Immediate Explosion Threat

Police stated that they were not concerned about any imminent blast as there was no detonator with the gelatin sticks and were concerned whether the gelatin was planted to cause alarm and attraction during PM Modi's visit.

"There was no possibility of an explosion as no detonator was found. We suspect someone who has issues with the Art of Living may have dropped the gelatin sticks at the spot to create panic. However, the investigation is on from all possible angles," a police officer said.

Man Detained After Hoax Threat Calls

Meanwhile, 40-year-old Lohit of Koramangala has been detained as he allegedly called the police around 7:30am stating that there were bomb blasts in HAL airport and Art of Living ashram. However, Lohit's involvement is unlikely as they think it is unrelated. He has previously been held in similar incidents before Modi visits. It is learned he is mentally unwell.

Emotional Moment At Oath Ceremony

PM Modi had an emotional meeting with the Sarkar as he touched the latter's feet as a gesture of reverence.

"Today, as the first ever BJP Government takes oath in West Bengal, it is natural for all of us to remember Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee and his everlasting contribution to the nation and West Bengal in particular. No stone will be left unturned to fulfil his vision. During the swearing in ceremony in Kolkata, had the opportunity to meet Shri Makhanlal Sarkar Ji. A devout nationalist, he worked with Dr. Mookerjee and was even arrested in Jammu and Kashmir while accompanying him," Modi posted on social media platform X.

Sarkar’s Decades Of BJP Service

Sarkar, who is considered one of the very few first grassroots workers associated with the nationalist movement post-Independence India, was the first BJP district President of the Siliguri organisational district and travelled to Kashmir along with Syama Prasad Mookerjee in 1952 for hoisting the Indian tricolour and was arrested in Kashmir.

Even at the age of 97, he continues to be a prominent worker. In 1980, Sarkar was appointed organisational in-charge for West Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts when the party was first formed and recruited close to 10,000 members to the party in just one year.

BJP Workers Cheer For Modi In Kolkata

The Prime Minister reached the State on Saturday to witness the oath-taking ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari. On his arrival, he reached Brigade Parade Grounds along with the Chief Minister-designate Suvendu Adhikari and state president Samik Bhattacharya and took a ride in an open jeep to wave at thousands of BJP workers and supporters who were present to witness the ceremony. 

Modi arrived amid thousands of "Jai Shri Ram" chants and was seen waving at his supporters from an open vehicle. He landed in Kolkata shortly before 10 am and later reached Race Course ground before proceeding to the Brigade Parade Grounds by road from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

Searches Conducted in Delhi and Gurugram

The teams from ED arrived at the Industries Minister's official residence in sector 2, Chandigarh around 7 am and started searches slightly after 7.25 am. As many as nearly 20 vehicles entered the residential complex of Arora whereas three dozens of CIA personnel and Special Forces were also deputed at his residence in order to provide security. Along with Chandigarh, search operations have also been carried out at two places in Delhi and in Hampton Sky Realty Ltd in Udyog Vihar, Gurugram.

Kejriwal Attacks BJP over ED Action

Lashing out at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ED raids, Arvind Kejriwal said that the people of Punjab are unhappy with the BJP's alleged misuse of central agencies such as the ED.

“A Punjabi will give you everything he has out of love, but if you shove him around, he'll hit back with full force. Modi ji, go ahead and carry out four more ED raids - BJP's deposits on all their seats will get forfeited. The ones you arrest will be out in four days, but the BJP won't be fit to set foot in Punjab for the next twenty years,” he said on social media platform X.

Bhagwant Mann Calls Agencies Political Tools

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann slammed the BJP and claimed that the central agencies such as ED, CBI and the IT department were being used as political weapons.

“For a long time, they have been using them for their politics. Be it Maharashtra, Odisha, Bihar, Karnataka, West Bengal. Now, Punjab is on their target," Mann said.

"The purpose of ED raids is not to recover black money or documents. The real intention is to pressure leaders into joining the BJP by threatening their businesses and reputation," he added.

Arora Faced Earlier ED Raids Too

In April, Arora and entities related to him were also raided by the ED, but under the civil proceedings of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Following the action, Arora had stated that he would cooperate fully with all investigating agencies and that the truth would ultimately come out.

