Chandigarh, May 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab, slated in early 2027, the AAP-ruled state on Tuesday went to the polls to elect councillors for 1,896 wards and eight municipal corporations amid tight security.

A total of 35.45 lakh voters will exercise their franchise till 5 p.m. Electors across the state could be seen reaching polling stations even before voting started at 8 a.m. “There has been no report of any delay in starting the poll process,” a state electoral officer told IANS here.

The state Election Commission has deputed around 32,000 police personnel and 35,000 election staff to ensure free and fair elections at eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils and 20 nagar panchayats.

The eight municipal corporations are in Abohar, Mohali, Moga, Bathinda, Barnala, Batala, Kapurthala and Pathankot. Of 7,555 candidates in the fray, 1,801 belong to the Aam Aadmi Party, 1,550 to the Congress, 1,316 to the BJP, 1,251 to the Shiromani Akali Dal, and 96 to the Bahujan Samaj Party, while 1,528 are Independent and 13 other candidates. The electorate comprises 18,33,712 male voters, 17,11,635 women and 220 voters listed under the “other” category.

Ahead of the municipal elections, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had dismissed a PIL challenging the Election Commission’s decision to switch from electronic voting machines (EVMs) to ballot papers. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry had rejected the plea that the shift from EVM-VVPAT to ballot papers had been made abruptly through an administrative communication, without any statutory amendment, legislative sanction, or public consultation.

“It is now too late for us to pass any orders or issue any writ since the election programme was published as early as May 13. The election programme of municipal elections has progressed to an advanced stage, where the last date of withdrawal of candidature was May 19,” it had observed on May 22.

Later, the Supreme Court too dismissed the petition seeking the use of EVMs instead of ballot papers in the municipal elections. Noting that the elections are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, the bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi refused to interfere, saying it was too late as all arrangements had been made.

State BJP President Sunil Jakhar has warned the government against using any illegal means to win the local body elections, saying Punjab would no longer bow to AAP’s fear and pressure tactics.

He said statements being made by AAP MLAs and leaders about shutting polling booth doors and capturing booths to win elections reflected the desperation of the government. Although Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann did not campaign for the polls, his ministers, MPs and MLAs campaigned aggressively for the party candidates.

Whatever the outcome of the ongoing elections, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) believes it is rapidly emerging as one of the strongest political forces in the state and steadily expanding its footprint in both urban and rural regions. The transformation in the BJP’s position in Punjab politics between the February 2021 local body elections and the current May 2026 civic polls has been dramatic, a senior BJP functionary told IANS.

In 2021, the party faced protests across several parts of Punjab and even struggled to field candidates in many areas. In sharp contrast, he said, the current elections witnessed enthusiastic participation from aspiring BJP candidates, with people lining up to seek party tickets, while no protests against BJP candidates were reported anywhere in the state.

The BJP fielded 1,226 candidates for Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections and 367 candidates for the eight Municipal Corporation elections, reflecting the party’s rapidly growing organisational strength and acceptance among the people of Punjab. Importantly, the BJP’s growing support is no longer limited to urban Punjab.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday celebrated what it described as the "collapse" of the Trinamool Congress' "Diamond Harbour Model" as its candidate from the Falta Assembly constituency, Debangshu Panda, was seen leading after 19 rounds of counting had been completed in the repoll process.

Officials said that in total, there are 21 rounds of counting, and after the completion of the 19th round, the BJP candidate had secured 1,37,473 votes.

The party attributed the trend to growing voter support for the BJP in West Bengal under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the political influence of Suvendu Adhikari.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, in a post on X, shared a video showing BJP supporters celebrating enthusiastically, waving party flags, raising slogans and cheering as counting trends showed Debangshu Panda maintaining a lead over CPI(M) candidate Sambhu Nath Kurmi, Congress candidate Abdur Razzak Molla and Trinamool Congress nominee Jahangir Khan.

"Diamond Harbour Model COLLAPSES! 'BHAIPOs' arrogance defeated! People of Bengal under Suvendu Da and guided by PM Narendra Modi Ji's vision, chose BJP in Falta!" Bhandari said in a post on X.

Bhaipo is a Bengali word which means "nephew" in English.

The Falta Assembly repoll held on May 21 in the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency area, represented by Abhishek Banerjee, reportedly saw a high voter turnout under tight security arrangements.

Maintaining the same trend since the beginning of the counting at 8 a.m. on Sunday, the Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan has maintained the fourth position, securing just 5,914 votes.

The trend on Sunday is a complete study in contrast to the results in Falta, both in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly polls as well as in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, Shankar Kumar Nashkar of the Trinamool Congress was elected by a margin of 41,000 votes from Falta, which is one of the seven Assembly constituencies under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency.

Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress general secretary and Mamata Banerjee's nephew, has represented the Diamond Harbour seat three times.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) With 11 more rounds of counting for the repolling of Falta Assembly constituency in the South 24 Parganas of West Bengal yet to be completed, the lead margin of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s candidate, Debangshu Panda, has already increased to 38,940 votes.

In total, there will be 21 rounds of counting, and the votes polled by the BJP candidate at the end of the 10th round of counting were 64,238.

On the other hand, at the end of the 10th round of counting, the CPI(M) candidate, Sambhunath Kurmi, has consolidated his second position by securing 25,298 votes.

The Congress party candidate, Abdur Razzak, is in the distant third position, securing just 6,429 votes.

Maintaining the same trend since the beginning of the counting at 8 a.m. on Sunday, the Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan has maintained the fourth position, securing just 3,304 votes.

The trend on Sunday is a complete study in contrast to the results in Falta, both in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly polls as well as in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress' Shankar Kumar Nashkar was elected by a margin of 41,000 votes from Falta, which is one of the seven Assembly constituencies under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency.

Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress' general secretary and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, has represented the Diamond Harbour seat three times.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Falta Assembly constituency gave Banerjee a lead margin of around 1,20,000 votes, which opposition parties described as a mockery of the polling process.

“Abhishek Banerjee often took pride in his Diamond Harbour model. Now the real face of that model has been revealed. Sunday’s trend also reveals the secrets behind Abhishek Banerjee's victory -- an unthinkable margin of over 7,00,000 votes from Diamond Harbour in 2024, with Falta giving the maximum lead,” said a state BJP leader.

At the time the report was filed, there was no reaction from any of the opposition parties, including Trinamool Congress, CPI(M) and Congress, to the trends.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) After the fifth round of counting for the repolling of Falta Assembly constituency on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Debangshu Panda is comfortably ahead of his closest opponents by a margin of 14,514 votes

As per figures available from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, after the fifth round of counting, the total number of votes polled by the BJP candidate was 30,562, followed by CPI(M)’s Sambhunath Kurmi at 16,048 and Congress candidate Abdur Razzak at 3,510 votes.

Trinamool Congress candidate, Jahangir Khan, is placed in the fourth position, securing 1,685 votes at the end of the fifth round of counting

Altogether, there will be 21 rounds of counting, and the result is expected to be clearer by 1 p.m.

This is the first time since the 2011 West Bengal Assembly elections that CPI(M) has surpassed Trinamool Congress in securing votes.

In fact, political observers feel that while the victory of the BJP candidate in the Falta repoll was a foregone conclusion, the main curiosity was about who would be in second position. “While there was a possibility of the CPI(M) candidate getting more votes than the Trinamool Congress candidate, it was quite unexpected that even the Congress candidate would surpass the Trinamool Congress candidate in terms of the votes secured," they said.

Now, with the victory of the BJP candidate almost certain after the fifth round of counting, the total tally of the ruling party in the 294-seat West Bengal Assembly will be 208, followed by Trinamool Congress at 80, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) and Congress at two each; and CPI(M) and All India Secular Front at one each.

The counting was being held amid tight security.

As the BJP candidate's lead over other contestants was increasing, the party workers went into a celebratory mood.

The Trinamool candidate, Jahangir Khan, and his party agents were absent from the counting centre. Khan had announced his withdrawal from the fray even though he was in the race till the repolling was announced.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) After the first round of counting for the repolling of the Falta Assembly constituency on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, Debnagshi Panda, is comfortably ahead of his closest opponents.

As per available information from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, after the first round of counting, the total number of votes polled by the BJP candidate stands at 9,534, followed by CPI(M)'s Sambhunath Kurmi at 448 and Congress candidate Abdur Razzak at 225 votes.

Trinamool Congress candidate, Jahangir Khan, who once held the final word at Falta, has been placed in the fourth position, securing just 210 votes at the end of the first round.

Altogether, there will be 21 rounds of counting, and the result is expected to be clear by 1 p.m. But the BJP supporters, assembled outside the polling centre, have already started celebrating and distributing sweets among the people there.

“Since the Trinamool Congress came to power in West Bengal in 2011, there was not a single election where the voters of Falta could vote fearlessly in an intimidation-free ambience. Even many Trinamool Congress supporters could not cast their votes in the previous elections, since Jahangir Khan and his gang did not trust them. However, on the day of repolling, there was absolutely peaceful polling with everyone able to cast a vote. We are confident that at the end of the counting, our candidate Debangshi Panda will win by a massive margin,” said a BJP supporter outside the polling centre.

