Tua Tagovailoa performs Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud, brings Thanksgiving cheer to children at Florida hospital with wife Annah

Tua Tagovailoa performs Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud, brings Thanksgiving cheer to children at Florida hospital with wife Annah

Tua Tagovailoa and wife Annah spread aloha spirit to young patients.Image via: Getty Tua Tagovailoa and his wife Annah Gore took time this week to bring a little extra cheer to children in need. The couple visited Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Fort Lauderdale on behalf of the Tua Foundation, spending time with young patients…

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Qatar Education Ministry unveil new 2025-2026 exam calendar and flexible working hours | World News

Qatar Education Ministry unveil new 2025-2026 exam calendar and flexible working hours | World News

Kuwait updates education norms to support exam success / AI generated image Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education has issued a circular laying out how public schools should operate during end-of-semester exam periods for the 2025–2026 school year. The guidance aims to reduce crowding, protect exam integrity and give teachers and administrators modest flexibility…

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Is Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi’s ‘Mere Raho’ not releasing on 12th December?

Is Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi’s ‘Mere Raho’ not releasing on 12th December?

Aamir Khan-backed ‘Mere Raho’, starring Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi, faces potential release date uncertainty for December 2025. Despite initial buzz and a viral Japan shoot, the absence of promotional material raises concerns. This film is crucial for Junaid Khan’s career, with makers reportedly prioritizing a polished final product over a rushed release. Aamir Khan…

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India’s Nuke policy: PM Modi announces plans to open nuclear sector to private players; pushing next-gen reactors, innovation

India’s Nuke policy: PM Modi announces plans to open nuclear sector to private players; pushing next-gen reactors, innovation

NEW DELHI: India is gearing up for a big shift in its nuclear policy as the Centre is now planning to allow private companies into the nuclear energy sector, a space that has traditionally been tightly controlled by the government.“We’ll open up nuclear sector to private sector soon… This will strengthen opportunities in small modular…

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‘Thamma’ OTT release: When and where to watch Rashmika Mandanna, Ayushmann Khurrana, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s horror comedy

‘Thamma’ OTT release: When and where to watch Rashmika Mandanna, Ayushmann Khurrana, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s horror comedy

Rashmika Mandanna and Ayushmann Khurrana’s ‘Thamma’ is finally coming to your screens! The fantasy-horror film, which hit theatres on October 21, 2025 during Diwali, gave audiences a thrilling mix of romance, mythology, and supernatural drama. If you missed the vampire-replete spectacle in cinemas, now is your chance to watch it from the comfort of your…

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ChatGPT ‘hacked’: Names, email addresses exposed; company warns: As a reminder, don’t do …

ChatGPT ‘hacked’: Names, email addresses exposed; company warns: As a reminder, don’t do …

OpenAI has warned its users that limited analytics data associated with some of its API product users may have been exposed following a security incident at its third-party data analytics provider, Mixpanel. The incident, which it said did not involve a breach of OpenAI’s systems or those of ChatGPT users, occurred within Mixpanel’s environment, the…