In January 2024 he also had to undergo ED raids in relation to an ongoing money laundering case against him, wherein the ED is looking into allegations of alleged misuse of industrial plots for residential projects, and back then he was a Member of Parliament from Rajya Sabha.

Probe Linked to Fake GST Transactions

The current searches are part of a newly registered case under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to the agency, the money laundering probe relates to fake GST purchases of mobile phones worth over Rs 100 crore and the subsequent exports are alleged to have been utilized to round trip illicit funds from Dubai to India. It further claimed that fake GST purchase bills were allegedly taken from non-existent firms in Delhi to fraudulently claim input tax credit (ITC).

Suvendu Promises “Sonar Bangla”

Addressing new BJP MLAs at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre following the announcement Suvendu Adhikari became emotional as he said it was time for "bhoy out, bhorsha in" and vowed for a government of delivery women's safety and a "Sonar Bangla". 

He said, “Today, I assure you that in the coming days, our government and organisation will remain committed to the ideology of the party and to the cultural spirit of West Bengal. We will fulfil every promise made in our manifesto within the stipulated time.”

“We need to create a Sonar Bangla. We need to make Bengal a safe place for women. Amit Shah said we have been able to remove fear. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given us trust. It is time for bhoy out, bhorsha in. For that, we need to work more and talk less,” he added.

Shah Calls BJP Victory Historic

Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated Suvendu Adhikari for becoming new CM of West Bengal and also mentioned the victory of BJP in the state was a "historic mandate". He also mentioned that Suvendu Adhikari's leadership in the state will bring good governance.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes. I hope this historic mandate becomes the means to fulfil the aspirations and expectations of the people of Bengal,” Shah said.

He added, “I have known Suvendu Adhikari for a long time. He is a fighter. I have seen both his political rise and his connection with the grassroots.”

Suvendu Defeats Mamata In Bhabanipur

Suvendu Adhikari created one of the symbolic victories of the election as he defeated the outgoing CM Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur which was one of her strongest political forts. 

He retained Nandigram which is also a politically important constituency since the start of the anti-land acquisition movement that turned him into one of the major political leaders of West Bengal. 

Grand Swearing-In Ceremony On Saturday

Adhikari and his Council of Ministers are scheduled to be sworn at a grand ceremony at the Brigade Parade Grounds on Saturday, with the Prime Minister, top Union ministers and some 20 BJP-ruled state CMs likely to attend in large numbers. 

BJP won the West Bengal assembly elections historically and ended the Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress(TMC) 15 years in power. The West Bengal Governor RN Ravi had dissolved the state assembly on Thursday which gave the way for the new government. 

This current assembly was formed in May 2021 after Mamata Banerjee-led TMC won assembly elections, and the dissolution marks the end of the current assembly following the recently-held two phases of elections. 

Notification issued under Article 174

A government order from Lok Bhavan, Kolkata, has said that the Governor has used the powers vested under sub-clause (b) of Clause(2) of Article 174 of the Constitution of India, to dissolve the Assembly with effect from May 7. 

“In exercise of the power conferred on me by sub-clause (b) of Clause (2) of Article 174 of the Constitution of India, I hereby dissolve the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal with effect from 07th of May, 2026,” the official notification said.

Banerjee Refuses to Resign

TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee met newly-elected MLAs on Wednesday, and said she will continue as the Chief Minister of West Bengal even after poll results. 

“If we have not lost the election, then why should I go to Raj Bhavan? I am not taking oath. And, why do I have to resign? We didn’t lose. It is their forceful attempt to defeat us. Our fight was not against BIP but against the EC,” she said.

Mamata attacks BJP and EC

Banerjee has accused the ruling BJP government of booth rigging, ballot stuffing, and EVM manipulation during the state assembly elections. She further accused the Election Commission of collusion with the BJP for overthrowing her government and described the win as "immoral". 

Banerjee also said that the TMC has "morally defeated" the BJP. Banerjee's refusal to step down had led to an unprecedented political scenario in the state, thus raising concerns over a possible constitutional crisis in West Bengal. 

Yadav Praises TMC’s Election Fight

The meeting was cordial according to the party's official sources, in which TMC National general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was also present. According to party sources, the three leaders exchanged pleasantries. 