On May 4, the results for 293 of the 294 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, except Falta, were announced. While the BJP had a landslide victory, winning 207 constituencies, the Trinamool Congress got reduced to just 80.

While Congress candidates emerged victors in two constituencies, the CPI(M) and All India Secular Front (AISF) won one seat each. The Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP)’s founder and former Trinamool Congress legislator, Humayun Kabir, got elected from both the constituencies he contested from, namely Naoda and Rejinagar, both in the minority-dominated Murshidabad district. Now, in the event of the BJP candidate winning from Falta, as trends indicate, the tally for the ruling party in the state Assembly will be 208.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 24 IANS) Counting has begun for the Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district from 8 a.m. on Sunday amid tight security arrangements.

The repolling for the Assembly Constituency, as per the direction of the Election Commission of India (ECI), was conducted on May 21. There will be a total of 21 rounds of counting, and according to the insiders from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, the result will be absolutely clear by 1 p.m.

The Trinamool Congress counting agents were absent from the counting centre. The party candidate, Jahangir Khan, withdrew from the contest immediately before the repolling on May 21.

However, his staying away from voting was merely symbolic since he made the announcement just a day before the repoll and had participated in the first polling. His name continued to be active on the EVM on the repolling day.

The polling process on May 21 was absolutely peaceful. Many voters, standing in queues on that day, claimed that this was the first time that they could vote peacefully without intimidation, obstruction and fear. The polling percentage was quite high at over 88 per cent.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in Falta is Debangshu Panda, the CPI(M) candidate is Shambhu Kurmi, and the Congress candidate is Abdur Razzak. In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress' Shankar Kumar Nashkar was elected by a margin of 41,000 votes from Falta, which is one of the seven Assembly constituencies under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency. Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress' general secretary and Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, has represented this seat three times.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Falta Assembly constituency gave Banerjee a lead margin of around 1,20,000 votes, which opposition parties described as a mockery of the polling process.

Polling for the Falta Assembly constituency was conducted on April 29 in the second phase of the recently concluded two-phase Assembly polls in the state.

On April 29, several complaints of electoral malpractices were reported in Falta. At several polling booths, the EVM buttons corresponding to the names and symbols of BJP candidates were covered with white tape. Hundreds of voters took to the streets after they were not allowed to vote, allegedly by Jahangir Khan's supporters.

Subsequently, special poll observer Subrata Gupta, currently serving as advisor to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, personally visited Falta and conducted an inquiry. Based on Gupta's findings, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered repolling across the entire Falta Assembly constituency.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) A significantly high voting of 60.43 per cent was recorded till 1 p.m. in a peaceful repolling for the Falta Assembly Constituency in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on Thursday.

The scorching summer heat could not dampen voters’ enthusiasm. Long queues were seen in front of the 285 polling booths, with voters waiting patiently for their turn. The atmosphere was peaceful even as the security forces were maintaining a strict vigil in Falta since polling started at 7 a.m.

According to an insider from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, the trend of evenly high polling percentage throughout the polling period, which was witnessed in the two-phased recently concluded Assembly polls on April 23 and April 29, has also been recorded in the case of repolling in Falta.

“With 60.43 per cent of polling recorded till 1 p.m. and five hours of polling time still left, we are confident that the final polling percentage will surely cross the 90 mark, which was witnessed in the two phases of Assembly polls last month,” the source in the CEO’s office said.

Since morning, the previous ruling party in the state, Trinamool Congress, including the party candidate, Jahangir Khan, has been totally missing from the polling scene. Although Khan last week announced that he was withdrawing from the contest, his announcement was just symbolic since his name continued to be displayed at the EVM on Thursday.

However, the polling agents of major political parties, namely Bharatiya Janata Party BJP), CPI(M) and Congress, were there in all the polling booths. The repolling is being conducted under a blanket security coverage with 35 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) being deployed, which is significantly high for a single Assembly constituency.

The polling for the Falta Assembly seat was conducted once on April 29. Following massive complaints of electoral malpractices on that day, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered repolling in the whole constituency. The results of the repolling will be declared on May 24.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) In an absolutely peaceful repolling for the Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Thursday, a high voting percentage of 20.47 was recorded in the first two hours till 9 a.m.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Re-polling commenced for Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal from 7 a.m. on Thursday under a blanket security coverage provided by the 35 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel, a number significantly high for a single constituency.

The polling process had been peaceful till the time the report was filed.

With Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan announcing his withdrawal from the contest recently, political observers feel that a victory in the Falta re-polling has now become a cakewalk for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which, if won, would thus improve the party's tally in the West Bengal Assembly to 208.

Last week, Khan announced his decision to withdraw from the contest, expressing solidarity with the new development package for Falta as announced by the new and ninth Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari.

However, the CEO's office clarified that, irrespective of Khan's announcement, his name would remain as a Trinamool Congress candidate in the re-poll and continue to appear on the EVM.

"Polling for the Falta Assembly constituency had already been conducted once on April 29. On May 21, it will just be a re-poll. So, nothing else changes, including the candidates contesting from Falta," the CEO's office insider said.

Observers suggest that it will be interesting to see whether the vote percentages for the CPI(M) and Congress candidates in the Falta Assembly seat improve, remain the same, or decline compared to the previous elections.

On April 29, several complaints of alleged electoral malpractices emerged from Falta. At several polling booths, the EVM buttons corresponding to the names and symbols of BJP candidates were allegedly covered with white tape.

Subsequently, special poll observer Subrata Gupta, currently serving as advisor to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, personally visited Falta and conducted an inquiry into the allegations.

Based on Gupta's findings, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered re-polling across the entire Falta Assembly constituency.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) The re-polling in the Falta Assembly constituency in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas is set to commence on Thursday. Fresh voting will be conducted across all 285 polling stations in the constituency.

The voting will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The results will be declared on May 24.

Polling for Falta was conducted in the second phase of the recently concluded two-phase Assembly elections on April 29. However, on that day, several complaints of alleged electoral malpractices emerged from the constituency.

At several polling booths, the EVM buttons corresponding to the names and symbols of BJP candidates were allegedly covered with white tape.

Based on Gupta’s findings, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered re-polling across the entire Falta Assembly constituency.

Already, Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan had announced on Tuesday his decision to withdraw from the contest this time, keeping faith in CM Adhikari's announcement of a development package for Falta.

Polling personnel are all set, and deployment activities are progressing smoothly, insiders from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, said on Wednesday.

“Continuous monitoring arrangements are in place to ensure that every aspect of the polling process remains smooth, all geared towards free, fair and peaceful polling tomorrow. The re-polling will be conducted under blanket security coverage by 35 companies of Central Armed Police Forces personnel, which is significantly high for a single Assembly constituency,” said an insider from the CEO’s office.

However, the CEO’s office clarified that, irrespective of Khan's announcement, his name would remain as a Trinamool Congress candidate in the re-poll and continue to appear on the EVM.

“Polling for the Falta Assembly constituency had already been conducted once on April 29. On May 21, it will just be a re-poll. So, nothing else changes, including the candidates contesting from Falta,” the CEO’s office insider said.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, May 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the schedule for the long-delayed biennial elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) from 17 Local Authorities' Constituencies. The polling is scheduled on June 18, and the counting of votes will be conducted on June 22.

According to a press note, the ECI has outlined a swift timeline for the entire electoral process, which must be completed before late June. The notification will be issued on May 25, the last date of filing nominations on June 1, scrutiny of nominations on June 2 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations on June 4.

The constituencies, along with the names of the members whose terms expired, include Solapur: Prashant Prabhakar Paricharak (Retired January 1, 2022), Ahmednagar: Arunkaka Babhimrao Jagtap (Retired January 1, 2022), Thane: Phatak Ravindra Sadanand (Retired June 8, 2022), Jalgaon: Chandubhai V. Patel (Retired December 5, 2022), Sangli-cum-Satara: Kadam Mohanrao Shripati (Retired December 5, 2022), Nanded: Amarnath Anantrao Rajurkar (Retired December 5, 2022), Yavatmal: Dushyant Satish Chaturvedi (Retired December 5, 2022), Pune: Anil Shivajirao Bhosale (Retired December 5, 2022),Bhandara-cum-Gondia: Dr. Parinay Ramesh Fuke (Retired December 5, 2022), Raigad-cum-Ratnagiri-cum-Sindhudurg: Aniket Sunil Tatkare (Retired May 31, 2024), Nashik: Narendra Bhikaji Darade (Retired June 21, 2024), Wardha-cum-Chandrapur-cum-Gadchiroli: Ramdas Bhagwanji Ambatkar (Retired June 21, 2024), Amravati: Pravin Ramchandra Pote (Retired June 21, 2024), Osmanabad-cum-Latur-cum-Beed: Dhas Suresh Ramchandra (Retired June 21, 2024), Parbhani-cum-Hingoli: Viplove Gopikishan Bajoria (Retired June 21, 2024) and Aurangabad-cum-Jalna: Ambadas Eknathrao Danve (Retired August 29, 2025).