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The Supreme Court acknowledged it lacks a quick fix for Delhi-NCR’s severe air pollution, emphasizing the need to identify specific contributing factors.  Justices will regularly review the issue, seeking solutions from domain experts and scientists to address the multifaceted problem. Delhi air pollution NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it “does not have a magic wand” to instantly fix Delhi-NCR’s worsening air pollution, and stressed the need to pinpoint the specific sources driving the capital’s recurring toxic smog.Also Read | GRAP-III lifted in Delhi-NCR as AQI improves to ‘very poor’ category; city records coldest November night in 3 yearsA bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also agreed to review the issue on a regular basis and listed the matter for December 1.”We will take up the matter. We don’t have a magic wand which courts can use to find quick solutions on this. The problems we have identified, their solutions are what we need. We will have to identify all the reasons,” CJI Kant observed, according to news agency ANI.”There is no one reason for the problem. People may be thinking there may be only one reason but there are various factors. Only domain experts and scientists can find out solutions to deal with each reason. We hope and expect that the government may have come up with something. We’ll take up the matter on a regular basis,” he added.The remarks came a day after the CJI told the court he felt “unwell” following an hour-long morning walk in Delhi’s toxic air.Earlier, previous CJI BR Gavai had directed the governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to implement preventive measures and conduct regular reviews.According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an AQI of 349 at 7 am on Thursday, keeping the capital in the “very poor” category for nearly two weeks.As per the CPCB, an AQI between 301 and 400 falls under the “very poor” category, while levels above 400 are classified as “severe.”About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThe Indrajaal Ranger: India Unveils AI-Enabled Anti-Drone Patrol Vehicle In HyderabadBrahMos Diplomacy Peaks As Rajnath Singh Deepens India-Indonesia Defence Ties In Indo-Pacific ShiftOperation Sindoor Showed India’s Strength, Discipline And Deterrence To The World: President Murmu’Years Of Reforms & Readiness Translated Into Decisive Outcomes In Op Sindoor’: Army Chief DwivediPM Modi Predicts India’s Global Dominance In Satellite Launches As Skyroot Unveils Vikram-I RocketBJP Slams Pakistan Over Ram Temple Remarks, Says Lecturing India Mirrors Osama-Like HypocrisyDelhi: Industrialist’s Daughter-In-Law Found Dead In Vasant Vihar, Diary Mentions ‘Love And Trust’Dhaka Slum Inferno Leaves Thousands Homeless As 1,500 Shanties Collapse Into Ash And Twisted RubbleNepal: Dhangadhi Tense As KP Oli-Led CPN-UML Cadres Clash With Gen-Z Youths, 2nd Incident In A WeekMEA Clears Air On Putin’s India Visit Dates As Both Nations Prepare For High-Stake Strategic Summit123PhotostoriesAhmedabad Gears Up for CWG 2030: Inside Venues, Timelines, Infra Boom & Legacy Plans8 most beautiful moons of solar systemPune Metro Phase 2 Approved: 31.6km Expansion to Ease Traffic & Boost ConnectivityYour soul temple: 6 powerful temples to visit in India based on personality typesFriday Remedies: How to Receive Goddess Lakshmi’s Divine ProsperityHyderabad Gets Global Boost as Safran Launches Twin MRO Centres for Civil & Military JetsRama Raju Mantena: Rare photos of the man everyone is searching forWhy airplane windows have a tiny holeFrom Saira Banu, Shah Rukh Khan to Amitabh Bachchan: How B-town paid emotional tribute to the evergreen DharmendraWhat happens to the body when you stop eating carbohydrates123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayNew Labour CodeWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingDeion SandersAyesha CurryTaylor SwiftMarqury CollinsStefon DiggsSaudi Prince Mohammed Bin SalmanCharlie McAvoyPaige SpiranacSteveWillDoIt ControversyCandace Owens

