May 8, 2026

Photo credit: ANI NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday criticised remarks by US president Donald Trump congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the BJP’s West Bengal poll victory as “premature and misplaced”, asserting that state elections are an “internal matter of India’s federal democracy”.In a post on X tagging Trump, Raut said that “any external endorsement appears premature and misplaced” and urged the US president to adopt a “more informed and balanced view” about the elections.“As a Member of Parliament from India, I write in response to reports of your congratulations to PM Narendra Modi on the West Bengal Assembly election results. These are state-level elections — an internal matter of India’s federal democracy,” Raut said.The Rajya Sabha MP further alleged that the West Bengal polls were conducted amid an atmosphere of “fear, intimidation, and systemic pressure”. He alleged there were “widespread perceptions” that the Election Commission of India did not act impartially and that its functioning appeared to favour the BJP, raising questions about “institutional neutrality”.“There are allegations regarding the extensive deployment of Central forces, which many believe created coercion rather than confidence. Senior leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, have publicly raised concerns about the fairness of the process,” he wrote.“Democracy is not just about elections — it is about ensuring they are free, fair, and credible. When serious allegations arise, they warrant scrutiny, not celebration,” Raut added.Earlier this week, the BJP secured a more than two-thirds majority in the West Bengal assembly polls, ending the 15-year rule of chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The party also retained power in Assam for a third term. A White House spokesperson on Tuesday said Trump had congratulated Modi on the BJP’s “historic and decisive” victory.Reacting sharply to Raut’s latest remarks, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla hit out at Raut calling him the “joker of Indian politics” and accused Opposition leaders of trying to tarnish India’s image globally.“Sanjay Raut is the joker of Indian politics. He and Rahul Gandhi have taken a ‘supari’ to besmirch India’s image for domestic political petty battles and in Modi’s opposition they oppose the country,” Poonawalla said in a video post on X.He added that Indian democracy was being “hailed across the world”, but Opposition leaders were spreading “false narratives” over the electoral process.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 MediaVideosSanjay Raut Writes To Donald Trump Over Bengal Polls, Questions BJP Victory PraiseDeadly Hantavirus Outbreak On Luxury Cruise Ship | 3 Dead, Indians Among Crew Onboard MV HondiusDMK Denies Possibility Of Alliance With AIADMK As Vijay’s TVK Reshapes Tamil Nadu PoliticsDMK-AIADMK Tie-Up Buzz Grows As Stalin Weighs Options To Block Vijay Government“Mamata Can Set Up Her Own Court”: Nishikant Dubey’s Sharp Attack On TMC Over Bengal Law And OrderMahua Moitra Alleges Harassment Inside IndiGo Flight As Passengers Raise “TMC Chor” Slogans234 Mango Varieties On One Tree? ICAR’s Incredible Experiment Stuns Shivraj Singh ChouhanFrom Panihati To Howrah’s Shibpur: Bengal Rocked By Multiple Bomb BlastsNida Khan Arrested In Explosive TCS Nashik Harassment And Religious Coercion CaseGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To Resign123Photostories8 most uniquely designed passports in the worldAnimals and insects that are as venomous as the Inland Taipan7 things emotionally safe homes do differently: Is your home among them?How to use fruit peels as a fertiliser (common fruits to know)Optical illusion personality test: Woman or trees? What you see first reveals if you are more emotional or logicalGK Fact of the Day: 7 animals that can survive without water for longAre dolphins, sharks, and whales mammals? The answer may surprise youThe Sacred Neck Bead Seen on Anushka Sharma and Its Spiritual Benefits5 smart upcycling DIYs that turn trash into stunning home decor (at a low cost!)These plants are banned from being grown in UK gardens123Hot PicksSBI Q4 resultsThane- Navi Mumbai corridorMaharashtra SSC ResultPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingTamil nadu government formationVaibhav SooryavanshiTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Mumbai Watermelon Death CaseDelhi Capital vs KKR IPL MatchWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaDaniil Medvedev WifeBan vs Pak

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins
Photo credit: ANI NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday criticised remarks by US president Donald Trump congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the BJP’s West Bengal poll victory as “premature and misplaced”, asserting that state elections are an “internal matter of India’s federal democracy”.In a post on X tagging Trump, Raut said that “any external endorsement appears premature and misplaced” and urged the US president to adopt a “more informed and balanced view” about the elections.“As a Member of Parliament from India, I write in response to reports of your congratulations to PM Narendra Modi on the West Bengal Assembly election results. These are state-level elections — an internal matter of India’s federal democracy,” Raut said.The Rajya Sabha MP further alleged that the West Bengal polls were conducted amid an atmosphere of “fear, intimidation, and systemic pressure”. He alleged there were “widespread perceptions” that the Election Commission of India did not act impartially and that its functioning appeared to favour the BJP, raising questions about “institutional neutrality”.“There are allegations regarding the extensive deployment of Central forces, which many believe created coercion rather than confidence. Senior leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, have publicly raised concerns about the fairness of the process,” he wrote.“Democracy is not just about elections — it is about ensuring they are free, fair, and credible. When serious allegations arise, they warrant scrutiny, not celebration,” Raut added.Earlier this week, the BJP secured a more than two-thirds majority in the West Bengal assembly polls, ending the 15-year rule of chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The party also retained power in Assam for a third term. A White House spokesperson on Tuesday said Trump had congratulated Modi on the BJP’s “historic and decisive” victory.Reacting sharply to Raut’s latest remarks, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla hit out at Raut calling him the “joker of Indian politics” and accused Opposition leaders of trying to tarnish India’s image globally.“Sanjay Raut is the joker of Indian politics. He and Rahul Gandhi have taken a ‘supari’ to besmirch India’s image for domestic political petty battles and in Modi’s opposition they oppose the country,” Poonawalla said in a video post on X.He added that Indian democracy was being “hailed across the world”, but Opposition leaders were spreading “false narratives” over the electoral process.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 MediaVideosSanjay Raut Writes To Donald Trump Over Bengal Polls, Questions BJP Victory PraiseDeadly Hantavirus Outbreak On Luxury Cruise Ship | 3 Dead, Indians Among Crew Onboard MV HondiusDMK Denies Possibility Of Alliance With AIADMK As Vijay’s TVK Reshapes Tamil Nadu PoliticsDMK-AIADMK Tie-Up Buzz Grows As Stalin Weighs Options To Block Vijay Government“Mamata Can Set Up Her Own Court”: Nishikant Dubey’s Sharp Attack On TMC Over Bengal Law And OrderMahua Moitra Alleges Harassment Inside IndiGo Flight As Passengers Raise “TMC Chor” Slogans234 Mango Varieties On One Tree? ICAR’s Incredible Experiment Stuns Shivraj Singh ChouhanFrom Panihati To Howrah’s Shibpur: Bengal Rocked By Multiple Bomb BlastsNida Khan Arrested In Explosive TCS Nashik Harassment And Religious Coercion CaseGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To Resign123Photostories8 most uniquely designed passports in the worldAnimals and insects that are as venomous as the Inland Taipan7 things emotionally safe homes do differently: Is your home among them?How to use fruit peels as a fertiliser (common fruits to know)Optical illusion personality test: Woman or trees? What you see first reveals if you are more emotional or logicalGK Fact of the Day: 7 animals that can survive without water for longAre dolphins, sharks, and whales mammals? The answer may surprise youThe Sacred Neck Bead Seen on Anushka Sharma and Its Spiritual Benefits5 smart upcycling DIYs that turn trash into stunning home decor (at a low cost!)These plants are banned from being grown in UK gardens123Hot PicksSBI Q4 resultsThane- Navi Mumbai corridorMaharashtra SSC ResultPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingTamil nadu government formationVaibhav SooryavanshiTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Mumbai Watermelon Death CaseDelhi Capital vs KKR IPL MatchWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaDaniil Medvedev WifeBan vs Pak


'Premature and misplaced’: Sanjay Raut writes to Trump over Bengal win message to PM Modi; BJP hits back

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday criticised remarks by US president Donald Trump congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the BJP’s West Bengal poll victory as “premature and misplaced”, asserting that state elections are an “internal matter of India’s federal democracy”.In a post on X tagging Trump, Raut said that “any external endorsement appears premature and misplaced” and urged the US president to adopt a “more informed and balanced view” about the elections.