For the 17th seat from Nagpur Local Authorities’ Constituency, which fell vacant on November 23, 2024, after the incumbent BJP legislator Chandrashekhar Bawankule resigned, the polling will also take place on June 18. Bawankule, who was to retire on January 1, 2028, stepped down as he contested the state Assembly elections and won from the Kamthi constituency.

The upcoming elections will fill vacancies that have been piling up since 2022.

Under standard ECI guidelines, an election for a Local Authority's constituency can only be conducted if at least 75 per cent of the local bodies within that constituency are actively functioning and at least 75 per cent of the electors (voters) within those local bodies are in position. Due to the expiration of terms and extensive delays in holding local body elections (such as municipal corporations, municipal councils, and zilla parishads) across Maharashtra over the last few years, these criteria were not met. As a result, representation for these areas remained suspended.

The situation has now changed. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Maharashtra recently informed the Commission that the 75 per cent functionality and elector threshold criteria have finally been fulfilled across all 17 affected constituencies, paving the way for the democratic process to resume, said the ECI in the notification. The 17 seats up for polls have been vacant for varying periods, with some members having retired as far back as January 2022.

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) concerning this biennial election has come into force with immediate effect in all the concerned constituencies. Political parties and sitting representatives in these districts will have to strictly adhere to the ECI's code guidelines, restricting any fresh policy announcements, administrative transfers, or major government advertisements in the polling zones until the formal completion of the election cycle on June 25.

The sweeping mandate secured by the Mahayuti alliance in the recent local self-government elections has fundamentally flipped the script, as it is expected to win more seats against the Maha Vikas Aghadi during the upcoming state council elections. Major regional hubs like Pune, Thane, Nashik, Sangli-Satara, and Yavatmal -- which went vacant following a series of expirations and political realignments -- are now heavily dominated by ruling alliance councillors.

Having successfully consolidated corporate bodies like Pune and Solapur, the BJP expects to claim a lion's share of these 17 local body seats. Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, backed by a dominant showing in the Thane Municipal Corporation and parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, is driving a hard bargain to secure seats in its regional strongholds like Thane-Palghar and Raigad-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg.

For the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena(UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP) -- these upcoming local body council seats present a grim tactical landscape. Unlike the Assembly-elected seats, where a clear quota system allows proportional representation based on MLA numbers, the Local Authorities' seats are a "winner-takes-all" game decided by the absolute numbers of local councillors.

"The reality of the local bodies' tier is that your strength on paper mirrors your strength on the ground," noted a political analyst. "Since the MVA took a severe beating in the municipal corporation elections across the state, their capability to defend historical strongholds in places like Nashik, Jalgaon, or Kolhapur will be tested to the limit." The only exceptions lie in pockets like Kolhapur, where Congress still retains a fighting chance through its traditional cooperative network, and pockets of Marathwada where the Shiv Sena(UBT) maintains a committed cadre base.

With 10 newly elected members recently sworn in, including six from the BJP, the ruling alliance is on the cusp of an absolute majority. Successfully capturing the bulk of the 17 remaining local body seats will give the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti complete legislative hegemony, allowing a friction-free passage for crucial infrastructure approvals, industrial policies, and administrative reforms ahead.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, May 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the schedule for the long-delayed biennial elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) from 16 Local Authorities' Constituencies. The polling is scheduled on June 18, and the counting of votes will be conducted on June 22.

According to a press note, the ECI has outlined a swift timeline for the entire electoral process, which must be completed before late June. The notification will be issued on May 25, the last date of filing nominations on June 1, scrutiny of nominations on June 2 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations on June 4.

The constituencies, along with the names of the members whose terms expired, include Solapur: Prashant Prabhakar Paricharak (Retired January 1, 2022), Ahmednagar: Arunkaka Babhimrao Jagtap (Retired January 1, 2022), Thane: Phatak Ravindra Sadanand (Retired June 8, 2022), Jalgaon: Chandubhai V. Patel (Retired December 5, 2022), Sangli-cum-Satara: Kadam Mohanrao Shripati (Retired December 5, 2022), Nanded: Amarnath Anantrao Rajurkar (Retired December 5, 2022), Yavatmal: Dushyant Satish Chaturvedi (Retired December 5, 2022), Pune: Anil Shivajirao Bhosale (Retired December 5, 2022),Bhandara-cum-Gondia: Dr. Parinay Ramesh Fuke (Retired December 5, 2022), Raigad-cum-Ratnagiri-cum-Sindhudurg: Aniket Sunil Tatkare (Retired May 31, 2024), Nashik: Narendra Bhikaji Darade (Retired June 21, 2024), Wardha-cum-Chandrapur-cum-Gadchiroli: Ramdas Bhagwanji Ambatkar (Retired June 21, 2024), Amravati: Pravin Ramchandra Pote (Retired June 21, 2024), Osmanabad-cum-Latur-cum-Beed: Dhas Suresh Ramchandra (Retired June 21, 2024), Parbhani-cum-Hingoli: Viplove Gopikishan Bajoria (Retired June 21, 2024) and Aurangabad-cum-Jalna: Ambadas Eknathrao Danve (Retired August 29, 2025).

The upcoming elections will fill vacancies that have been piling up since 2022.

Under standard ECI guidelines, an election for a Local Authority's constituency can only be conducted if at least 75 per cent of the local bodies within that constituency are actively functioning and at least 75 per cent of the electors (voters) within those local bodies are in position. Due to the expiration of terms and extensive delays in holding local body elections (such as municipal corporations, municipal councils, and zilla parishads) across Maharashtra over the last few years, these criteria were not met. As a result, representation for these areas remained suspended.

The situation has now changed. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Maharashtra recently informed the Commission that the 75 per cent functionality and elector threshold criteria have finally been fulfilled across all 16 affected constituencies, paving the way for the democratic process to resume, said the ECI in the notification. The 16 seats up for polls have been vacant for varying periods, with some members having retired as far back as January 2022.

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) concerning this biennial election has come into force with immediate effect in all the concerned constituencies. Political parties and sitting representatives in these districts will have to strictly adhere to the ECI's code guidelines, restricting any fresh policy announcements, administrative transfers, or major government advertisements in the polling zones until the formal completion of the election cycle on June 25.

The sweeping mandate secured by the Mahayuti alliance in the recent local self-government elections has fundamentally flipped the script, as it is expected to win more seats against the Maha Vikas Aghadi during the upcoming state council elections. Major regional hubs like Pune, Thane, Nashik, Sangli-Satara, and Yavatmal -- which went vacant following a series of expirations and political realignments -- are now heavily dominated by ruling alliance councillors.

Having successfully consolidated corporate bodies like Pune and Solapur, the BJP expects to claim a lion's share of these 16 local body seats. Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, backed by a dominant showing in the Thane Municipal Corporation and parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, is driving a hard bargain to secure seats in its regional strongholds like Thane-Palghar and Raigad-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg.

For the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena(UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP) -- these upcoming local body council seats present a grim tactical landscape. Unlike the Assembly-elected seats, where a clear quota system allows proportional representation based on MLA numbers, the Local Authorities' seats are a "winner-takes-all" game decided by the absolute numbers of local councillors.

"The reality of the local bodies' tier is that your strength on paper mirrors your strength on the ground," noted a political analyst. "Since the MVA took a severe beating in the municipal corporation elections across the state, their capability to defend historical strongholds in places like Nashik, Jalgaon, or Kolhapur will be tested to the limit." The only exceptions lie in pockets like Kolhapur, where Congress still retains a fighting chance through its traditional cooperative network, and pockets of Marathwada where the Shiv Sena(UBT) maintains a committed cadre base.

With 10 newly elected members recently sworn in, including six from the BJP, the ruling alliance is on the cusp of an absolute majority. Successfully capturing the bulk of the 16 remaining local body seats will give the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti complete legislative hegemony, allowing a friction-free passage for crucial infrastructure approvals, industrial policies, and administrative reforms ahead.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, May 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The much-awaited meeting between Kerala’s political victor and his unsuccessful rival finally took place on Friday, but behind the smiles, handshakes, and carefully chosen words, the unease within the Congress seemed palpable.

Chief Minister designate V.D. Satheesan drove to the residence of senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Friday afternoon in what was easily one of the most politically watched meetings after the leadership transition in the state.

While both leaders maintained public cordiality, their body language suggested that the Congress high command may still have considerable work ahead in fully healing the wounds left by the intense race for the Chief Minister’s post.

For Chennithala, the disappointment is unmistakable.

A veteran who has held almost every significant organisational and legislative position in the party, the Chief Minister’s chair alone has remained elusive throughout his long political career. Ironically, the post has now gone to Satheesan, a six-term legislator who, despite his growing popularity and aggressive performance as Opposition leader, has never served even once as a minister.

The disappointment became visible on Thursday night itself when Chennithala skipped the crucial Congress Legislature Party meeting that formally elected Satheesan as leader.

Instead, he headed to the famed Guruvayur Temple, a move that immediately triggered political speculation and intense media attention.

Returning to Thiruvananthapuram on Friday morning, Chennithala received Satheesan at his residence for what both camps described as a "courtesy meeting".

The two leaders held a closed-door one-to-one discussion for nearly half an hour before emerging to face waiting reporters.