The Supreme Court acknowledged it lacks a quick fix for Delhi-NCR’s severe air pollution, emphasizing the need to identify specific contributing factors. Justices will regularly review the issue, seeking solutions from domain experts and scientists to address the multifaceted problem. Delhi air pollution NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it “does not have a magic wand” to instantly fix Delhi-NCR’s worsening air pollution, and stressed the need to pinpoint the specific sources driving the capital’s recurring toxic smog.Also Read | GRAP-III lifted in Delhi-NCR as AQI improves to ‘very poor’ category; city records coldest November night in 3 yearsA bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also agreed to review the issue on a regular basis and listed the matter for December 1.”We will take up the matter. We don’t have a magic wand which courts can use to find quick solutions on this. The problems we have identified, their solutions are what we need. We will have to identify all the reasons,” CJI Kant observed, according to news agency ANI.”There is no one reason for the problem. People may be thinking there may be only one reason but there are various factors. Only domain experts and scientists can find out solutions to deal with each reason. We hope and expect that the government may have come up with something. We’ll take up the matter on a regular basis,” he added.The remarks came a day after the CJI told the court he felt “unwell” following an hour-long morning walk in Delhi’s toxic air.Earlier, previous CJI BR Gavai had directed the governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to implement preventive measures and conduct regular reviews.According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an AQI of 349 at 7 am on Thursday, keeping the capital in the “very poor” category for nearly two weeks.As per the CPCB, an AQI between 301 and 400 falls under the “very poor” category, while levels above 400 are classified as “severe.”About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThe Indrajaal Ranger: India Unveils AI-Enabled Anti-Drone Patrol Vehicle In HyderabadBrahMos Diplomacy Peaks As Rajnath Singh Deepens India-Indonesia Defence Ties In Indo-Pacific ShiftOperation Sindoor Showed India’s Strength, Discipline And Deterrence To The World: President Murmu’Years Of Reforms & Readiness Translated Into Decisive Outcomes In Op Sindoor’: Army Chief DwivediPM Modi Predicts India’s Global Dominance In Satellite Launches As Skyroot Unveils Vikram-I RocketBJP Slams Pakistan Over Ram Temple Remarks, Says Lecturing India Mirrors Osama-Like HypocrisyDelhi: Industrialist’s Daughter-In-Law Found Dead In Vasant Vihar, Diary Mentions ‘Love And Trust’Dhaka Slum Inferno Leaves Thousands Homeless As 1,500 Shanties Collapse Into Ash And Twisted RubbleNepal: Dhangadhi Tense As KP Oli-Led CPN-UML Cadres Clash With Gen-Z Youths, 2nd Incident In A WeekMEA Clears Air On Putin’s India Visit Dates As Both Nations Prepare For High-Stake Strategic Summit123PhotostoriesAhmedabad Gears Up for CWG 2030: Inside Venues, Timelines, Infra Boom & Legacy Plans8 most beautiful moons of solar systemPune Metro Phase 2 Approved: 31.6km Expansion to Ease Traffic & Boost ConnectivityYour soul temple: 6 powerful temples to visit in India based on personality typesFriday Remedies: How to Receive Goddess Lakshmi’s Divine ProsperityHyderabad Gets Global Boost as Safran Launches Twin MRO Centres for Civil & Military JetsRama Raju Mantena: Rare photos of the man everyone is searching forWhy airplane windows have a tiny holeFrom Saira Banu, Shah Rukh Khan to Amitabh Bachchan: How B-town paid emotional tribute to the evergreen DharmendraWhat happens to the body when you stop eating carbohydrates123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayNew Labour CodeWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingDeion SandersAyesha CurryTaylor SwiftMarqury CollinsStefon DiggsSaudi Prince Mohammed Bin SalmanCharlie McAvoyPaige SpiranacSteveWillDoIt ControversyCandace Owens

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it “does not have a magic wand” to instantly fix Delhi-NCR’s worsening air pollution, and stressed the need to pinpoint the specific sources driving the capital’s recurring toxic smog.Also Read | GRAP-III lifted in Delhi-NCR as AQI improves to ‘very poor’ category; city records coldest November night…

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Overseas holdings under scrutiny: IT dept flags non-disclosure; taxpayers get last chance to revise ITRs- get details

Overseas holdings under scrutiny: IT dept flags non-disclosure; taxpayers get last chance to revise ITRs- get details

The Income Tax department will begin sending SMS and email alerts from November 28 to about 25,000 individuals flagged as “high-risk” for not disclosing foreign assets in their income tax returns (ITRs) for Assessment Year 2025–26, PTI reported citing sources. The cases were shortlisted on the basis of data received from foreign jurisdictions under the…

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‘Apne’ director Anil Sharma recalls how 71-year-old Dharmendra outpaced a running train on a bicycle as 15,000 fans cheered

‘Apne’ director Anil Sharma recalls how 71-year-old Dharmendra outpaced a running train on a bicycle as 15,000 fans cheered

Dharmendra’s passing saddens Bollywood, but his spirit endures. Director Anil Sharma recalls the 71-year-old’s joy on ‘Apne’ set, tearfully moved by its story. In a thrilling scene, he cycled past a train amid 10,000 cheering fans. The film united him with sons Sunny and Bobby, blending action with raw emotion—no glycerine needed.​ Dharmendra’s passing has…

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Watch: Man caught dumping plastic, garbage into sea; points at environmentalist when asked ‘who will clean this?’

Watch: Man caught dumping plastic, garbage into sea; points at environmentalist when asked ‘who will clean this?’

