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Vamsikrishna2 hours ago 0

Photo credit: PTI NEW DELHI: A scooter parked near the BSF Chowk in Punjab’s Jalandhar district caught fire on Tuesday evening, triggering panic in the area, though no one was injured, police said.The incident occurred around 8 pm on the busy road outside the Punjab Frontier headquarters of the Border Security Force (BSF), which connects the main city with the Amritsar-New Delhi national highway. The scooter was completely gutted, officials said.A police patrol team was nearby when the incident happened. Senior police officials, along with forensic experts, a dog squad and a bomb disposal team, have reached the spot to take stock of the situation. The area has been cordoned off.Investigation under wayJalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur told PTI that it is too early to say whether a blast had taken place.”Prima facie, the facts are that an Activa (scooter) parked here caught fire. We are still verifying the facts on the ground,” she said.The impact of the explosion scattered debris several metres around and damaged a traffic light pole. Forensic teams have been collecting vital evidence and samples from the spot.Police have been questioning Gurpreet Singh, the owner of the scooter. He told police that the mechanical service of his vehicle was due and that he worked for a delivery company. He had parked the vehicle outside the BSF headquarters after delivering an order, officials said.Security concernsThe incident comes a day before Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is scheduled to visit Jalandhar during his ‘Shukrana Yatra’ on Wednesday and stay at his official residence in Old Baradari.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.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 MediaVideos’Historic, Decisive’: Trump Congratulates PM Modi Over BJP’s Win In Bengal ElectionsDefeat but ‘Moral Win’? Mamata Targets EC, Hints At BIGGER Opposition AlliancePower Bank Catches Fire On IndiGo Hyderabad-Chandigarh Flight, All Passengers And Crew EvacuatedIndia Seeks To Lease Three Ultra Heavy Lift Helicopters To Boost CapabilityAIMIM Chief Owaisi Says Muslim Votes Wasted on Secular Parties, Calls for ShiftKejriwal Alleges BJP “Robbed” Punjab of Rajya Sabha Seats, Vows Political Revenge“Democracy Being Mocked”: Bhagwant Mann Meets President Over Defection of 7 AAP Rajya Sabha MPsNCERT Clears Revised Class 8 Textbook After Judiciary Chapter Row And Public ApologyPM Modi call Fujairah Attack ‘Unacceptable’, Three Indians Injured In UAEPunjab Showdown: AAP MLAs Head to President Over Rajya Sabha Row123PhotostoriesKaran Johar to Ananya Birla:Indian stars who stole the show at Met Gala 2026From ‘The Dark Knight’ to ‘Brokeback Mountain’: Heath Ledger’s top films to stream on OTT right nowA fresh, green home without the effort: Plants that thrive even when you forget8 ‘weird’ dog behaviours explained: What your pet is really trying to tell youSubtle signs you’re outgrowing a friendship– And how to deal with itBroccoli vs Cauliflower: One has more nutrients, the other fewer calories, which should you really be eating?Is there a ‘right’ age to get pregnant? Expert busts common fertility mythsPersonality test: How you hold your glass can reveal if you are protective, chilled out, reliable, or too expressiveGreater Noida’s top 5 real estate hotspots fuelled by the upcoming Jewar AirportThe ‘Big Four’ snakes of India and where travellers can spot them in the wild123Hot PicksBarrackpore election resultTiruchirappalli election resultMettupalayam election resultsEttumanoor election resultPerambur election resultBagnan election resultKazhakkoottam election resultTop TrendingIran warRahul GandhiBadruddin AjmalIPL Playoff Qualification ScenariosIPL 2026 Points TableMI IPL Playoff Qualification ScenariosPM ModiNEET 2026: Exam-day guideSRMJEEE 2026 Phase 1 ResultTVK Chief Vijay

Vamsikrishna2 hours ago 0

