After TMC’s sharp defeat in West Bengal’s assembly elections, Mamata Banerjee met contesting candidates at her Kalighat residence and urged them to rebuild the party. She said anyone who wants to quit for other parties should leave, pledging she will revive TMC “afresh.” The message came as speculation of defections grew and the party shifted to opposition. TMC won 80 seats out of 294 total, with 211 candidates losing, and Banerjee herself defeated in Bhabanipur.
Kerala Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan said the Congress-led United Democratic Front government will be sworn in on May 18, following a decisive Assembly election comeback. The UDF chose Satheesan as its chief ministerial face after weeks of leadership speculation, winning 102 seats in a 140-member House and cutting the Left Democratic Front’s tally to 35. BJP-led NDA managed three seats. Satheesan, credited with rebuilding Congress organisation, leveraged momentum from Lok Sabha, local polls and key bypoll wins.
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The United Democratic Front (UDF) has picked veteran leader VD Satheesan as its Chief Minister candidate for Kerala. The move comes after UDF’s strong performance in the Assembly elections, delivering a substantial majority and beating the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The decision sets the tone for Kerala’s next political phase and coalition momentum.
Congress will announce its choice for Kerala’s next chief minister on Thursday after days of intense lobbying and internal discussions. The timing follows a meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The announcement also comes about ten days after the UDF secured a major victory in Kerala’s assembly elections, ending a political suspense period.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has decided to retain the Bhabanipur Assembly seat while vacating Nandigram, triggering a by-election there. He told Nandigram residents that their development priorities will still be addressed and argued that he has continued supporting the area even when he was not the official MLA.
TVK MLA R Seenivasa Sethupathi has approached the Supreme Court after a Madras High Court decision restricted his voting rights in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The move threatens the ruling alliance’s ability to maintain its majority, raising fresh stakes for coalition power amid election-season scrutiny and legal uncertainty over assembly voting privileges.
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Veteran BJP leader Tapas Roy has taken the oath as pro-tem Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly, administered by Governor R.N. Ravi. Roy will oversee the swearing-in process for newly elected legislators as the House moves into formal proceedings under constitutional rules and regulations. The development is seen as a notable political milestone for the BJP in the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the assembly poll outcomes in West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry sparked nationwide enthusiasm. Speaking in Vadodara after inaugurating the Sardar Dham Hostel, he praised the BJP’s performance in the local context and asserted that people working together have “created history,” framing the results as a turning point beyond state lines.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced the first portfolio allocation for five members of his council of ministers. Senior BJP leaders have been given departments spanning administration, welfare, and regional development, aiming to blend experience with broader representation. Adhikari will retain oversight of all remaining portfolios as the cabinet structure takes shape.
Newly elected AIADMK MLAs took their oath for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in two separate groups, signaling an internal split after the party’s disappointing election showing. The day also turned emotional for one member who broke down after seeing a portrait of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, underscoring the party’s lingering emotional and political fault lines.
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Ahead of UP assembly elections, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s cabinet was expanded in Lucknow. Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath at Gandhi Auditorium, Jan Bhavan. Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary and Manoj Kumar Pandey were sworn in as Cabinet Ministers, while Krishna Paswan, Surendra Diler, Hansraj Vishwakarma and Kailash Singh Rajput took oath as Ministers of State.
Uttar Pradesh’s Yogi 2.0 ministry has been expanded with a cabinet reshuffle ahead of upcoming assembly elections. Two new cabinet ministers and four new state ministers were inducted, while two state ministers were elevated to independent charge. Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oaths, marking the second expansion of the Yogi 2.0 council.
TVK legislator MV Karuppaiah was sworn in as pro-tem Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Sunday at Lok Bhavan, with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administering the oath. Chief Minister Joseph C Vijay attended. Karuppaiah previously served as an AIADMK MLA. Newly elected MLAs take oath Monday, with Speaker and Deputy Speaker elections set for May 12.
Tamil actor Vijay has been sworn in as Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister after his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, won a significant mandate in the assembly elections. TVK’s manifesto emphasized extensive welfare schemes for women, job opportunities for youth, and governance reforms—signalling a major shift in the state’s political landscape and priorities ahead of 2026.
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The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) has only two MLAs in Tamil Nadu, yet it has outsized influence in government formation. Led by Thol Thirumavalavan, the state’s largest Dalit party draws inspiration from the Black Panther movement and fuses Ambedkar, Periyar and Marxist ideas, positioning itself against “Sanatan forces” while negotiating political sway.
Vijay will be sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on Sunday at 10 am, after meeting the state Governor. His party cleared the majority hurdle with support from VCK and IUML, setting the stage for governance. The new CM is expected to move for a vote of confidence in the Assembly by May 13, 2026, to confirm stability.
Assam’s new NDA government is scheduled to take oath on May 12, with BJP emerging as the biggest party after winning 82 seats. Sewli Mohilary, wife of BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary, is said to be a contender for a ministerial role. The likely distribution includes one ministerial berth each for BPF and AGP.
A retired teacher, Himangshu Maji, says he feels proud seeing former student Suvendu Adhikari become West Bengal’s Chief Minister. Maji recalls Adhikari as hardworking, disciplined, and respectful even after stepping into politics. Coming from a marginal district to the state’s top role, the moment brought joy to his teacher, following Adhikari’s oath-taking at Brigade Parade Grounds.
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DMK chief M K Stalin said he respects alliance partners’ support for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam to form the government, calling for political stability and an end to uncertainty. He added DMK will function as a constructive opposition and thanked allies for backing during a tense phase. Stalin also expressed hope that welfare schemes continue under the new leadership.
VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said his party will support Vijay’s TVK, arguing the move is meant to prevent President’s rule in Tamil Nadu. He claimed the decision ensures the people’s mandate for TVK is honoured and said VCK’s backing will be unconditional. The statement signals how alliance dynamics could shape government formation after the election.
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