Attempting to strike a conciliatory note, Satheesan described the interaction as "a meeting between two brothers". "See, about posts and such things, it is the party high command that will take the final decision," Satheesan said carefully, clearly avoiding any comment that could deepen the already delicate internal equations.

Chennithala, too, maintained restraint.

Repeating what he had stated earlier in the day, he said he wished Satheesan all success and added that all decisions taken by the party high command would be acceptable to him.

Yet, despite the measured remarks and public display of unity, the undercurrent was of a more layered story, one of ambition, disappointment and an unresolved political balancing act that the Congress leadership may still have to navigate carefully in the days ahead.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) For Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, the unfolding political transition in Kerala is far less stressful compared to the political turbulence he encountered just days ago while serving as acting Governor of Tamil Nadu.

Back in the Kerala Lok Bhavan after a politically charged week in Chennai, Arlekar can finally breathe easier as the Congress-led UDF formally staked claim to power with a massive and unquestionable mandate behind Chief Minister-designate V. D. Satheesan.

The contrast could not have been sharper.

During his brief but dramatic stint as acting Governor of Tamil Nadu, Arlekar reportedly faced an awkward constitutional exercise when the TVK leader and present Chief Minister Vijay had to return multiple times before finally demonstrating the required legislative support to form the government.

The uncertainty had turned Lok Bhavan in Chennai into the centre of intense political activity and speculation.

In Kerala, however, the numbers left no room for suspense.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front stormed to power with a commanding tally of 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, making the transition one of the smoothest in recent political memory.

Soon after the Congress Legislative Party meeting formally elects Satheesan as its leader and the UDF allies endorse the decision, a delegation led by Satheesan and state Congress President Sunny Joseph called on the Governor with letters of support from all 102 legislators.

The meeting formally paved the way for inviting Satheesan to form the next government.

By now, preparations are already underway for Monday’s swearing-in ceremony, where Satheesan and his cabinet are expected to take oath at a function attended by top Congress leaders and UDF allies from across the state.

Unlike the uncertainty and repeated consultations that marked Arlekar’s recent experience in Tamil Nadu, Kerala’s transition was largely procedural, with the Governor completing the formalities swiftly.

For Lok Bhavan too, after a week of political suspense and constitutional tightrope walking, Kerala suddenly appears refreshingly uncomplicated.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a striking reversal of political fortunes, former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was on Thursday officially declared Kerala's Leader of the Opposition, hours after V. D. Satheesan was selected by his Congress as his successor following the party-led UDF’s emphatic victory in the Assembly elections.

The decision to appoint Vijayan as the Opposition leader was taken at the meeting of the Communist Party of India-Marxist state committee, formally marking the beginning of a new political chapter in Kerala, perhaps one of the most ironic role reversals in recent state politics.

An indication of Vijayan's appointment had emerged when he moved to a home of a leading businessman early this week, so that he could use the official residence of the Leader of Opposition as his office only.

Incidentally, it was in this residence that Satheesan lived with his family for the past five years.

During Vijayan’s second consecutive term as Chief Minister, it was Satheesan who occupied the Opposition benches as Leader of the Opposition, relentlessly cornering the Left government both inside and outside the Assembly.

Now, with the electorate delivering a massive setback to the Left Democratic Front after a decade in power, the two leaders are set to exchange seats in the House.

For both leaders, the coming Assembly session will carry a distinct political symbolism.

Interestingly, this will be the first time in their long political careers that Satheesan will sit in the Chief Minister’s chair while Vijayan will function as the Leader of the Opposition.

The political imagery is difficult to miss.

For ten years, Vijayan dominated Kerala politics as the undisputed face of the Left, steering two successive governments and shaping the state’s political discourse.

Satheesan, meanwhile, sharpened his profile as an aggressive Opposition leader who repeatedly accused the government of arrogance, lack of transparency and administrative failures.

Now, the battleground remains the same, but the positions have dramatically changed.

While the Congress-led front is celebrating its return to power after a decade, the Left camp is preparing for introspection and rebuilding under a leader who, until recently, held the state’s highest executive office.

Kerala politics, known for its cyclical swings, has once again delivered a picture-perfect reminder that, in politics, today’s ruler can very quickly become tomorrow’s challenger.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Even before Chief Minister-designate V. D. Satheesan formally settles into office, one unmistakable reality has emerged inside the Congress -- the influence of veteran leader A. K. Antony still looms large over every major political decision in Kerala.

Hours after receiving a tumultuous welcome at the state Congress headquarters on Thursday afternoon, Satheesan drove straight to Antony’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram, underlining the continuing importance of the Congress patriarch who, despite retiring from active politics, remains the party high command’s most trusted troubleshooter during moments of crisis.

Party insiders say Antony’s influence was critical in defusing several tense situations during the election season and the subsequent leadership tussle.

It was Antony’s intervention, sources recalled, that persuaded senior Congress leader and Kannur MP K. Sudhakaran to back away from his defiant stand to contest the Assembly elections, thereby preventing a potentially embarrassing internal showdown.

For the last two days, as the Congress high command struggled to finalise Kerala’s next Chief Minister, a near constant hotline reportedly remained active between Delhi and Antony’s residence.

According to senior party sources, Antony’s argument that appointing party General Secretary K.C. Venugopal as Chief Minister would trigger avoidable by-elections eventually became a decisive factor favouring Satheesan.

Antony is also understood to have told the leadership that the public mood overwhelmingly favoured Satheesan and that the perception was genuine rather than “stage-managed.”

Standing beside Satheesan at his residence, Antony warmly endorsed the decision of Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and party President Mallikarjuna Kharge.

"The most gracious decision has been taken and I wholeheartedly welcome it. Satheesan will have all my support," Antony said, expressing hope that the next five years would become a ‘golden era’ for Kerala.

But the veteran leader also issued a note of caution drawn from his own political experience.

Recalling his 2001 tenure as Chief Minister, Antony said governments are often forced to take unpopular economic decisions during financial crises.

"People should not expect easy populist announcements. Kerala today is financially in a far worse position than what I inherited," he warned.

In a striking personal observation, Antony added that Satheesan enjoyed "far greater acceptance among ordinary people" than he himself once did, perhaps the strongest public endorsement yet for Kerala’s incoming Chief Minister.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Accepting full responsibility for the DMK's defeat in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, party President and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday called for unity, introspection and sweeping organisational reforms to revive the party after its unexpected electoral setback.

Addressing the crucial meeting of DMK district Secretaries at the party headquarters Anna Arivalayam here, Stalin said there was no point in indulging in blame games following the defeat.

"One is blaming another and pointing an accusing finger at someone else. There will be no end if we continue blaming one another. When I take pride in victory, I should also take responsibility for defeat. There is nothing wrong with it. It is only fair," he said.

The meeting assumes significance as it was the first major organisational gathering of the party after the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance lost power in the Assembly elections to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-headed alliance.

Referring to the TVK’s dramatic electoral rise, Stalin described it as a "new and attractive magic tsunami" that had caused extensive political damage in Tamil Nadu.

"By tsunami, I do not mean achievement or adventure. I only mean that it has caused great damage. It has damaged the interests of Tamil Nadu," he said, while urging party functionaries to work towards "rescuing people from the tsunami".

Stalin stressed that the defeat was only an “electoral current” and not the end of the party’s political future. He said the DMK must carefully analyse constituency-wise lapses and reconnect with the people through disciplined and united organisational work.

Underscoring the importance of unity within the party, Stalin reminded district Secretaries that every cadre mattered equally in strengthening the movement.

"A building stands supported by all its pillars. Everyone is important," he said, adding that those unwilling to function with commitment could step aside.

Announcing a major internal review process, Stalin said the party headquarters would launch a statewide field study to identify the reasons behind the defeat. A committee would tour Tamil Nadu and submit a detailed report within 20 days.

He also announced the launch of a dedicated website from Friday to collect feedback from party cadres and supporters regarding the reasons for the defeat and the changes expected in the party structure.

Hinting at major restructuring within the DMK, Stalin said "drastic changes" would be introduced based on suggestions received from cadres and well-wishers.

"The sun will never set permanently. It will rise again," Stalin said, expressing confidence that the DMK would return stronger in Tamil Nadu politics.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) After a gap of nearly fifteen years, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram again witnessed scenes of political frenzy on Thursday afternoon as Chief Minister-designate V. D. Satheesan arrived to a thunderous welcome from jubilant party workers and leaders.

The last time the state Congress headquarters had seen such euphoric scenes was in 2011, when then Chief Minister-designate Oommen Chandy arrived after leading the UDF to a narrow electoral victory that brought the Congress back to power.

But the political atmospherics this time were vastly different.

If Chandy had walked into office, then with a wafer-thin advantage of just two seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly, Satheesan entered the party headquarters on Thursday backed by a staggering mandate of 102 seats, one of the biggest victories ever recorded by the Congress-led UDF in the state.

The scale of the victory appeared reflected in the mood outside the party office.

Long before Satheesan’s arrival around 2.30 p.m., hundreds of Congress workers, youth activists and enthusiastic supporters had gathered outside the headquarters waving flags, shouting slogans and bursting crackers.