– The 2026 assembly elections have redrawn West Bengal’s political fate in saffron. BJP didn’t just win, they swept the state clean. But beyond the blockbuster headline numbers, real political plot twist lies in where some of its most stunning breakthroughs came from: Muslim-majority and Muslim-influenced constituencies that for decades had acted as Mamata Banerjee’s support system. These weren’t just routine wins, they were TMC’s stronghold, once seen as politically untouchable. This time, however, the old equations have now turned upside down and Bengal’s electoral playbook is getting rewritten.For years, Bengal’s minority vote, especially in districts like Murshidabad, Malda and Uttar Dinajpur, was seen not just as a demographic factor but as a political fortress. First, it shielded the Left Front. Then, after Mamata Banerjee’s rise in 2011, it became one of the Trinamool Congress’s strongest pillars. The formula was simple and remarkably effective: consolidate Muslim voters, combine that with women-centric welfare support, position TMC as Bengal’s protector against Hindutva politics, and neutralise BJP’s challenge. That strategy delivered spectacularly in 2021. Mamata Banerjee won 215 seats, while BJP, despite an aggressive national campaign, was restricted to 77. In Bengal’s minority belt, particularly the 43 seats across Murshidabad, Malda and Uttar Dinajpur, TMC dominated with 35 seats, while BJP won just 8. Murshidabad alone, where Muslims form over two-thirds of the population, gave TMC 20 of 22 seats.Five years later, that political certainty has been profoundly shaken.The 2026 election has not necessarily shown a wholesale Muslim shift to BJP. Instead, it has revealed something perhaps even more politically significant: the minority vote in Bengal is no longer acting as one consolidated bloc. That fragmentation, combined with BJP’s disciplined Hindutva consolidation, local anti-incumbency, welfare competition, identity politics and stronger grassroots systems, created a new electoral equation, one that breached beyond even TMC’s most protected zones.Numbers behind the political earthquakeThe scale of the shift becomes clearer when comparing 2021 with 2026.In 2021:TMC won 215 seats statewideBJP won 77 seats2026 was a complete flip the script moment, a blow that gave BJP whopping 206 seats while TMC’s map contracted to 80 seats.Now, let’s focus on Bengal’s critical minority belt: -Together, TMC’s dominance in these 43 seats formed a crucial safety net.In 2026, BJP nearly doubled its tally in these districts, moving from 8 to around 18–19 seats, while TMC lost significant ground. Across wider minority-influence seats, estimated at 142 constituencies statewide, BJP reportedly won 72, TMC 64, with Congress, CPI(M) and others taking the rest.This wasn’t just a seat swap but a major shake-up in Bengal’s political game.The biggest factor: Fragmentation of minority voteThe most decisive story of Bengal 2026 is that Muslim voters, long considered tactically consolidated anti-BJP, were divided across multiple political channels. -Instead of TMC emerging as the singular anti-BJP beneficiary, Muslim votes were split among:TMCCongressCPI(M)Indian Secular Front (ISF)Humayun Kabir’s Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP)Smaller regional outfits and independentsThis fragmentation proved devastating for TMC in tightly contested seats. Here’s whyIn 2021, the electoral logic in many minority-heavy seats was binary: TMC or BJP. Fear of BJP often drove strategic voting.In 2026, local dissatisfaction, anti-incumbency, corruption allegations, candidate fatigue and the revival of dormant opposition players changed that pattern.This meant BJP often did not need a dramatic expansion of Muslim support. It simply needed opposition votes to divide.Murshidabad: The fortress that crackedMurshidabad became the clearest symbol of this transformation.Historically one of TMC’s safest minority bastions, Murshidabad’s 66 percent-plus Muslim population had made it politically difficult terrain for BJP.In 2021:TMC: 20 seatsBJP: 2 seatsIn 2026:TMC’s dominance sharply weakened as BJP surged and multiple opposition players cut into TMC’s core.The Humayun Kabir factor was especially crucial. A former TMC heavyweight, Kabir’s AJUP emerged as a local disruptor by converting anti-TMC dissatisfaction into political relevance. AJUP reportedly won seats like Rejinagar and Nowda while polling strongly elsewhere, damaging TMC’s arithmetic.At the same time:Congress regained ground in RaninagarCPI(M) performed strongly in DomkalLeft and Congress together sliced into TMC’s traditional Muslim supportThe result was politically seismic: BJP could win or become competitive even without dominating minority voters, because TMC was no longer monopolising them.Malda: Congress’s survival hurt TMCMalda’s politics has always been more significant due to Congress’s historic roots.In 2026, Congress did not necessarily dominate, but its revival mattered enormously.Even modest Congress recovery among minority voters