“As a Member of Parliament from India, I write in response to reports of your congratulations to PM Narendra Modi on the West Bengal Assembly election results. These are state-level elections — an internal matter of India’s federal democracy,” Raut said.The Rajya Sabha MP further alleged that the West Bengal polls were conducted amid an atmosphere of “fear, intimidation, and systemic pressure”. He alleged there were “widespread perceptions” that the Election Commission of India did not act impartially and that its functioning appeared to favour the BJP, raising questions about “institutional neutrality”.“There are allegations regarding the extensive deployment of Central forces, which many believe created coercion rather than confidence. Senior leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, have publicly raised concerns about the fairness of the process,” he wrote.“Democracy is not just about elections — it is about ensuring they are free, fair, and credible. When serious allegations arise, they warrant scrutiny, not celebration,” Raut added.Earlier this week, the BJP secured a more than two-thirds majority in the West Bengal assembly polls, ending the 15-year rule of chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The party also retained power in Assam for a third term. A White House spokesperson on Tuesday said Trump had congratulated Modi on the BJP’s “historic and decisive” victory.Reacting sharply to Raut’s latest remarks, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla hit out at Raut calling him the “joker of Indian politics” and accused Opposition leaders of trying to tarnish India’s image globally.“Sanjay Raut is the joker of Indian politics. He and Rahul Gandhi have taken a ‘supari’ to besmirch India’s image for domestic political petty battles and in Modi’s opposition they oppose the country,” Poonawalla said in a video post on X.He added that Indian democracy was being “hailed across the world”, but Opposition leaders were spreading “false narratives” over the electoral process.



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Kolkata, May 08 (ANI): Union home minister Amit Shah congratulates BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari after he is elected as the leader of the West Bengal BJP Legislative Party and set to be the new CM of the state, in Kolkata on Friday. The BJP’s elevation of Suvendu Adhikari as its first chief minister in West Bengal marked the culmination of a campaign that drove the party to success in a state long described as its “final frontier.”Like in the neighbouring Northeast, BJP’s eventual rise to power in West Bengal was led by an individual who joined from a party firmly opposed to the BJP. Adhikari switched from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in December 2020 and went on to defeat his former mentor, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, twice—first in his Nandigram stronghold in 2021 and later in her Bhowanipore bastion in the recent assembly polls. Suvendu Adhikari With Adhikari’s elevation, BJP formally placed one of its most prominent recent entrants at the helm in West Bengal, underscoring the party’s continued reliance on “outsiders” to win politically difficult terrains. BJP’s West Bengal breakthrough Adhikari’s induction was one among several defections from the Trinamool to BJP in the run-up to the 2021 West Bengal elections. With BJP riding high after winning a record 18 of the state’s 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, and with “Didi” grappling with anti-incumbency after a decade in power, several TMC leaders joined the saffron camp, confident that there would be a change of guard in Kolkata. However, it was not to be. BJP’s seat share rose from just three to 77 in the 294-member assembly, but Trinamool won 215 constituencies to secure a third consecutive term. This led to several TMC turncoats returning to their parent party, with some BJP MLAs also switching sides. West Bengal assembly elections 2021 resultsYet, Adhikari stayed back and was appointed leader of the opposition in the assembly. He subsequently became more aggressive in his attacks on Banerjee and TMC.In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, BJP faced another setback in West Bengal, with its tally dropping from 18 constituencies to 12, while Trinamool Congress improved its count from 23 to 29. The state was among several where BJP lost ground, contributing to its fall from 303 to 240 seats nationally and forcing the party to rely on allies to form the government at the Centre.BJP regained momentum in the months that followed, winning a series of state elections before eventually securing a landslide victory in West Bengal.Bihar before West BengalAdhikari’s elevation came less than a month after that of Samrat Choudhary, the Bihar chief minister who, like him, did not begin his political career with the BJP. Choudhary joined the party in 2017 from the Janata Dal (United), after earlier stints with the Samata Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).Son of veteran politician Shakuni Choudhary, Samrat Choudhary succeeded Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) supremo who had led the state for over two decades. Following the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) re-election