The main road leading to the office was choked with party workers eager to catch a glimpse of the man who is set to become Kerala’s 13th Chief Minister.

As Satheesan’s vehicle finally entered the compound, the crowd surged forward in celebration.

In the pushing and cheering that followed, the Chief Minister designate found it difficult even to step out of the car and was virtually lifted and carried by workers towards the entrance of the building amid deafening chants of “V.D., V.D.”

Inside, the atmosphere was no less emotional. Satheesan walked into the packed office chamber of state unit President Sunny Joseph, who is widely expected to join the new cabinet.

Moments later, the traditional exchange of sweets began, with leaders feeding each other amid applause, camera flashes and celebratory slogans.

For the Congress rank and file, the scenes marked not merely the arrival of a new Chief Minister, but the emotional return of the party to power after years in the political wilderness.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) As celebrations erupted in Congress circles following the announcement of V. D. Satheesan as Kerala’s next Chief Minister, an air of silence and disappointment descended over the residence of veteran party leader Ramesh Chennithala, where hopes had remained very much alive until the very last moment.

For Chennithala, one of the senior-most leaders in the Congress and among the principal contenders for the top post, Thursday’s decision was perhaps the closing of a political chapter he had long hoped would end at Cliff House - the official residence of Kerala Chief Minister.

A loyal organisational soldier for decades, Chennithala had risen through the ranks of the Congress at a remarkably young age, becoming a minister at just 27 in the cabinet led by then Chief Minister K. Karunakaran.

Even at 70, party insiders say, he believed seniority, experience and years of service to the Congress might finally tilt the balance in his favour.

Till Thursday morning, optimism reportedly lingered within his camp.

But around 10 a.m., according to sources close to the leader, a crucial telephone call came from senior party leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi.

Soon after receiving the message, Chennithala quietly withdrew to his bedroom.

For nearly half an hour, the veteran leader remained inside, even as close associates and legislators waited outside anxiously.

When he finally emerged, it had become clear that the Congress high command had settled on Satheesan.

What followed was a political disappearance of sorts.

Three of Chennithala’s closest confidants, all newly elected MLAs, were closeted with him briefly before the veteran leader quietly slipped out through the rear entrance of the residence, avoiding the growing media presence outside his home.

As television crews and reporters waited for a reaction after Satheesan’s formal announcement, aides simply maintained that “Chennithala is not at home.”

Sources later indicated that the senior Congress leader had begun travelling towards his hometown, Haripad, in Alappuzha district and was expected to proceed from there to the famed Guruvayur Temple for the early-morning darshan on Friday.

His absence is likely to be politically noticed because it means Chennithala may skip the customary Congress Legislative Party meeting later in the day, where Satheesan will formally be elected CLP leader, a moment that will officially seal the Congress’ generational transition.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, May 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ten days after the results of the Assembly elections were announced, Congress is set to announce the new Chief Minister of Kerala on Thursday.

The Congress high command on Wednesday night finally signalled that the wait for the southern state’s next Chief Minister was nearing an end.

The breakthrough indication came when Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stepped out of Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge’s residence in Delhi and announced that discussions authorised by the Congress Legislative Party had been completed and the new Chief Minister of Kerala would be declared on Thursday.

The statement, though brief, immediately sent waves across Kerala, where political uncertainty has steadily snowballed ever since the Congress-led UDF registered its emphatic victory by overthrowing the decade-old Left government led by Pinarayi Vijayan.

Behind the scenes, Wednesday witnessed hectic consultations involving Rahul Gandhi, Kharge and veteran Congress strategist A. K. Antony, as the leadership weighed the claims of the three principal contenders -- V. D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, and K. C. Venugopal.

As Delhi deliberated, Kerala simmered.

The most politically charged location in the state on Wednesday was Satheesan’s residence at Aluva, where hundreds of supporters gathered from early morning and remained camped outside through the day, closely following every development from the national capital.

Television crews, slogan-shouting workers and constant speculation transformed the otherwise calm neighbourhood into a high-voltage political nerve centre.

At Chennithala’s residence in the state capital, too, supporters anxiously waited for the final word, convinced that the veteran leader’s experience and organisational acceptability still kept him firmly in contention.

Yet, perhaps the most intriguing silence through the day surrounded Venugopal.

The Congress General Secretary, Organisation, whose sudden emergence as a serious contender dramatically altered Kerala’s political equations and significantly prolonged the decision-making process, was conspicuously absent from the high-profile consultations involving Rahul Gandhi and Kharge.

While the rival camps remained visibly active, Venugopal stayed put at his Delhi residence, fuelling intense speculation over quiet backchannel discussions.

Meanwhile, another late-evening political development triggered fresh curiosity in Kerala. Senior Lok Sabha MP Kodikunnil Suresh was spotted visiting Antony’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram, setting off another round of whispers over possible last-minute interventions.

Now, after ten days of extraordinary suspense, Kerala waits for the Congress high command to finally unveil the man who will become the state’s 13th Chief Minister.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) After ten days of suspense, anxiety, lobbying and endless political whispers stretching from Delhi to Kerala, the Congress high command on Wednesday night finally signalled that the wait for the southern state's next Chief Minister was nearing an end.

The breakthrough indication came when Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stepped out of Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge’s residence in Delhi and announced that discussions authorised by the Congress Legislative Party had been completed and the new Chief Minister of Kerala would be declared on Thursday.

The statement, though brief, immediately sent waves across Kerala, where political uncertainty has steadily snowballed ever since the Congress-led UDF registered its emphatic victory by overthrowing the decade-old Left government led by Pinarayi Vijayan.

Behind the scenes, Wednesday witnessed hectic consultations involving Rahul Gandhi, Kharge and veteran Congress strategist A. K. Antony, as the leadership weighed the claims of the three principal contenders -- V. D. Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, and K. C. Venugopal.

As Delhi deliberated, Kerala simmered.

The most politically charged location in the state on Wednesday was Satheesan’s residence at Aluva, where hundreds of supporters gathered from early morning and remained camped outside through the day, closely following every development from the national capital.

Television crews, slogan-shouting workers and constant speculation transformed the otherwise calm neighbourhood into a high-voltage political nerve centre.

At Chennithala’s residence in the state capital, too, supporters anxiously waited for the final word, convinced that the veteran leader’s experience and organisational acceptability still kept him firmly in contention.

Yet, perhaps the most intriguing silence through the day surrounded Venugopal.

The Congress General Secretary, Organisation, whose sudden emergence as a serious contender dramatically altered Kerala’s political equations and significantly prolonged the decision-making process, was conspicuously absent from the high-profile consultations involving Rahul Gandhi and Kharge.

While the rival camps remained visibly active, Venugopal stayed put at his Delhi residence, fuelling intense speculation over quiet backchannel discussions.

Meanwhile, another late-evening political development triggered fresh curiosity in Kerala. Senior Lok Sabha MP Kodikunnil Suresh was spotted visiting Antony’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram, setting off another round of whispers over possible last-minute interventions.

Now, after ten days of extraordinary suspense, Kerala waits for the Congress high command to finally unveil the man who will become the state’s 13th Chief Minister.

Source: IANS

One more night of waiting to know who will be the next Kerala CM

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Kolkata, May 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) AJUP chief Humayun Kabir on Wednesday praised newly sworn-in West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, expressing confidence that he would govern in the interest of the people.

Speaking about the formation of the BJP-led government in Bengal, Kabir said, “I am very happy, as the Assembly election results came. My only aim was to topple Mamata Banerjee’s corrupt government. The people of Bengal have fulfilled that aim, and I extend my best wishes to the people for taking this decision.”

Targeting the previous government led by Mamata Banerjee, the AJUP leader said the people of the State had "voted decisively for political change".

On Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Kabir said, “Given his experience, he was LoP earlier, and I think he will run a good government and work in the interest of the people.”

Adhikari was sworn in as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal earlier on Saturday, marking a major political shift in the State. The oath of office was administered by Governor R. N. Ravi.

Along with Adhikari, five other MLAs were also sworn in as ministers in the new Council of Ministers -- Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu and Nisith Pramanik.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with senior NDA leaders, Union ministers and Chief Ministers from several States.

Adhikari, 57, contested and won from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur constituencies in the recently concluded Assembly elections. His victory in Bhabanipur drew particular attention as he defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by a margin of 15,115 votes.

The BJP’s victory in West Bengal is being viewed as a landmark political development, ending years of Trinamool Congress rule in the State. Supporters of the new government say the mandate reflects public demand for administrative change and stronger governance.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress party over the delay in naming the next Chief Minister of Kerala, saying the party was trapped in “confusion” despite securing a massive electoral mandate in the state.

Speaking to IANS, Poonawalla said, “Today I have brought binoculars because I am using them to look and see that it has been nine days. Where is the Chief Minister of Kerala? People voted saying they want a Chief Minister to be appointed, but even with binoculars, the Congress party’s Chief Minister cannot be found.”

Continuing his criticism, the BJP spokesperson said, “This is happening because INC is being said to mean ‘I Need Confusion.’ The Congress party should learn from the Bharatiya Janata Party. In West Bengal, a government has been formed, and cabinet decisions have also started. In Assam, the government has been formed. But in places where the Indian National Congress has a full majority, there is complete confusion.”