According to sources, the conversation held at the meeting was constructive with Akhilesh Yadav telling Abhishek Banerjee, "What a commendable battle you all have fought." He also told Mamata Banerjee, "Didi, you have not lost."

SP Chief Alleges Election Manipulation

Talking to the reporters after meeting Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav claimed that elections were manipulated with what he called 'multi-layered mafiagiri'.

“Today, all Opposition leaders must stand together against election fraud. When elections were held honestly, Didi won. This time, no one could have imagined such manipulation involving the BJP, the Election Commission and others working together,” Yadav said.

BJP Accused Of Misusing Agencies

Yadav also blamed BJP for weakening democratic institutions. He also questioned the political violence taking place in the state, citing attacks on workers and damages caused to offices as examples and asking, who would be held accountable for the security lapse during polls?

Further allegations of an 'excessive presence' of central forces made a "parallel structure" during polls were also cited by Akhilesh, who alleged personnel from many states like Uttar Pradesh were brought to organize polling.

Akhilesh Demands Answers From Amit Shah

On the killing of Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant Chandranath Rath , Yadav alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was responsible and demanded that his statement be recorded.

“How did Suvendu Adhikari’s PA get murdered? The Home Minister must answer how this happened,” he said.

Mamata Refuses To Resign After Defeat

On May 5th, Mamata refused to resign as chief minister saying her party had won but the elections were manipulated by the EC, Central forces and BJP. She also said that TMC voters were assaulted and driven out of count centres and she herself was pushed when she entered the count centre for Bhabanipur constituency.

BJP Registers Massive Victory In Bengal

This meeting comes after BJP's landslide victory in West Bengal, securing 207 seats on Monday, while the TMC, in power for 15 years won 80. Akhilesh Yadav had earlier in the day claimed that democracy in West Bengal had been subverted and alleged that voters were pressured during elections not exercising their franchise freely.

Rath Shot Dead In Madhyamgram

The incident occurred at Madhyamgram in the North 24 Parganas district and Rath sustained bullet injuries in his head, chest and stomach, after which he was rushed to hospital and was declared dead.

The visual from the murder site shows that the bullet fired to kill Chandranath Rath had broken the glass of the car in which he was travelling and his car, marked with 'West Bengal Legislative Assembly On Duty' symbol was covered in blood after the incident.

Adhikari Calls Murder Heart-Wrenching

At around midnight, Suvendu Adhikari arrived at the hospital and called the killing "heart-wrenching". The BJP leader added that attackers carried out prior recce before carrying out the killing and termed the incident as cold-blooded and premeditated murder.

Adhikari said: “The killing of my aide Chandranath Rath is heart-wrenching; we condemn this. We appeal to everyone not to take the law into their own hands.”

He added, “The DGP assured me police will investigate the cold-blooded murder of my aide Chandranath Rath. Besides my aide, one of our cadres was shot at in Basirhat and another stabbed in Baranagar.”

TMC Alleges Attacks On Party Workers

BJP accused the Trinamool Congress of the attacks and questioned who is to be blamed now after the death. The TMC hit back saying that its workers are being targeted in different districts.

The party said: “We strongly condemn the brutal murder of Chandranath Rath in Madhyamgram tonight, along with the killing of three other TMC workers in incidents of post-poll violence allegedly carried out by BJP-backed miscreants over the last three days, despite the Model Code of Conduct being in force.”

Eyewitnesses Claim Attack Was Pre-Planned

An eyewitness at the scene said that the SUV in which Rath was travelling was intercepted by a small four-wheeler near Doharia junction and thereafter a man riding on a bike fired bullets at close range and they later abandoned the car and escaped on the bike. Another eyewitness at the murder of Chandra said that the firing at him was done from a close range and that it was a planned murder.

The disturbing incident took place in Krishnagiri, where 28-year-old K Mahendran, a devoted supporter of Thalapathy Vijay, reportedly became heartbroken after false news of TVK’s defeat spread in his locality.

According to reports, Mahendran was seen in a disturbed state outside his house on Monday morning before he allegedly took the extreme step. Family members and nearby residents rushed to save him and immediately shifted him to Krishnagiri Government Medical College Hospital, where he is currently undergoing intensive treatment.

The shocking news has left Vijay fans across Tamil Nadu worried, with many social media users calling the act unfortunate and urging supporters not to take politics so personally.