Screengrab from viral video (Image/Instagram@lisbon_ferrao) NEW DELHI: A video showing an environmentalist confronting a man dumping plastic waste into the ocean has gone viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage.The clip, posted by environmentalist Lisbon Ferrao on Monday, shows the man throwing plastic bags into the sea. When Ferrao asked him who would clean the…

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Prime Minister Modi’s declaration of Bengal as the BJP’s next battlefield follows a thumping victory in Bihar. Meanwhile, the Congress faces an existential crisis in Bengal, squeezed between Mamata Banerjee’s TMC and the rising BJP, with its own relevance rapidly diminishing. 2026 Bengal battle: A fight for space, or a fight for existence? “The river Ganga flows to Bengal via Bihar. And the victory in Bihar, like the river, has paved the way for our victory in Bengal,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared after the NDA’s thumping victory in recently-concluded Bihar elections. The message left little ambiguity: Bengal is BJP’s next battlefied. Once a marginal player in the state, the BJP now views Bengal as a winnable frontier. Congress, meanwhile, delivered one of its weakest performances in Bihar, managing to win just six seats and inviting fresh questions about its relevance in key electoral battlegrounds.And that is where Bengal 2026 becomes a far more complicated puzzle for the party. With Mamata Banerjee dominating the state and the BJP rapidly expanding its footprint, the Congress now faces its most uncomfortable question yet: in 2026, who is its real opponent — Mamata, its INDIA bloc partner who leaves little room for it in Bengal, or the BJP, whose rise threatens to erase it altogether? Squeezed: Congress’s shrinking space between TMC and BJPThe extent of Congress’s continued decrease in relevance in Bengal becomes clear when you track its trajectory across the last three assembly elections. In 2011, when Mamata Banerjee first swept the Left out of power, Congress was still a meaningful partner in the coalition, winning 42 seats and retaining influence across Murshidabad, Malda and pockets of North Bengal.Five years later, in 2016, even though it fought in alliance with the Left, Congress’ seat count slightly increased to 44, but its vote share and organisational strength were already waning.By 2021, the floor gave way almost entirely. Congress contested 92 seats and managed to win just 2, finishing third or fourth in nearly every constituency and slipping to a 3% vote share—its weakest performance in Bengal’s electoral history. The party was wiped out in former strongholds like Malda Town and Sujapur, where the TMC and BJP split the anti-incumbency space between themselves.It is this collapse that now frames the 2026 dilemma. BJP’s riseThe BJP’s growth in Bengal has been one of the most dramatic political expansions of the last decade. In 2016, the party won only 3 seats.In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party stunned many by bagging 18 out of 42 seats, a performance that immediately repositioned Bengal as the BJP’s most promising frontier outside the Hindi heartland.But by the time the 2021 assembly election arrived, the BJP had transformed itself into the state’s principal opposition, capturing 77 seats and securing nearly 38% of the vote share.This is what makes 2026 a high-stakes equation for the Congress. If the BJP continues its current trajectory, Congress risks being pushed out of the contest entirely.Mamata’s solo instinctAdding to the Congress’s dilemma is Mamata Banerjee’s consistent refusal to cede space or treat the party as an equal stakeholder in Bengal. Her political instinct has always been solo-first, and she has signalled that repeatedly, both through her words and her actions.In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Mamata declared that the TMC would fight all 42 seats in Bengal alone, refusing to enter a seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress and stating that the INDIA bloc was “only for Delhi, not Bengal.”