was enough to erode TMC margins. Combined with BJP’s Hindu consolidation, this produced major shifts.Englishbazar became one of the standout examples, where BJP candidate Amlan Bhaduri reportedly won by over 93,000 votes, a margin that reflected:Consolidated Hindu votingMerchant-class backingMinority fragmentationTMC slippageMalda proved that TMC no longer had automatic ownership of anti-BJP minority arithmetic.Uttar Dinajpur: Identity politics sharpened the splitIn Uttar Dinajpur, BJP’s rise was shaped by both fragmentation and identity mobilisation.The party’s campaign around:SIR (Special Intensive Revision)Voter roll scrutiny“Ineligible voter” allegationsOBC and Rajbanshi concernshelped consolidate sections of Hindu voters -At the same time, Congress and Left retained enough influence to damage TMC in close contests.In multiple seats, combined Congress-Left votes exceeded TMC’s losing margin.That pattern became central to BJP’s Bengal strategy: hold your vote, let the opposition divide.SIR and electoral identityThe SIR exercise became one of the election’s most politically charged subtexts.Large-scale voter deletions in some minority-heavy districts triggered anger and controversy. TMC argued this disproportionately affected its support base.Yet contrary to expectations, fear over voter deletions did not fully reunify Muslim voters behind TMC.Instead, local grievances often pushed voters toward alternative platforms.Similarly, BJP’s narratives around Waqf politics and identity issues energised its core supporters while forcing TMC into reactive politics.Women voters: Mamata’s shield weakenedOne of TMC’s strongest social coalitions had long been women, especially through schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar.But BJP’s Annapurnar Bhandar promise, offering Rs 3,000 monthly support, directly challenged that advantage.Combined with:Women’s safety concerns after incidents like RG KarAnti-corruption messagingWelfare competitionBJP significantly narrowed TMC’s edge among female voters, including in minority-heavy regions.For many poorer women, especially Gen Z and younger households, practical economics began competing with traditional loyalty.Governance fatigue and corruptionTMC also faced a decade-plus burden of incumbency.Key issues included:Recruitment scamsCorruption allegationsLocal syndicate politicsGovernance fatiguePerceptions of dynastic or centralised controlIn many constituencies, this did not automatically make BJP popular, but it did make TMC vulnerable.That vulnerability was enough when combined with vote fragmentation. -BJP’s organisational transformationUnlike 2021, BJP in 2026 was not merely running on national charisma.It had spent five years building:Booth-level infrastructureLocal cadre strengthSuvendu Adhikari’s regional influenceSukanta Majumdar’s organisational expansionStronger local candidate networksIts 2024 Lok Sabha gains were a stepping stone, not a peak.This allowed BJP to fully exploit fractured opposition zones.More shockwaves: How Mamata lost Bhabanipur and beyondPerhaps the most symbolic moment was Mamata Banerjee’s defeat in Bhabanipur, where Suvendu Adhikari reportedly defeated her by over 15,000 votes.This was more than a seat loss. It brought back focus to BJP’s claim that TMC’s political invincibility had ended.West Bengal 2026 has broken one of Indian politics’ most durable assumptions: that a substantial minority population, if politically consolidated, can permanently block BJP.That assumption now appears conditional, not guaranteed.BJP’s Bengal breakthrough suggests that:Opposition fragmentation can outweigh demographic arithmeticWelfare politics has limitsIdentity politics can be countered by governance fatigueRegional strongholds are vulnerable if core coalitions fractureThe bottom lineFor Mamata Banerjee, this result is a blunt political warning.The Muslim vote remains crucial, but no longer appears automatically unified enough to function as an electoral veto.The story of Bengal 2026 is not that Muslim-majority constituencies suddenly turned saffron.It is that the political unity which once kept BJP out weakened enough for BJP to enter. The minority vote did not disappear. It diversified.And in that diversification, Bengal’s old electoral map was redrawn. This election was not just a victory for BJP.It was the end of one political certainty and the beginning of a far more contested Bengal.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDefeat but ‘Moral Win’? 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Vamsikrishna4 hours ago 0

