Senior BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty on Saturday hailed Suvendu Adhikari as “the best chief minister West Bengal can have” after Adhikari visited his New Town residence and met for nearly an hour. Adhikari then began his first district tour, starting with Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas. Chakraborty said Adhikari had already started “working from day one” and promised “real changes.” The CM-designate later said he sought Chakraborty’s blessings, though they would not share the roadmap discussed. The timing is politically loaded ahead of upcoming polls.
With Falta set for re-election on May 21 and results due May 24, West Bengal politics is heating up. Local police arrested Saidul Khan, a Trinamool Congress leader and vice-president of the Falta Panchayat Samiti, linking him to charges of attempted murder and inciting political violence after a Friday night raid. The move comes as the BJP now governs the state after ousting the TMC, and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is scheduled to campaign ahead of the vote.
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After West Bengal suspended three police officers over the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case, the victim’s mother—also BJP MLA Ratna Debnath—escalated her attack on former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, calling her the “head of criminals” and demanding her arrest. Debnath alleged a cover-up and a conspiracy involving the state and health department, pointing to then Health Secretary Narayanswaroop Nigam. The father alleged directives for early concealment came from Banerjee, while the current leadership says investigations include senior officers and possible attempted bribes.
BJP leader Chandra Mohan Patowary was sworn in as Pro-tem Speaker of Assam’s newly formed 16th Legislative Assembly at Lok Bhavan in Guwahati. Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath and praised Patowary’s experience to conduct proceedings with constitutional dignity. Patowary will oversee the oath-taking of newly elected MLAs starting May 21 and run House business until a full-time Speaker is elected. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed industrial and power progress and outlined preparations for the July Budget Session.
BJP workers staged a protest in Srinagar on Friday demanding a liquor ban in Jammu and Kashmir. Scores marched toward Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s residence on the high-security Gupkar Road but were intercepted by police and temporarily detained at Ram Munshi Bagh police station. Protesters accused the ruling National Conference government of “hypocrisy,” alleging Abdullah reneged on a pre-October 2024 election promise to ban liquor. They also criticized the government for pointing blame to the BJP-led Centre while refusing to act once in power.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju has escalated the BJP’s allegations over Rahul Gandhi’s foreign travel, calling the questions about trips and their funding “very serious.” Rijiju urged Gandhi and the Congress to disclose required travel details to concerned authorities to avoid potential legal action, citing rules for MPs to inform parliamentary and foreign affairs bodies in advance. He referenced the FCRA framework around accepting foreign hospitality and said Gandhi’s “unannounced” visits remain unclarified.
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West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the assembly’s proceedings will now be telecast live so people can see what happens inside the House. Speaking after the election of the newly constituted 18th assembly, he said the legislature will work under constitutional principles and established rules. Adhikari also highlighted the need for a strong opposition, linking the move to greater transparency in the legislative process and the fulfillment of public aspirations. BJP MLA Rathindra Bose was elected unopposed as Speaker.
Jammu and Kashmir politics hit a new high in Srinagar as the BJP accused the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government of prioritising “revenue over morality” by allowing liquor shops. BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur warned that if licensing policy isn’t reversed, party workers will physically shut outlets and keep protests going. The BJP also demanded a complete ban on sale and purchase in the Kashmir division. Omar Abdullah defended the approach, saying no new shops are opening and alcohol is only permitted where religious beliefs allow choice.
BJP MLA Rathindra Bose was elected unopposed as Speaker of the West Bengal assembly on Friday, making history as the first legislator from North Bengal to hold the post. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari proposed his name, and pro tem Speaker Tapas Roy conducted a voice vote as support came from all 207 BJP MLAs. With the TMC choosing not to field a nominee, the result was settled without a contest, seen as a political signal to the region.
Days after taking office, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari approved CBI investigations into three recruitment-related cases that he said were stuck under the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government. The biggest involves the teachers’ recruitment scam, alleging a “merit-for-cash” system that sidelined qualified applicants in favor of bribe-paying candidates between 2014 and 2021. Two more probes follow: a municipality recruitment scam affecting hiring across urban local bodies and a cooperative bank scam.
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Suspended TMC spokesman Riju Dutta has issued an unconditional apology on X to Uttar Pradesh IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma, weeks after threatening him in a viral video linked to South 24 Parganas polling. Dutta claimed the original remarks followed party instructions and were made in an official capacity, but said BJP leaders from Uttar Pradesh and his legal counsel advised him to apologise, hoping the issue ends permanently. The apology follows TMC’s major 2026 Bengal election defeat and his suspension for breach of discipline.
After being tagged on Instagram by a young resident in Alinagar, Bihar, BJP MLA and folk singer Maithili Thakur moved quickly to clear a local garbage issue. She shared the outcome in a video and urged citizens to report civic problems directly to her, turning social media outreach into hands-on, on-ground action that has drawn widespread online praise.
The BJP has attacked the Congress’s choice of V D Satheesan as Kerala’s next chief minister, saying the decision was imposed from Delhi. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed it points to a “remote-controlled” government, alleging internal family disputes within the Congress influenced the final selection, including Priyanka Gandhi opposing Rahul Gandhi’s preferred candidate.
The BJP has challenged Rahul Gandhi to explain how his foreign travel was funded, alleging a mismatch between his reported income and trip expenses. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra claims Gandhi made 54 international trips over 22 years, costing around Rs 60 crore, and says the figures don’t add up. The demand centers on transparency over funding sources.
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NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar has claimed that Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare and 22 NCP MLAs will contest upcoming elections on BJP tickets. He also raised allegations of drug sales and extortion in Baramati, turning the spotlight on internal party tensions. An NCP spokesperson rejected the charge, saying the party remains united under Sunetra Pawar.
West Bengal’s Education Department has ordered that ‘Vande Mataram’ be sung compulsorily in morning assemblies across all schools, effective immediately. The directive requires the song to be performed after the National Anthem, and it replaces the earlier practice of singing Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Banglar Mati Banglar Jol.’ The move marks a sharp change in how schools open their day.
Tamil Nadu’s new government, led by TVK minister KG Arunraj, says it will work with the Centre to drive state progress while resisting what it calls “unfair” delimitation pushed by the BJP-led government. Arunraj framed the stance as cooperative federalism and defense of state rights, alongside priorities like law and order, tackling drugs, women’s safety, and attracting investment.
RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale says leaders moving to the BJP from other parties are treated as part of the RSS ideological family without needing to sign for formal membership. He likened the move to a daughter-in-law joining a household. Hosabale also credited swayamsevaks for supporting BJP efforts, including during West Bengal’s victory.
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BJP has won big in Haryana’s municipal corporation elections, securing victories in Ambala and Sonipat while taking a commanding lead in Panchkula. Celebrations broke out as workers distributed sweets. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini credited the results to public trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies, signaling strong momentum for the party ahead of future contests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for austerity is spreading through BJP-led governments, with union ministers and chief ministers downsizing convoy sizes and trimming non-essential travel. The effort is aimed at conserving fuel and encouraging responsible living amid wider global energy uncertainties, signaling that the austerity message is now shaping day-to-day official movement.
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