Rumours Said Defeat, But TVK Was Busy Delivering The Biggest Election Surprise

What makes the incident even more heartbreaking is that while Mahendran was upset over rumours of Vijay losing, the actual counting trends were telling a completely different story.

Thalapathy Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which entered electoral politics for the very first time, has emerged as one of the biggest shockers of the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026.

From early morning trends itself, TVK started racing ahead in a huge number of constituencies, leaving political experts and rival parties stunned. The ruling DMK looked under pressure, while AIADMK and TVK turned the battle into an intense three-cornered fight.

For a party that was launched only in 2024, Vijay’s rise on his debut election day has been nothing short of historic.

Vijay Had Promised A Political Revolution

Ever since Vijay announced that TVK would contest the elections independently without joining hands with BJP, DMK or AIADMK, fans had been waiting to see whether his screen popularity would convert into votes.

And now, judging by the counting trends, the actor seems to have pulled off exactly that.

TVK leaders have already expressed confidence that the party is here to stay and may completely change Tamil Nadu’s political future.

This Incident Has Left Everyone Emotional

Even as TVK workers celebrate Vijay’s massive performance, Mahendran’s suicide attempt has cast a painful shadow on the day.

The incident is a reminder of how deeply some fans connect emotionally with their favourite stars, especially when those stars step into politics.

Many people online are now requesting Vijay fans to remain calm and understand that no election result is worth risking one’s life.

As of now, Vijay has not reacted publicly to the incident, but the news has already become one of the most talked-about and heartbreaking stories linked to Tamil Nadu election day.

Chadha Cites ‘Sheesh Mahal’ as Key Issue

Chadha argued that the political embarrassment of Arvind Kejriwal's chief ministerial residence chipped away at the credibility the party had been trying to build for more than a decade.
"If there was one major reason for the Aam Aadmi Party's loss in the Delhi elections, the Sheesh Mahal was one of the main reasons for the party's defeat. But today, not even a year has passed since the Delhi elections ended, and Sheesh Mahal Part Two has come," he said.

"I wonder how the few remaining good workers of the Aam Aadmi Party will respond when people in the streets and localities ask them questions about Sheesh Mahal. The Aam Aadmi Party should introspect and think about it," he added.

Massive Drop in Chadha's Instagram Followers

Chadha’s decision to quit AAP and join the BJP has reflected on his social media popularity. Data has shown that Raghav Chadha lost nearly 10 lakh Instagram followers in the last 24 hours, a steep fall which is being attributed to the backlash from Gen Z, who had supported him for his relatability and focus on common issues. An icon for Gen Z politics, Chadha’s follower count went from 14.6 million to 13.3 million. The fall is major for a leader whose image is strongly tied to his social media presence, with a particular support base of young urban voters. 

Internal Rift Weakens AAP leadership

A serious blow to AAP, its 7 out of 10 MPs left the party and joined BJP on Friday. AAP alleged that BJP is engaging in "Operation Lotus". This step is taken due to escalation of tensions between Chadha and the party leadership.
Earlier this month he was demoted as AAP’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha after some of the senior members of the party accused him of only "soft PR" instead of tackling the Centre. He had been at loggerheads with the party for a year now, staying out of the country while Kejriwal was arrested for the excise policy scam in March 2024, and even for all the 6 months he was in jail. 

Their release was part of the visit of the Indian Vice President to the region, and many people are thinking it represents a major diplomatic decision when India joined the fray for Sri Lanka.

Fisherman Thanks PM Modi

Upon his arrival at the Chennai airport, one of the released fishermen, Sebastian expressed relief and joy.

He said they were released during the Indian Vice President’s visit and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for helping them get their early release.

But he also urged the government to keep fishing for more of the rest of the sailors that are still in Sri Lankan jails. 

“We ask the government to return them as well,” he added. 

Bigger Problem Still Remains

It is not a new problem and this is nothing new: Tamil Nadu fishermen in northern Tamil Nadu have already been arrested by the authorities of Sri Lanka. Many fishermen in the Palk Strait experience such frustrations because of fighting over fishing rights and over the maritime borders.

For many families, even more worrying not only were they the arrests, but also the confiscated fishing vessels, which are often their only source of income. 