Representative image NEW DELHI: Indian carriers have got a Rs 5,000-crore lifeline during the debilitating Iran war that has led to a sharp hike in operating cost along with a decrease in passenger numbers. The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi on Tuesday approved the emergency credit line guarantee scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 to provide credit guarantee coverage to several sectors, including airlines. Targeting an overall additional credit flow of over Rs 2.5 lakh crore for various sectors, this will allow “eligible borrowers to tide over any short-term liquidity mismatches in view of West Asia crisis.”An airline can get upto Rs 1,500 crore under this move. For airline sector, the tenor of this loan will be seven years from the date of first disbursement including moratorium of two years.While IndiGo and Tata Sons’ Air India group have the resources to weather the perfect storm — sharp rise in jet fuel price and the rupee crashing with a significant part of their operating costs being dollar-denominated, — many other weaker players are struggling to survive. One airline, for instance, is unable to pay salaries, PF or even TDS on time for a long time now. This ECLGS could provide them some liquidity and avert a shutdown for now.“Eligible borrowers: MSMEs and non-MSMEs with existing working capital limits and scheduled passenger airlines having outstanding credit facilities, as of March 31, 2026, provided their accounts are standard…. Additional credit up to 20% of peak working capital utilised during Q4 FY 26 (capped at Rs 100 crore). For airlines up to 100% (capped at Rs 1,500 crore per borrower, subject to satisfying certain specific conditions),” said a government statement.“The scheme aims to enable businesses to tide over the challenges arising from the West Asia conflict. Additionally, this is expected to help businesses maintain their operations, protect jobs, and sustain supply chains. The proposed credit guarantee scheme is a major step to help businesses, particularly MSMEs and airline sector, to ensure their additional working capital needs, are catered by the banks & financial institutions. By providing timely liquidity, the scheme will sustain the businesses and prevent job losses,” the statement added.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Seeks To Lease Three Ultra Heavy Lift Helicopters To Boost CapabilityAIMIM Chief Owaisi Says Muslim Votes Wasted on Secular Parties, Calls for ShiftKejriwal Alleges BJP “Robbed” Punjab of Rajya Sabha Seats, Vows Political Revenge“Democracy Being Mocked”: Bhagwant Mann Meets President Over Defection of 7 AAP Rajya Sabha MPsNCERT Clears Revised Class 8 Textbook After Judiciary Chapter Row And Public ApologyPM Modi call Fujairah Attack ‘Unacceptable’, Three Indians Injured In UAEPunjab Showdown: AAP MLAs Head to President Over Rajya Sabha RowIndia Rejects Nepal’s Objection To Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Route Via Lipulekh PassNepal Objects To India-China Plan To Conduct Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Via LipulekhIndia-Linked LPG Tanker MT Sarv Shakti Heads To Visakhapatnam After Crossing Hormuz123PhotostoriesGreater Noida’s top 5 real estate hotspots fuelled by the upcoming Jewar AirportThe ‘Big Four’ snakes of India and where travellers can spot them in the wildFrom ‘Leo’ to ‘Master’: Looking at ‘Jana Nayagan’ star Vijay Thalapathy’s biggest box office blockbustersThis mountain range is the oldest in India—and older than dinosaurs: 5 stunning facts5 Met Gala 2026 looks that turned famous paintings into iconic fashion moments5 simple and mindful steps for office goers to grow jade plants that attract prosperity and positivityWhat really happens when you drink Beetroot juice every day for a weekBEST quotes by Farah Khan that show her unfiltered HONESTY and BOLD take on BollywoodTop 8 trending art styles to decorate your apartment in 20265 popular and adorable cat breeds for pet parents123Hot PicksBarrackpore election resultTiruchirappalli election resultMettupalayam election resultsEttumanoor election resultPerambur election resultBagnan election resultKazhakkoottam election resultTop TrendingIran warRahul GandhiBadruddin AjmalIPL Playoff Qualification ScenariosIPL 2026 Points TableMI IPL Playoff Qualification ScenariosPM ModiNEET 2026: Exam-day guideSRMJEEE 2026 Phase 1 ResultTVK Chief Vijay

Vamsikrishna5 hours ago 0