in a landslide win in the Bihar polls in November 2025, Kumar returned for a record 10th term as CM, with Choudhary serving as one of his deputies. Bihar election resultsHowever, the signs of a change in leadership had already been there. Besides Kumar’s visible failing health, the BJP, for the first time, became the largest party in Bihar, making a change of guard in Patna a question of “when” and not “if.” Nitish Kumar retirementThat “when” was answered when Kumar announced last month that he would be returning to Parliament via the Rajya Sabha, paving the way for BJP to assume the chief ministership in Bihar for the first time. BJP’s Northeast ascentBefore BJP broke through in West Bengal and emerged as the largest party in Bihar, it was the Northeast that the party first turned into a stronghold, beginning with its victory in Assam in 2016.Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is widely seen as the architect of this dominance in the Northeast. A former Congress leader who joined BJP in 2015, Sarma played a key role in the party’s Assam victory the following year. While Sarbananda Sonowal became BJP’s first chief minister in the state, Sarma took over after the party retained power in 2021, with Sonowal moving to the Union cabinet. In the recent assembly polls, BJP under Sarma won 82 seats in the 126-member assembly, crossing the majority mark on its own for the first time and securing a third consecutive term in power. Like Sarma, several of BJP’s sitting or former chief ministers in the Northeast had joined the party only shortly before being elevated to the top post. For instance, Pema Khandu, Manik Saha and N Biren Singh, among others, had been with the Congress before switching to BJP in 2016, but later went on to lead BJP governments in their respective states.The exceptionsThe strategy of inducting outsiders and elevating them to key positions, however, has not worked for BJP in every politically difficult state.In Punjab, former Congress MP Sunil Jakhar joined BJP in May 2022 and was appointed the party’s state unit president a little over a year later. However, the strategy failed to yield electoral dividends. In the 2024 general elections, BJP failed to open its account in Punjab and even lost the two seats it had won in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal in 2019. Later, reports emerged in September that Jakhar had resigned from the post, but BJP denied the claims and he continues to serve as the party’s Punjab unit chief. He faces a difficult task in making BJP a serious contender in Punjab ahead of the February 2027 elections, where the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress remain the two principal rivals.In a major setback to the AAP, seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs — including Raghav Chadha — joined the BJP last month. All seven MPs had been elected from Punjab, and the BJP hopes their induction will bolster its prospects in the state.Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, BJP failed to return to power despite inducting former chief minister Champai Soren, who switched from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha ahead of the 2024 assembly elections.Punjab: Next test of BJP’s ‘outsider’ modelWith BJP’s rise to power in West Bengal, Jharkhand now stands as the only remaining eastern state outside its control, alongside Mizoram in the Northeast.Its rise in non-Hindi-speaking states, particularly West Bengal, along with Odisha where it formed its maiden government in June 2024 under Mohan Charan Majhi, a homegrown leader, has helped the party shed its image of being confined to the Hindi heartland.The “outsider” model will next be put to the test in Punjab, where BJP has been part of an alliance government but has never governed on its own.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSanjay Raut Writes To Donald Trump Over Bengal Polls, Questions BJP Victory PraiseDeadly Hantavirus Outbreak On Luxury Cruise Ship | 3 Dead, Indians Among Crew Onboard MV HondiusDMK Denies Possibility Of Alliance With AIADMK As Vijay’s TVK Reshapes Tamil Nadu PoliticsDMK-AIADMK Tie-Up Buzz Grows As Stalin Weighs Options To Block Vijay Government“Mamata Can Set Up Her Own Court”: Nishikant Dubey’s Sharp Attack On TMC Over Bengal Law And OrderMahua Moitra Alleges Harassment Inside IndiGo Flight As Passengers Raise “TMC Chor” Slogans234 Mango Varieties On One Tree? ICAR’s Incredible Experiment Stuns Shivraj Singh ChouhanFrom Panihati To Howrah’s Shibpur: Bengal Rocked By Multiple Bomb BlastsNida Khan Arrested In Explosive TCS Nashik Harassment And Religious Coercion CaseGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To Resign123Photostories5 fruits that could be triggering your acneR. Ashwin, aka “Spin Wizard”, Chennai home is a crores-worth haven blending comfort, family life and cricketing successHow to grow lotus in your terrace or balcony garden: Simple step by step guide for beginnersBest Mother’s Day 2026 gift ideas to