Government Working on Solution

The Tamil Nadu government and the Ministry of External Affairs have in recent days stayed in touch with Sri Lankan officials to secure the release of the other fishermen held down and reclaim boats recaptured. 

Long-term steps are also being taken to stop this type of repeated arrest and shield the livelihoods of fishermen living along the ocean's coastal border.

Nineteen fishermen in Tamil Nadu have come home safe from jail in Sri Lanka. Their homecomings gave emotional opportunities to families who had been anxiously waiting for them for weeks.

The fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on March 25, 2026, for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing offshore in the Palk Strait. 

Arrested for Crossing Maritime Border

A political controversy has erupted after Yogi Adityanath allegedly misattributed a famous quote during a rally in West Bengal.

The situation escalated when Mahua Moitra strongly criticized the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, calling him “Bulldozer Buddhi” on social media. She pointed out that the iconic line “Give me blood and I will give you freedom” was originally said by Subhas Chandra Bose, not Swami Vivekananda.

Soon after, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also joined the attack. Taking a dig at Adityanath, he said, “Only those who change names have had their own names changed.” His comment is being seen as a reference to the renaming of cities and institutions in Uttar Pradesh.

The controversy grew further when a video of Adityanath’s speech was shared online by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). The party accused him of showing “ignorance” about Bengal’s history.

In its post, TMC highlighted the difference between two iconic figures—Subhas Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda—stating that both are highly respected but completely different personalities. The party criticized the mix-up, calling it disrespectful.

Mahua Moitra also took a sharp dig, asking Adityanath to “get his facts right” and mocked his speech in a strongly worded post.

This incident has now turned into a major political debate, with leaders from different parties reacting and social media buzzing over the viral video.

Opposition Slams Centre's Delimitation Bill

The move has caused political heat with political parties across the spectrum largely backing the proposed reservation for women while opposing its accompanying delimitation proposal. Opposition parties claimed that a population-driven allocation of seats might result in disproportionate advantage being gained by the high-population growth states, hence will bring out of balance the federal structures, giving less weightage to states that have maintained a check over population.

Congress leaders also alleged that the move is intended to gerrymander the elections and that overlooking a caste census data will diminish the representation of backward classes, i.e. OBCs, Dalits and Adivasis, while calling for Delimitation on new comprehensive data, including a caste census.

Tamil Nadu CM Burns Delimitation Bill Copy

Intensifying his stand against the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin symbolically burned a copy of the delimitation bill and hoisted a black flag, protesting the delimitation bill. The Chief Minister urged the people of Tamil Nadu to hoist a black flag on their rooftops to signify their disapproval, calling the proposed legislation a 'black law' that would weaken political representation for the state. 

Giriraj Singh Confident on Bill Consensus

Union Minister Giriraj Singh expressed hope Thursday that the Women's Reservation Bill will pass Parliament with a comfortable consensus, claiming that every political party would eventually have to endorse the bill, even with the opposition raising objections regarding delimitation and other associated matters.
Singh said, "The Women's Reservation Bill is being introduced. The opposition says they have objections to delimitation and won't support it.”
He added, "There will be no discrimination anywhere. The bill will come to the House, and the subject will be presented. There's no need to doubt it before it's even presented. I'm fully confident that just as it was passed before, it will be passed now. No discrimination against any state, equality for all.”

Bills Link Women's Quota to Delimitation

High stakes legislation showdown is expected as the Center is all set to introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the three day special session of Parliament that would commence on Thursday, aimed at accelerating the enforcement of 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
According to sources, these changes will ensure equal increment in representation in each state. The centre has hinted that the number of seats will rise by about 50 percent across states to counter the concern from some states, particularly southern ones, that larger populated states could be benefited too much.

INDIA Bloc Opposes Delimitation Bill

INDIA bloc parties reached a consensus to oppose the delimitation section in Constitution (131st) Amendment Bill, 2026, said the Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge after the coalition meeting on Tuesday, as the opposition is not against the women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav have termed this as a "conspiracy".

Rijiju Slams Delimitation Misinformation

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju warned against misleading people of southern states over the delimitation.
“Some people are trying to mislead the South Indian States on Women Reservation by providing wrong Delimitation figures. There should be no politics in giving reservations to Women in Lok Sabha & Legislative Assemblies. All political parties are united for Nari Shakti,” he said on social media platform X.