The remarks came as uncertainty continued over Congress’ choice for Kerala Chief Minister, with the party's high command yet to announce a final decision after prolonged consultations in New Delhi.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi held discussions with the three principal contenders for the post, party's general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, senior leaders Ramesh Chennithala and V.D. Satheesan, along with state president Sunny Joseph.

The meeting, which lasted over three hours earlier on Saturday, was also attended by the party's observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik. Discussions were held both jointly and separately with the leaders.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front registered a decisive victory in the Kerala Assembly elections, ending a decade of rule by the Left Democratic Front. The UDF secured 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, while the LDF was reduced to 35 seats.

The BJP won three Assembly constituencies in the state -- Nemom, Kazhakuttam and Chathannoor.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Wednesday a plea filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA R. Seenivasa Sethupathi challenging the Madras High Court’s interim order restraining him from participating in any floor test proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly amid a dispute over his one-vote victory from the Tiruppattur Assembly constituency.

According to the details available on the official website of the apex court, a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Sethupathi was registered earlier on Tuesday and is listed before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and Vijay Bishnoi for hearing on Wednesday.

The plea was mentioned for urgent hearing before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi earlier on Tuesday, following which the apex court agreed to list the matter for hearing on Wednesday.

Sethupathi has moved the top court challenging the interim order passed by a vacation Bench of the Madras High Court restraining him from "voting or otherwise taking part in any floor test, including confidence motion, no-confidence motion, trust vote or any voting proceeding in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly where the numerical strength of the House is tested, until further orders".

A bench of Justices L. Victoria Gowri and N. Senthilkumar had passed the interim direction while hearing a writ petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader K.R. Periakaruppan, who lost the Tiruppattur Assembly seat in Sivaganga district by a margin of just one vote.

According to the official results declared by the Election Commission of India (ECI), Sethupathi secured 83,365 votes, while Periakaruppan polled 83,364 votes.

Periakaruppan had alleged serious irregularities in the counting process and claimed that a postal ballot meant for Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No.185 in Sivaganga district was mistakenly sent to Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No.50 in Tiruppattur district near Vellore and was rejected there instead of being transmitted back to the correct constituency.

In its order, the Madras High Court observed that the case disclosed a "peculiar constitutional anomaly where a postal ballot admittedly relatable to a live and concluded election in one constituency was allegedly diverted to another constituency bearing a similar nomenclature and came to be rejected there".

The order said the controversy was not a routine election dispute involving recounting or rejection of votes simpliciter, but arose from "an antecedent administrative failure in preserving the integrity of the electoral chain itself".

It further observed that in an election decided by a margin of one vote, "every vote is not merely relevant; it is potentially determinative".

Referring to the alleged discrepancy of 18 EVM votes between two official sources and the disputed postal ballot, the Madras High Court held that the issues could not be brushed aside at the threshold, particularly in view of the razor-thin margin of victory.

It had also directed election authorities to preserve all records connected with the counting process, including postal ballot records, rejected postal ballot covers, EVM vote account records, videographic footage of counting and all related materials.

At the same time, the Madras High Court clarified that its interim order should not be construed as setting aside Sethupathi’s election or conferring any right upon the petitioner to be declared elected.

During the hearing before the High Court, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had opposed the writ petition and contended that once election results are declared, any dispute can only be adjudicated through an election petition under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Wednesday a plea filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA R. Seenivasa Sethupathi challenging the Madras High Court’s interim order restraining him from participating in any floor test proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly amid a dispute over his one-vote victory from the Tiruppattur Assembly constituency.

As per details available on the official website of the apex court, a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Sethupathi was registered on Tuesday and is listed before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and Vijay Bishnoi for hearing on May 13.

The plea was mentioned for urgent hearing before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi earlier on Tuesday, following which the apex court agreed to list the matter for hearing on Wednesday.

Sethupathi has moved the top court challenging the interim order passed by a vacation Bench of the Madras High Court restraining him from "voting or otherwise taking part in any floor test, including confidence motion, no-confidence motion, trust vote or any voting proceeding in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly where the numerical strength of the House is tested, until further orders".

A bench of Justices L. Victoria Gowri and N. Senthilkumar had passed the interim direction while hearing a writ petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader K.R. Periakaruppan, who lost the Tiruppattur Assembly seat in Sivaganga district by a margin of just one vote.

According to the official results declared by the Election Commission of India (ECI), Sethupathi secured 83,365 votes, while Periakaruppan polled 83,364 votes.

Periakaruppan had alleged serious irregularities in the counting process and claimed that a postal ballot meant for Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No.185 in Sivaganga district was mistakenly sent to Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No.50 in Tiruppattur district near Vellore and was rejected there instead of being transmitted back to the correct constituency.

In its order, the Madras High Court observed that the case disclosed a "peculiar constitutional anomaly where a postal ballot admittedly relatable to a live and concluded election in one constituency was allegedly diverted to another constituency bearing a similar nomenclature and came to be rejected there".

The order said the controversy was not a routine election dispute involving recounting or rejection of votes simpliciter, but arose from "an antecedent administrative failure in preserving the integrity of the electoral chain itself".

It further observed that in an election decided by a margin of one vote, "every vote is not merely relevant; it is potentially determinative".

Referring to the alleged discrepancy of 18 EVM votes between two official sources and the disputed postal ballot, the Madras High Court held that the issues could not be brushed aside at the threshold, particularly in view of the razor-thin margin of victory.

It had also directed election authorities to preserve all records connected with the counting process, including postal ballot records, rejected postal ballot covers, EVM vote account records, videographic footage of counting and all related materials.

At the same time, the Madras High Court clarified that its interim order should not be construed as setting aside Sethupathi’s election or conferring any right upon the petitioner to be declared elected.

During the hearing before the High Court, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had opposed the writ petition and contended that once election results are declared, any dispute can only be adjudicated through an election petition under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Senior counsel G. Rajagopalan, appearing for the ECI, had argued that the Returning Officer’s powers cease after declaration of results and that "the moment results are declared, our hands are tied". However, the High Court held that the present case stood on an "exceptional and unprecedented factual footing" involving preservation of electoral integrity and constitutional justice.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Will supporting Trinamool Congress in the current Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled West Bengal now invite violence, persecution, and death, party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee asked on Tuesday.

In a social media statement, Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of the party chief and former Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, had claimed that although death counts in post-poll violence in West Bengal had been rising, every cry for justice had been falling on deaf ears.

According to him, two dedicated Trinamool workers, namely Somnath Bhattacharya from Saptagram in North 24 Parganas district and Tapan Sikdar from Chakdah in Nadia district, were brutally assaulted by goons reportedly backed by the ruling BJP in the post-poll scenario, following which both died.

"The grieving families ask a simple but chilling question - does supporting Trinamool Congress in Bengal under @BJP4India’s watch now invite violence, persecution, and death?" Banerjee asked in his social media post.

He also claimed that even in the current situation, the police are inactive, courts have remained silent spectators, and BJP leaders are celebrating their victory in West Bengal.

Banerjee had also claimed that in the midst of such a burning situation in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was planning his next foreign trip and Union Home Minister Amit Shah was missing in action.

"And amidst this shameful silence, ordinary people continue to suffer the consequences of BJP’s politics of VIOLENCE, VENGEANCE & UTTER LAWLESSNESS," his social media post read.

Since the results of the West Bengal Assembly elections were announced on May 4 and saw the rout of the Trinamool, Banerjee had not been much in political activities except issuing some social media statements.

However, the frequency of his social media posts is much less now compared to what it was before.

On Monday, the Suvendu Adhikari government had announced the withdrawal of his ‘Z-plus’ security and instead, allotted him the security provided to any Member of Parliament.

Banerjee will no longer be entitled to the additional security personnel and special pilot car facility, which he used to enjoy during the previous Trinamool regime.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) In the wake of the DMK’s defeat in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, party General Secretary Duraimurugan on Tuesday announced that a crucial meeting of District Secretaries would be held on May 14 at the party headquarters here under the chairmanship of DMK President M.K. Stalin.

Source: IANS

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Malapurram (Kerala), May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nine days after the United Democratic Front’s emphatic victory in Kerala, the Congress's continuing failure to name a Chief Minister has triggered serious concern within its own alliance, with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second-biggest constituent of the Congress-led UDF, openly expressing frustration over the uncertainty.

In a significant political development, the IUML has convened an emergency leadership meeting at Panakkad on Wednesday morning to decide its course of action amid the prolonged deadlock over the Chief Minister’s post.

The meeting comes as pressure mounts on the Congress high command to end the suspense surrounding the leadership issue.

The League leadership is understood to be deeply unhappy with what it sees as the Congress high command’s slow approach, despite the UDF securing a commanding strength of 102 seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly.

Senior League leaders believe the delay is beginning to create negative public sentiment and administrative uncertainty at a crucial time.

The IUML has firmly conveyed its stand that the next Chief Minister should be someone directly elected by the people.