.Mamata Banerjee has also very openly expressed dissatisfaction with the functioning of the INDIA bloc in the past and signalled her intent to take charge of the alliance if given the opportunity. “What can I do if they cannot run the show? I do not lead the front. Those who are in leadership positions there should think about it. But still, I am maintaining my connections with the regional and national parties,” Mamata had said. “There are some who cannot tolerate me. If given the responsibility, though I do not want that, I can run it (INDIA bloc) from West Bengal. But I do not want to stay away from Bengal. I was born here and will die here,” the West Bengal chief minister had added.Earlier this year, Mamata Banerjee asserted that the Trinamool Congress will return to power with a two-thirds majority in the 2026 assembly elections in the state and ruled out the possibility of stitching any alliance with the Congress, according to the TMC’s mouthpiece. The mouthpiece ‘Jago Bangla’ reported that Banerjee made these remarks during a meeting of the TMC legislative party on Monday. According to that report, Banerjee told her legislators, “Trinamool will return to power with a two-thirds majority in 2026. We do not need anyone’s help. We will fight alone and win alone.”The seats where Congress once matteredBeyond vote share, Congress’s decline is most evident in regions it once dominated.In 2016, Congress was still a recognisable force in Bengal. It won 44 seats, many of them concentrated in Malda and Murshidabad — districts where TMC struggled to break through at the time. English Bazar, Chanchal, Sujapur, Beldanga, Kandi and Naoda were still Congress ground, with functioning booth networks and leaders voters identified with.But by 2021, that map collapsed almost overnight. Congress won zero seats in Malda and just two in Murshidabad, finishing third or fourth in most constituencies where it once competed. TMC filled the space rapidly. Meanwwhile, BJP simultaneously entered blocks that neither party controlled before.What was competitive turf in 2016 became abandoned land by 2021.2026 battle: A fight for space, or a fight for existence?All of this funnels into the question Bengal now forces on Congress: what does the party campaign for in 2026? Is it aiming for seats, vote share, or simply survival on the political map?Because the numbers leave little room to pretend otherwise.TMC already occupies the incumbent’s space, controls the welfare narrative, and shows no intention for alliance. The BJP, on the other hand, has managed to make significant inroads in Bengal and is buoyed by its victory in the recently-concluded elections in Bihar, Delhi, Maharashtra and Haryana. Congress enters 2026 without a clear leader, network, or defined opponent. The real question, then, may no longer be whether Congress should fight Mamata or the BJP. The question is whether the party has enough ground left to fight at all.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThe Indrajaal Ranger: India Unveils AI-Enabled Anti-Drone Patrol Vehicle In HyderabadBrahMos Diplomacy Peaks As Rajnath Singh Deepens India-Indonesia Defence Ties In Indo-Pacific ShiftOperation Sindoor Showed India’s Strength, Discipline And Deterrence To The World: President Murmu’Years Of Reforms & Readiness Translated Into Decisive Outcomes In Op Sindoor’: Army Chief DwivediPM Modi Predicts India’s Global Dominance In Satellite Launches As Skyroot Unveils Vikram-I RocketBJP Slams Pakistan Over Ram Temple Remarks, Says Lecturing India Mirrors Osama-Like HypocrisyDelhi: Industrialist’s Daughter-In-Law Found Dead In Vasant Vihar, Diary Mentions ‘Love And Trust’Dhaka Slum Inferno Leaves Thousands Homeless As 1,500 Shanties Collapse Into Ash And Twisted RubbleNepal: Dhangadhi Tense As KP Oli-Led CPN-UML Cadres Clash With Gen-Z Youths, 2nd Incident In A WeekMEA Clears Air On Putin’s India Visit Dates As Both Nations Prepare For High-Stake Strategic Summit123PhotostoriesDecoding Keerthy Suresh’s best rush-hour fashion looks for ‘Revolver Rita’ promotions | See picsA bowl of papaya for breakfast: How it impacts a person’s health when consumed dailyBollywood family dramas that touch all generations and keep emotions alive in films audiences love to watch again alwaysAhmedabad Gears Up for CWG 2030: Inside Venues, Timelines, Infra Boom & Legacy Plans8 most beautiful moons of solar systemPune Metro Phase 2 Approved: 31.6km Expansion to Ease Traffic & Boost ConnectivityYour soul temple: 6 powerful temples to visit in India based on personality typesFriday Remedies: How to Receive Goddess Lakshmi’s Divine ProsperityHyderabad Gets Global Boost as Safran Launches Twin MRO Centres for Civil & Military JetsRama Raju Mantena: Rare photos of the man everyone is searching for123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayNew Labour CodeWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingDeion SandersAyesha CurryTaylor SwiftMarqury CollinsStefon DiggsSaudi Prince Mohammed Bin SalmanCharlie McAvoyPaige SpiranacSteveWillDoIt ControversyCandace Owens