Delimitation: Redrawing Seats Post-Census

Delimitation is a process for the determination of the number and boundaries of constituencies for the Lok Sabha and Legislative assemblies. Delimitation process is also the determination of the seats to be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in those houses.
Article 82 and 170 of Constitution stipulates that the number of seats in Lok Sabha and State Legislative assemblies and its allocation to territorial constituencies shall be re-adjusted after each Census. Such a "delimitation process" is carried out by the "Delimitation Commission" which is formed by act of parliament.

ECI Tracks Polls via Webcasting

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. S.S. Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, are closely monitoring the polling process through live webcasting. Voter-friendly initiatives have been put in place, including easily recognizable color photographs of candidates on Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) ballot papers, a Mobile Deposit Facility, and newly designed Voter Information Slips for better readability. Additionally, each polling station is set to accommodate up to 1,200 voters.

Assam Hits 85% Turnout

As the day progresses, the voter turnout in Assam stands at an impressive 84.42%, with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) seeking a third consecutive term in power, while the Congress party aims to reclaim the state it lost a decade ago. This election is particularly significant, being the first Assembly election since the electoral map was redrawn following a delimitation exercise in 2023. Voters have cast their ballots at 31,490 polling stations across 35 districts, with voting starting at 7 a.m.

Kerala Records 78% Voter Turnout

In Kerala, voters are casting their votes for all 140 Assembly seats, with polling hours extended until 6 p.m. to ensure that everyone has a chance to participate. Voters arriving at polling stations before the deadline receive tokens and can cast their votes. By the end of the day, Kerala reported a turnout of 78.24%, slightly up from the 74.06% seen in the 2021 Assembly elections.

Puducherry Receives 89% Turnout

In Puducherry, where polling also closes at 6 p.m. for 30 Assembly constituencies, initial estimates suggest an outstanding turnout exceeding 89.08%. The NDA is working hard to maintain its hold on power in this Union Territory, while the Congress-led opposition is determined to challenge the AINRC's leadership, focusing on issues like local autonomy and administrative concerns.

stands exposed” with Pakistan assuming a significant global role. 

What happened?

Following weeks of climbing tensions, the United States, Iran, and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire. Yet paradoxically, Pakistan said it would hold peace talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad beginning Friday. The decision was met with political backlash from the Indian public, which has challenged the government’s foreign policy stance. Congress Attacks BJP Government. 

Congress Attacks BJP Government

Jairam Ramesh took a sharp dig at PM Modi by members of Congress when he commented: But India’s attempts to isolate Pakistan from the world have failed. The role of Pakistan mediating talks is a “serious diplomatic setback.” PM Modi’s silence on global conflicts demonstrates weak leadership. He also chastised the Prime Minister for declining to comment on: Israel’s actions in Gaza. Rising tensions in West Asia. Statements spoken by U.S. leaders. Ceasefire Details.

Ceasefire Details

US President Donald Trump said the military was put on pause for two weeks. Iran agreed to permit safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The goal of the talks is to avoid further escalation in the region. Diplomatic relations included Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying military operations would pause if attacks stop.

Why This Matters

The conflict has already: Killed thousands. Disrupted global oil supply. It sparked an energy crisis. But Pakistan’s unexpected joining of peace negotiations has sparked widespread concern about India’s power as a diplomat.

Political War Heats Up

Congress equated the situation now with that of former PM Manmohan Singh, saying that after the Mumbai attacks he managed global pressure relatively better. As of now the BJP has yet to reply to these criticisms.

BJP Fires Back at Youth Congress Disruption

Citing the protest as irresponsible, BJP leadership said these moves tarnish the country’s international image when such moves were made during a high-visibility conference attended by international delegates.
The BJP also claimed the show was yet another instance of opposition disruption – calling on Rahul Gandhi to face scrutiny and for the party leadership, and for political unity. The BJP argued that the “national interest” trumped political differences in international arenas. 

Patra's Attack: "Topless, Brainless, Shameless" Congress

BJP MP Sambit Patra said, "Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party are traitors of the highest order. The nation's biggest traitors. Wherever the country progresses, wherever happiness prevails, they will surely spoil it. These are traitors...I have only three words for Congress: topless, brainless, shameless.”
"Today, they went topless, brainless. Congress doesn't have that much wisdom that this AI summit that is going on is not a BJP summit. This is an AI summit of the entire world," he added.