While the party is unlikely to oppose a consensus candidate such as Ramesh Chennithala, it is learnt that the League has reservations over reported moves by the Congress high command to elevate K.C. Venugopal to the top post.

The central focus of tomorrow’s Panakkad meeting will be what political position the League should adopt if the Congress proceeds with a decision that runs contrary to its expectations. League leaders are also upset that coalition partners were not adequately consulted during the Chief Ministerial discussions.

Adding to the pressure on Congress, several IUML MLAs and senior leaders have now publicly voiced concern over the delay, warning that the continued uncertainty could have political repercussions.

"Is this what people voted for?" is a question increasingly being heard from voters, League leaders say, reflecting the growing impatience among the public and party workers alike.

The League leadership has also pointed to the administrative vacuum created by the delay in government formation.

Routine governance matters are pending, and even the announcement of SSLC examination results had to proceed without a minister in charge.

Meanwhile, intense consultations continue in Delhi, with Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge expected to hold crucial discussions with Rahul Gandhi on the Kerala leadership issue.

Congress sources indicate that a final decision on the Chief Minister could emerge within the next 24 hours, even as alliance tensions continue to simmer beneath the surface.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) After eight days of suspense, endless speculation and multiple rounds of closed-door negotiations, the Congress high command finally appears to be inching towards a decision on Kerala’s next Chief Minister, with senior leader K. Muraleedharan indicating that the long wait could end very soon.

A key meeting is going on in the residence of senior party leader Sonia Gandhi, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also being present.

The forenoon session has ended, and in the late afternoon, Rahul Gandhi will meet former state party chief V.M. Sudheeran.

Emerging from discussions with the party leadership in Delhi, Muraleedharan, also a former state unit President, confidently told reporters that the announcement on the Chief Minister would come within a day, offering the clearest signal yet that the Congress leadership is preparing to break the deadlock that has overshadowed the UDF’s spectacular electoral victory.

The prolonged delay in naming the Chief Minister, despite the Congress-led UDF sweeping to power with 102 seats in the 140-member Assembly, has increasingly become a source of embarrassment for the party.

Even state Congress chief Sunny Joseph publicly admitted that the uncertainty had cast a shadow over the alliance’s massive triumph.

At the heart of the intense power struggle are three senior leaders, K. C. Venugopal, V. D. Satheesan, and Ramesh Chennithala.

However, as the final round of consultations progresses, Venugopal continues to enjoy a decisive edge, backed reportedly by more than 50 Congress legislators.

The high command’s dilemma, however, goes beyond mere numbers.

While Venugopal is believed to enjoy the confidence of Rahul Gandhi and the central leadership, Satheesan has emerged as the sentimental favourite among party workers and a section of the public for his aggressive role as Leader of the Opposition against the Pinarayi Vijayan government.

Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi have all been actively involved in the consultations, while alliance partners too have begun expressing unease over the delay.

Kharge is returning to Delhi later in the day, and according to top sources, Rahul Gandhi will once again speak to the leaders of the allies and also veteran party leader and former Union Minister A.K. Antony before announcing the new chief minister.

Source: IANS

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Guwahati, May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) The leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Tuesday extended heartfelt congratulations to the newly sworn-in BJP-led government in Assam and expressed confidence that the state will now continue to achieve new heights of development.

Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday took oath as the Chief Minister of Assam for a second-consecutive term, as the BJP-led NDA formed the government in the state for the third straight time.

Apart from Sarma, four ministers were also sworn in to the new Council of Ministers. Former Union Minister Rameswar Teli, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) President Atul Bora, United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) leader Charan Boro and senior BJP leader Ajanta Neog took oath as Ministers.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, besides leaders and Chief Ministers from 22 NDA-ruled states.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, speaking to the reporters after the swearing-in ceremony, said, "My best wishes. Assam will continue to achieve new heights of development. Many congratulations, and gratitude to the people."

Union Minister Chirag Paswan extended heartfelt congratulations to Chief Minister Sarma.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "Himanta has taken the oath of office with a leadership style aligned with the vision of the Prime Minister, aimed at accelerating development in Assam. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to him."

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis told the reporters that it is a "matter of great joy" that the work carried out in Assam under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Sarma "has received the blessings and support of the people."

Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, speaking to reporters, said, "Prime Minister is giving confidence to the nation, development is very, very important. Second, the Chief Minister has performed very well; people re-elected the government with a good mandate, which is a historical message for all of us."

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami also extended best wishes to the new government and to Chief Minister Sarma.

"I offer my best wishes that under his leadership, Assam will reach new heights. In every respect, under the guidance of the Prime Minister, Assam has already set an excellent example of development, and it will continue to perform even better in the future," Dhami said.

Extending best wishes, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, "Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken the oath. Under the guidance of PM Modi, Assam is also moving forward."

Goa CM Pramod Sawant, speaking to the reporters, extended best wishes to the newly elected BJP-led government.

"Many congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well. I also thank the people of Assam for ensuring that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government comes to power here for the third time. I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone," he said.

RLM Rajya Sabha MP, Upendra Kushwaha, speaking to IANS, said, "The government that has come to power with even greater strength will work more effectively for development. The previous government has already done very good work, and the people have once again given it strength and mandate. I extend my best wishes to the Chief Minister and all members of the Council of Ministers."

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also congratulated the new government and said, "Today, the BJP government has been formed in Assam for the third time. Heartfelt congratulations."

Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari extended "heartfelt wishes" to CM Sarma, saying, "Everyone has seen the development that has taken place in Assam, and I hope that such development continues in the future as well."

NCP MP Praful Patel also attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Speaking to IANS, Patel said, "It is a moment of great happiness, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to him. In the next five years, he will definitely work to make Assam into a developed state. These are my best wishes for him."

The BJP leader returned to power after the NDA secured a decisive mandate in the recently concluded Assembly elections.

This marks the second consecutive term for Sarma as the Chief Minister. He first assumed the office in 2021. Under his leadership, the BJP has now scripted history by forming the government in Assam for the third consecutive time, further consolidating the party's political dominance in the northeastern state.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid the AIADMK rift row, DMK spokesperson Salem Dharanidharan on Tuesday said that this is the end of the opposition party, as for the first time, even its MLAs are splitting in different directions.

Speaking to IANS, Dharanidharan said: "Earlier, (late CM Jayalalithaa's key aide) Sasikala left, (her nephew) T.T.V. (Dhinakaran) left, then OPS (former Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam) left, and (former minister K.A.) Sengottaiyan also left. The party had already weakened drastically and was operating through different directions and factions. Now, for the first time, even the MLAs of the AIADMK are splitting in different directions, which implies that this is the real end of the AIADMK."

"But the real and interesting question is this: (TVK supremo and Chief Minister) Vijay has supposedly said that he is an anti-establishment force and that he is different from both the DMK and the AIADMK. He also said that the AIADMK is corrupt. Now, S.P. Velumani, C. Ve. Shanmugam and others are joining TVK. Which means, is Vijay also becoming a washing machine?" he asked.

"CAG audit reports have categorically said that Velumani was involved in scams worth thousands of crores. Now, he is allying with them just for electoral necessity. So, how do you think corruption will not happen if the most corrupt people are joining him?" Dharanidharan told IANS.

The internal crisis within the AIADMK intensified on Tuesday after senior party leader and former Minister Shanmugam openly accused party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) of attempting to explore a tie-up with the DMK and announced support for Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led TVK government.

Addressing the media along with senior AIADMK leaders, including former Minister Velumani, Shanmugam said the party was passing through one of the most difficult phases in its history after suffering consecutive electoral defeats.

"The AIADMK is facing continuous setbacks, and there is an urgent need to revive the party and restore the rule envisioned by M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa," he said.

Referring to the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in which the AIADMK was pushed to third place with only 47 seats, Shanmugam said the NDA led by the AIADMK has failed to win the confidence of the people, and the verdict has been accepted with humility.

He alleged that during internal consultations held after the election defeat, EPS proposed exploring the possibility of forming a government with the support of the DMK. "AIADMK was founded to oppose the DMK. We were shocked when such a suggestion was made. We clearly told him that any move towards the DMK would destroy the identity of the AIADMK," Shanmugam said.

According to him, a majority of AIADMK MLAs later passed a resolution declaring that the pre-poll alliance no longer existed and decided to extend support to the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.

Shanmugam announced that Velumani had been elected as the leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party, while former Minister C. Vijayabaskar was chosen as the party whip in the Assembly.

He also said senior leaders had urged EPS to convene the AIADMK General Council immediately to analyse the reasons behind the repeated electoral defeats and initiate corrective measures.

The developments come amid widening divisions within the party, with one faction led by EPS and another led by Velumani and Shanmugam holding parallel consultations over the past few days.

Source: IANS

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Guwahati, May 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Himanta Biswa Sarma for taking oath as the Chief Minister of Assam, and praised him as a "wonderful administrator" who has carried out "pioneering work" for the state.

Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday took oath as the Chief Minister of Assam for a second consecutive term, as the BJP-led NDA formed the government in the state for the third straight time.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "A great day for Assam! For the third consecutive time, the NDA Government assumes office. Congratulations to Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma Ji on taking oath. He has made a mark as a wonderful administrator and has done pioneering work for the state. My best wishes to him for the tenure ahead."