Prime Minister Modi’s declaration of Bengal as the BJP’s next battlefield follows a thumping victory in Bihar. Meanwhile, the Congress faces an existential crisis in Bengal, squeezed between Mamata Banerjee’s TMC and the rising BJP, with its own relevance rapidly diminishing. 2026 Bengal battle: A fight for space, or a fight for existence? “The river Ganga flows to Bengal via Bihar. And the victory in Bihar, like the river, has paved the way for our victory in Bengal,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared after the NDA’s thumping victory in recently-concluded Bihar elections. The message left little ambiguity: Bengal is BJP’s next battlefied. Once a marginal player in the state, the BJP now views Bengal as a winnable frontier. Congress, meanwhile, delivered one of its weakest performances in Bihar, managing to win just six seats and inviting fresh questions about its relevance in key electoral battlegrounds.And that is where Bengal 2026 becomes a far more complicated puzzle for the party. With Mamata Banerjee dominating the state and the BJP rapidly expanding its footprint, the Congress now faces its most uncomfortable question yet: in 2026, who is its real opponent — Mamata, its INDIA bloc partner who leaves little room for it in Bengal, or the BJP, whose rise threatens to erase it altogether? Squeezed: Congress’s shrinking space between TMC and BJPThe extent of Congress’s continued decrease in relevance in Bengal becomes clear when you track its trajectory across the last three assembly elections. In 2011, when Mamata Banerjee first swept the Left out of power, Congress was still a meaningful partner in the coalition, winning 42 seats and retaining influence across Murshidabad, Malda and pockets of North Bengal.Five years later, in 2016, even though it fought in alliance with the Left, Congress’ seat count slightly increased to 44, but its vote share and organisational strength were already waning.By 2021, the floor gave way almost entirely. Congress contested 92 seats and managed to win just 2, finishing third or fourth in nearly every constituency and slipping to a 3% vote share—its weakest performance in Bengal’s electoral history. The party was wiped out in former strongholds like Malda Town and Sujapur, where the TMC and BJP split the anti-incumbency space between themselves.It is this collapse that now frames the 2026 dilemma. BJP’s riseThe BJP’s growth in Bengal has been one of the most dramatic political expansions of the last decade. In 2016, the party won only 3 seats.In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party stunned many by bagging 18 out of 42 seats, a performance that immediately repositioned Bengal as the BJP’s most promising frontier outside the Hindi heartland.But by the time the 2021 assembly election arrived, the BJP had transformed itself into the state’s principal opposition, capturing 77 seats and securing nearly 38% of the vote share.This is what makes 2026 a high-stakes equation for the Congress. If the BJP continues its current trajectory, Congress risks being pushed out of the contest entirely.Mamata’s solo instinctAdding to the Congress’s dilemma is Mamata Banerjee’s consistent refusal to cede space or treat the party as an equal stakeholder in Bengal. Her political instinct has always been solo-first, and she has signalled that repeatedly, both through her words and her actions.In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Mamata declared that the TMC would fight all 42 seats in Bengal alone, refusing to enter a seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress and stating that the INDIA bloc was “only for Delhi, not Bengal.”.Mamata Banerjee has also very openly expressed dissatisfaction with the functioning of the INDIA bloc in the past and signalled her intent to take charge of the alliance if given the opportunity. “What can I do if they cannot run the show? I do not lead the front. Those who are in leadership positions there should think about it. But still, I am maintaining my connections with the regional and national parties,” Mamata had said. “There are some who cannot tolerate me. If given the responsibility, though I do not want that, I can run it (INDIA bloc) from West Bengal. But I do not want to stay away from Bengal. I was born here and will die here,” the West Bengal chief minister had added.Earlier this year, Mamata Banerjee asserted that the Trinamool Congress will return to power with a two-thirds majority in the 2026 assembly elections in the state and ruled out the possibility of stitching any alliance with the Congress, according to the TMC’s mouthpiece. The mouthpiece ‘Jago Bangla’ reported that Banerjee made these remarks during a meeting of the TMC legislative party on Monday. According to that report, Banerjee told her legislators, “Trinamool will return to power with a two-thirds majority in 2026. We do not need anyone’s help. We will fight alone and win alone.”The seats where Congress once matteredBeyond vote share, Congress’s decline is most evident in regions it once dominated.In 2016, Congress was still a recognisable force in Bengal. It won 44 seats, many of them concentrated in Malda and Murshidabad — districts where TMC struggled to break through at the time. English Bazar, Chanchal, Sujapur, Beldanga, Kandi and Naoda were still Congress ground, with functioning booth networks and leaders voters identified with.But by 2021, that map collapsed almost overnight. Congress won zero seats in Malda and just two in Murshidabad, finishing third or fourth in most constituencies where it once competed. TMC filled the space rapidly. Meanwwhile, BJP simultaneously entered blocks that neither party controlled before.What was competitive turf in 2016 became abandoned land by 2021.2026 battle: A fight for space, or a fight for existence?All of this funnels into the question Bengal now forces on Congress: what does the party campaign for in 2026? Is it aiming for seats, vote share, or simply survival on the political map?Because the numbers leave little room to pretend otherwise.TMC already occupies the incumbent’s space, controls the welfare narrative, and shows no intention for alliance. The BJP, on the other hand, has managed to make significant inroads in Bengal and is buoyed by its victory in the recently-concluded elections in Bihar, Delhi, Maharashtra and Haryana. Congress enters 2026 without a clear leader, network, or defined opponent. The real question, then, may no longer be whether Congress should fight Mamata or the BJP. The question is whether the party has enough ground left to fight at all.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThe Indrajaal Ranger: India Unveils AI-Enabled Anti-Drone Patrol Vehicle In HyderabadBrahMos Diplomacy Peaks As Rajnath Singh Deepens India-Indonesia Defence Ties In Indo-Pacific ShiftOperation Sindoor Showed India’s Strength, Discipline And Deterrence To The World: President Murmu’Years Of Reforms & Readiness Translated Into Decisive Outcomes In Op Sindoor’: Army Chief DwivediPM Modi Predicts India’s Global Dominance In Satellite Launches As Skyroot Unveils Vikram-I RocketBJP Slams Pakistan Over Ram Temple Remarks, Says Lecturing India Mirrors Osama-Like HypocrisyDelhi: Industrialist’s Daughter-In-Law Found Dead In Vasant Vihar, Diary Mentions ‘Love And Trust’Dhaka Slum Inferno Leaves Thousands Homeless As 1,500 Shanties Collapse Into Ash And Twisted RubbleNepal: Dhangadhi Tense As KP Oli-Led CPN-UML Cadres Clash With Gen-Z Youths, 2nd Incident In A WeekMEA Clears Air On Putin’s India Visit Dates As Both Nations Prepare For High-Stake Strategic Summit123PhotostoriesDecoding Keerthy Suresh’s best rush-hour fashion looks for ‘Revolver Rita’ promotions | See picsA bowl of papaya for breakfast: How it impacts a person’s health when consumed dailyBollywood family dramas that touch all generations and keep emotions alive in films audiences love to watch again alwaysAhmedabad Gears Up for CWG 2030: Inside Venues, Timelines, Infra Boom & Legacy Plans8 most beautiful moons of solar systemPune Metro Phase 2 Approved: 31.6km Expansion to Ease Traffic & Boost ConnectivityYour soul temple: 6 powerful temples to visit in India based on personality typesFriday Remedies: How to Receive Goddess Lakshmi’s Divine ProsperityHyderabad Gets Global Boost as Safran Launches Twin MRO Centres for Civil & Military JetsRama Raju Mantena: Rare photos of the man everyone is searching for123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayNew Labour CodeWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingDeion SandersAyesha CurryTaylor SwiftMarqury CollinsStefon DiggsSaudi Prince Mohammed Bin SalmanCharlie McAvoyPaige SpiranacSteveWillDoIt ControversyCandace Owens