Goyal Accuse Rahul of Humiliating India Globally

Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal said Rahul Gandhi tried to humiliate India.
He said, "This is CONGRESS ARROGANCE & FRUSTRATION on display! So, Mr. Rahul Gandhi, humiliating India to target the Government is your idea of opposition!"
"While you want to CHOKE India's development by peddling lies about the recent trade deals, your foot soldiers are marching shirtless at the prestigious AI Summit, attempting to embarrass 140 crore Indians globally. This disruption strategy only exposes your and your party's lack of vision for India," he added.

IYC Workers Detained at AI Summit

The comments came after some 10 Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers were detained for briefly raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi inside Bharat Mandapam’s Exhibition Hall No. 5, police officials said.
The “topless” protest sparked a political spat of words, with BJP figures charging the Congress with arranging the disruption. 

FIR Filed: Probe into Criminal Conspiracy and Manuscript Leak

The Delhi Police responded by questioning how the memoir reached Rahul Gandhi despite being unpublished. Not long after, an FIR was lodged, and in only 24 hours, two clarifications were made by Penguin . 

The notice, officials said, asks for answers to a number of questions tied to the unpublished memoir and invites the publisher to join in the investigation, after the Delhi Police Special Cell lodged a case on criminal conspiracy charges following the purported leak of the book. 

BJP Protests: Unpublished Book Barred from Parliament

The controversy over Four Stars of Destiny began when Rahul Gandhi tried to quote from it in the Lok Sabha to decry the government, and had to face opposition from senior ministers.
While Gandhi started quoting from the book, the BJP protested strongly. Subsequent to launching the attack, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared that an unpublished book cannot be cited in Parliament.
Speaker Om Birla subsequently held that Gandhi could not quote from the work as it amounted to unpublished literature and had not received any authenticated references. This episode only intensified the political dispute, with people asking how an unpublished book came to Rahul Gandhi before it was officially put out by its publisher. 

Publisher Warns of Copyright Breach in Leaked Copies

Penguin Random House India said that the book has not been officially released and is still pending clearance from the Ministry of Defence. The publisher also warned that any circulating PDFs or physical copies would be an infringement of copyright.
As the case escalated, Delhi Police lodged an FIR over the alleged illegal circulation of the manuscript in digital and other formats.
“Delhi Police Special Cell has issued a notice to Penguin India. Through the notice, several questions have been asked, and responses have been sought,” said Delhi Police.

Penguin Clarifies: No Copies Released

Penguin Random House India said it held exclusive publishing rights to the memoir and insisted that no copies were publicly available, in a statement on Monday.
“In light of recent public discourse and media reporting, Penguin Random House India would like to clarify that we hold the sole publishing rights for the book 'Four Stars of Destiny', a memoir by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, former Chief of the Indian Army. We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication. No copies of the book -- in print or digital form -- have been published, distributed, sold, or otherwise made available to the public by Penguin Random House India," the publisher said officially.

Rohit Pawar's Bombshell Claim on Ajit Pawar's Death

Rohit Pawar said during a presentation in Mumbai on the air crash which killed Ajit Pawar and four others last month. When briefing on the incident, he said that the prelude to the crash itself deserves much closer scrutiny.
Pawar said, “Everyone has this question in their mind: was it an accident or something else? Did the plane carry excess fuel tanks? CCTV footage should be scanned to see if they did. Such an act is not just illegal, but also acts as a bomb. Was the pilot directed to save fuel? Why didn’t they take another roundabout? Was there an alternative for landing?”

Missing Transponder Data

In the press conference, Rohit Pawar urged the investigating agencies to investigate the Ajit Pawar plane crash.
He said, “AAIB (UK), BEA, NTSB - either of them should investigate, apart from govt investigation.”
“Transponder details are not available for the last one minute. Why was the transponder shut down at the last minute at 8:43? What happened at the last minute when the flight was aligned to the runway? Why isn’t the main pilot’s voice recorded anywhere? Had he decided that he had to take the flight in some other direction?” he added.