Apart from Sarma, four ministers were also sworn in to the new Council of Ministers. Former Union Minister Rameswar Teli, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) President Atul Bora, United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) leader Charan Boro and senior BJP leader Ajanta Neog took oath as Ministers.

Extending best wishes to them, the Prime Minister, in a separate X post, said, "Congratulations to Shri Rameswar Teli Ji, Shri Atul Bora Ji, Shri Charan Boro Ji and Smt. Ajanta Neog Ji on taking oath as Ministers in the Assam Government. My best wishes to them as they work towards strengthening the growth trajectory of Assam."

The ceremony was attended by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, besides BJP national leaders and Chief Ministers from 22 NDA-ruled states.

Several prominent religious leaders, including 15 Satradhikars from Assam's Vaishnavite monasteries, also attended the event.

A number of leading industrialists and distinguished personalities from different sectors were present at the ceremony.

Sarma, dressed in traditional Assamese attire, took the oath amid loud cheers from party workers and supporters gathered at the venue.

The BJP leader returned to power after the NDA secured a decisive mandate in the recently concluded Assembly elections.

This marks the second consecutive term for Sarma as the Chief Minister. He first assumed the office in 2021. Under his leadership, the BJP has now scripted history by forming the government in Assam for the third consecutive time, further consolidating the party's political dominance in the northeastern state.

Source: IANS

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Guwahati, May 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) chief Atul Bora, who will take an oath as a Minister in the new Assam government on Monday, expressed gratitude to the people of the state for delivering a "historic mandate" to the NDA for the third consecutive time.

He also thanked Himanta Biswa Sarma for including him in the Cabinet.

The swearing-in ceremony of Himanta Biswa Sarma as the Chief Minister of Assam for a second consecutive term is being held in Khanapara, Guwahati. This is the second time Sarma will take oath as the Chief Minister of Assam, while it is the third consecutive time that a BJP-led government is being formed in the state.

In addition to Sarma, four ministers will also take the oath of office -- two from the BJP and one each from their allies, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodoland People's Front (BPF).

These include Rameswar Teli, Atul Bora from AGP, Charan Boro from BPF, and Ajanta Neog. Ranjeet Kumar Dass, a former minister and prominent BJP figure, will represent the NDA as the candidate for the role of Speaker of the state Assembly.

Speaking to the reporters, Atul Bora said, "Today is a historic day as once again the NDA government is going to take oath for the third time. Our respected Prime Minister, Home Minister, and the national president of the BJP will be present. Industrialists and Ambassadors have also arrived, and people from various states are coming."

"In the last five years, the way our Chief Minister has worked for the development of the state has been remarkable. For the development and progress of the state, the people of Assam have given a historic mandate to the NDA. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to the people of Assam," he added.

"I thank the CM for the responsibility he has given me," Bora added.

Several senior leaders, including Union Ministers and Chief Ministers from National Democratic Alliance-ruled states, have started arriving in Assam to attend the ceremony.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, as well as BJP National President Nitin Nabin, will also be present during the oath-taking event, which Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have described as a major political occasion for the party in the Northeast.

Notably, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor have also arrived in Guwahati for the oath ceremony.

Additionally, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, Meghalaya Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will also attend the swearing-in of the newly-elected government in Assam.

The NDA, comprising the BJP, AGP and BPF, secured a landmark victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections in the state, winning 102 seats in the 126-member House.

The BJP alone won 82 Assembly seats, while AGP and BPF won 10 seats each.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Stung by the Left Democratic Front's defeat in Kerala after a decade in power, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Monday signalled a comprehensive introspection exercise, with the party leadership admitting that the electoral setback was being viewed with utmost seriousness.

The party Politburo held detailed discussions as it reviewed the Assembly election results in Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

After the two-day meeting, CPI-M General Secretary M. A. Baby said the party had already completed a preliminary assessment of the results and would now launch a deeper examination to identify the reasons behind the defeat in Kerala.

"The setback in Kerala is extremely serious, and the party will examine the reasons in detail despite the government having carried out strong developmental and welfare activities," he said, underlining the leadership’s concern over the scale of the reversal.

The CPI-M chief said the opinions of party members, supporters and well-wishers would be taken into account during the review process, adding that the party would implement necessary corrective measures and organisational reforms to strengthen itself politically.

At the same time, the CPI-M attempted to place part of the blame on external factors.

Baby alleged that the Union government had systematically tried to financially squeeze the Kerala government during the LDF’s tenure and argued that the BJP’s emergence with three seats in the state could not be viewed lightly.

The party also launched a sharp attack on the BJP over developments in West Bengal.

Accusing the party of misusing central agencies and the Election Commission for electoral gains, Baby claimed irregularities had taken place in the SIR process in Bengal.

In a pointed political swipe, he remarked that SIR should instead be described as "Special Intensive Removal".

Meanwhile, Baby clarified that the Politburo had not discussed the question of the Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, stating that the decision would be taken by the state unit itself.

The Politburo’s unusually candid tone reflected the growing realisation within the CPI-M that Kerala’s verdict has triggered one of the party’s most significant political setbacks in recent years, and with it, this is the first time in nearly six decades that there is not a single CPI-M state government in the country.

Social media is flush with activity, with the view that the primary reason for the Kerala debacle is the style and functioning of Pinarayi Vijayan, who was the unquestionable Chief Minister and also had an iron grip over the party, but according to sources, the Politburo meeting did not delve into the Vijayan aspect, and all eyes are on the grassroots meeting of the party.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) A quick decision on support on the part of the Congress leadership has helped the formation of the Tamil Nadu government, though upsetting a former ally, but in Kerala, uncertainty over naming a Chief Minister has again exposed the deep structural weaknesses within the party.

In Tamil Nadu, the Congress pulled out of its alliance with the M.K. Stalin-led DMK to support the TVK that put former cine star Vijay in the Chief Minister’s chair with the help of some other parties.

On the other hand, the Kerala episode reflects the Congress high command’s failure at managing ambition, succession, and public perception, though it seeks to position itself as the national challenger to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Meanwhile, a smouldering power struggle continues for the top job in Karnataka in a stark reminder of a similar tug-of-war said to have led to an electoral setback in Rajasthan some time back.

In Kerala, the Congress‑led United Democratic Front (UDF) won a strong anti‑incumbency mandate, but even a week later, the party has still not named a Chief Minister. Three names dominate the field: V. D. Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition and the most visible face of the campaign; Ramesh Chennithala, a veteran with pan‑Kerala clout; and K. C. Venugopal, considered a close Rahul Gandhi aide.

The latter’s national stature and organisational backing apparently make him a preferred option for the Congress high command. The delay is not just procedural; it reflects a party caught between "intra‑party support" within the Congress Legislature Party and "public sentiment" that associates the mandate with Satheesan.

Internal dissent has surfaced in the form of protest marches and social‑media campaigns, with the Satheesan camp challenging the idea of a "remote‑control" choice from Delhi.

The Congress leadership fears that any perception of imposing a Chief Minister from outside the state’s immediate political calculus could erode the very goodwill the UDF has just won.

Additionally, reports also suggest an earlier Punjab trauma, where projecting Charanjit Singh Channi as Chief Minister ahead of the 2022 polls backfired and exposed factionalism. Thus, the central leadership now seems reluctant to openly anoint a face even after the vote.

In Kerala, this caution has caused decision paralysis, raising questions about whether the party can actually govern decisively once in power. The uncertainty rises with the Congress still grappling with a leadership standoff in Karnataka that has barely cooled since the 2023 Assembly win. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar remain locked in a bitter contest over succession, with each faction urging the central leadership to either anoint one of them or at least set a clear timeline for a transfer of power.

The purported political formula – keeping both ambitions within the same cabinet – has stopped looking like "balance" and increasingly resembles a ticking institutional time‑bomb. What Kerala and Karnataka have in common is that despite a favourable mandate, the party’s internal arithmetic is cluttered by multiple claimants and a reluctance to make unambiguous, early calls.

Adding to the Congress’s headache is the recent political reality in Rajasthan, where the party lost power to the BJP despite a sizeable vote share. The 2023 assembly results got the BJP with 115 seats and the Congress 70, underlining the party’s failure to convert strong voter sentiment into a working majority. For a national leadership trying to project Congress as the main opposition bloc, the Rajasthan outcome is a sobering reminder of how regional fissures, anti‑incumbency, and the BJP’s local social‑engineering can neutralise even robust voter support. The loss also complicates the party’s narrative of being a "stable alternative" at the state level, especially when intra‑party squabbles – such as those in Karnataka and now Kerala – underscore internal instability. Rajasthan’s recent civic‑body elections, where the Congress did relatively well in local bodies, offer some solace, but they do little to offset the psychological impact of losing the Assembly.

The party’s central leaders, mainly party President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, appear to be trying to balance regional egos, generational shifts, and national image, while still being wary of the "remote control" tag that has plagued the party for decades. Their manoeuvres – with long-drawn meetings and parleys – are being seen more as a delay tactics rather than a resolution.

Source: IANS

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