2026 Bengal battle: A fight for space, or a fight for existence? “The river Ganga flows to Bengal via Bihar. And the victory in Bihar, like the river, has paved the way for our victory in Bengal,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared after the NDA’s thumping victory in recently-concluded Bihar elections. The message left little…

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Hema Malini’s last heartfelt post with Dharmendra before his demise: ‘I hold your heart as you hold mine ever since we first met’

Hema Malini’s last heartfelt post with Dharmendra before his demise: ‘I hold your heart as you hold mine ever since we first met’

The demise of legendary Bollywood star Dharmendra broke millions of hearts. However, one can’t even begin to imagine the profound grief experienced by Dharmendra’s immediate family. The late actor’s wife, Hema Malini, today, after days past Dharmendra’s passing, has shared her first posts recalling her beloved husband. She mentioned how her ‘personal loss is indescribable’…

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Why your lungs might be older than the rest of your body: Understanding factors, signs and detection |

Why your lungs might be older than the rest of your body: Understanding factors, signs and detection |

Ageing is often viewed through the lens of visible physical changes, yet the gradual decline of internal organs can progress long before symptoms appear. The lungs are especially vulnerable because their structure and function depend on delicate airways, elastic tissue, and coordinated muscular movement. Current research highlights how respiratory ageing does not always match chronological…

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