Eyewitness Reports Strange Noises Before Stall

Rohit Pawar questions the maintenance of the plane on eye-witness evidence where a woman's account describes strange noises from the aircraft.
“Why was the plane stalled? Where is the techlog of the craft? Where is the airworthy report of the craft? Who had done the routine check-up?, he asked.

VSR Company's Shady History with Regulators

He also alleges that VSR Company, which owned the Learjet aircraft, wielded influence over aviation regulators.
“The final probe report of the 2023 crash involving a VSR company aircraft has already been submitted. Even now, VSR company planes continue to be used by high-ranking political leaders. Why was the company’s licence never cancelled?” Pawar asked.

Urgent Call for Probe into Baramati Crash

Rohit Pawar also cited a myriad of technical and operational problems such as whether the aircraft's transponder had been switched off, why a difficult runway was chosen despite poor visibility, and why the Learjet flight attempted to land under those conditions.
Ajit Pawar was killed on January 28 after a chartered plane crashed as he tried to land at the table-top airstrip in Baramati, Pune district. Four other people, including his personal security officer, the pilot, co-pilot and a flight attendant also died in the crash. 

Key Allegations

The Opposition has also laid all kinds of challenges to it, from the refusal to allow Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to speak, to the suspension of Opposition members, to the purported failure to act against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey following his remarks.
Leaders have also pushed back against accusations that female MPs were a danger to the Prime Minister. 

Signatures Overview

Under Article 94(c) of the Constitution, a Lok Sabha member may send a written notification of intention to refer the resolution on the removal of the Speaker to the Secretary-General, which shall be given to the Secretary-General at a minimum of 14 days’ notice.
The notice for the resolution seeking removal of Mr Birla from Lok Sabha holds 119 signatures: T.R. Baalu, DMK, Dimple Yadav, SP. The members of Trinamool Congress have not signed. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also declined to sign, as one of the charges relates to him not being able to speak. 

Government Response

Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the Opposition lacked the numbers to carry the resolution. The no-confidence move comes on the heels of another protracted matter in the Lok Sabha, with multiple adjournments following demonstrations by opposition members over the denial of speaking time during key discussions. 

Speaker's Position

Speaker Om Birla has decided that he will not go to the House until such time as discussion and decision are made on the motion against him by the Opposition MPs seeking his removal.
Under Article 96(1) of the Constitution, a Speaker may be unable to preside over any sitting, even if in attendance, when a resolution to remove his or her name or position is proposed. But the Speaker has the discretion to attend and speak during the proceedings and there the Speaker gets a chance to defend against the allegations, he added.
During such proceedings, the Speaker may be on the floor of the Lok Sabha but must vacate the Chair. 

Sarma Vows Civil and Criminal Action

The chief minister of Assam said he was initiating both civil and criminal proceedings.
“I am initiating civil and criminal defamation proceedings on 9 February 2026 against @JitendraSAlwar, @bhupeshbaghel, @GauravGogoiAsm and @DsaikiaOfficial for making false, malicious and defamatory statements against me in today’s press conference,” he said.
“The era of hit-and-run politics is over. If they have even an ounce of courage or evidence, let them prove every allegation before a court of law,” he said, adding, “I will not be intimidated by propaganda, coordinated slander, or political theatrics of so-called slaves of Gandhi family,” he added.

Congress Fires Back with AI Misuse Complaint

This defamation case has been initiated by the Chief Minister at the Kamrup District Civil Court, and further proceedings are underway. The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Tuesday lodged a police complaint at Dispur Police Station against the BJP and Sarma, alleging misuse of artificial intelligence to malign Gogoi and targeting Muslims through the now-deleted 'point blank shot' video.
The development comes after Gogoi, who is the Assam Congress president, claimed last week that a probe by the party revealed that almost 12,000 bighas of land were occupied by Sarma and his family members across the state. 

Cross-Allegations Heat Up Election Battle

Assam's political space has already heated up ahead of the assembly elections this year. Sarma opened another front against Gogoi after he alleged that the Congress leader and his British wife, Elizabeth Colburn, had "deep links" with a Pakistani national, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.
The Chief Minister suggested that intel might have been passed to Pakistan. The Congress hit back swiftly, claiming that Sarma had no documentary evidence to support his claims and "lost his mental balance".