make your mom feel truly special8 most uniquely designed passports in the worldAnimals and insects that are as venomous as the Inland Taipan7 things emotionally safe homes do differently: Is your home among them?How to use fruit peels as a fertiliser (common fruits to know)Optical illusion personality test: Woman or trees? What you see first reveals if you are more emotional or logicalGK Fact of the Day: 7 animals that can survive without water for long123Hot PicksSBI Q4 resultsThane- Navi Mumbai corridorMaharashtra SSC ResultPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingTamil nadu government formationVaibhav SooryavanshiTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Mumbai Watermelon Death CaseDelhi Capital vs KKR IPL MatchWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaDaniil Medvedev WifeBan vs Pak

Kolkata, May 08 (ANI): Union home minister Amit Shah congratulates BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari after he is elected as the leader of the West Bengal BJP Legislative Party and set to be the new CM of the state, in Kolkata on Friday. The BJP’s elevation of Suvendu Adhikari as its first chief minister in West Bengal marked the culmination of a campaign that drove the party to success in a state long described as its “final frontier.”Like in the neighbouring Northeast, BJP’s eventual rise to power in West Bengal was led by an individual who joined from a party firmly opposed to the BJP. Adhikari switched from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in December 2020 and went on to defeat his former mentor, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, twice—first in his Nandigram stronghold in 2021 and later in her Bhowanipore bastion in the recent assembly polls. Suvendu Adhikari With Adhikari’s elevation, BJP formally placed one of its most prominent recent entrants at the helm in West Bengal, underscoring the party’s continued reliance on “outsiders” to win politically difficult terrains. BJP’s West Bengal breakthrough Adhikari’s induction was one among several defections from the Trinamool to BJP in the run-up to the 2021 West Bengal elections. With BJP riding high after winning a record 18 of the state’s 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, and with “Didi” grappling with anti-incumbency after a decade in power, several TMC leaders joined the saffron camp, confident that there would be a change of guard in Kolkata. However, it was not to be. BJP’s seat share rose from just three to 77 in the 294-member assembly, but Trinamool won 215 constituencies to secure a third consecutive term. This led to several TMC turncoats returning to their parent party, with some BJP MLAs also switching sides. West Bengal assembly elections 2021 resultsYet, Adhikari stayed back and was appointed leader of the opposition in the assembly. He subsequently became more aggressive in his attacks on Banerjee and TMC.In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, BJP faced another setback in West Bengal, with its tally dropping from 18 constituencies to 12, while Trinamool Congress improved its count from 23 to 29. The state was among several where BJP lost ground, contributing to its fall from 303 to 240 seats nationally and forcing the party to rely on allies to form the government at the Centre.BJP regained momentum in the months that followed, winning a series of state elections before eventually securing a landslide victory in West Bengal.Bihar before West BengalAdhikari’s elevation came less than a month after that of Samrat Choudhary, the Bihar chief minister who, like him, did not begin his political career with the BJP. Choudhary joined the party in 2017 from the Janata Dal (United), after earlier stints with the Samata Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).Son of veteran politician Shakuni Choudhary, Samrat Choudhary succeeded Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) supremo who had led the state for over two decades. Following the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) re-election in a landslide win in the Bihar polls in November 2025, Kumar returned for a record 10th term as CM, with Choudhary serving as one of his deputies. Bihar election resultsHowever, the signs of a change in leadership had already been there. Besides Kumar’s visible failing health, the BJP, for the first time, became the largest party in Bihar, making a change of guard in Patna a question of “when” and not “if.” Nitish Kumar retirementThat “when” was answered when Kumar announced last month that he would be returning to Parliament via the Rajya Sabha, paving the way for BJP to assume the chief ministership in Bihar for the first time. BJP’s Northeast ascentBefore BJP broke through in West Bengal and emerged as the largest party in Bihar, it was the Northeast that the party first turned into a stronghold, beginning with its victory in Assam in 2016.Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is widely seen as the architect of this dominance in the Northeast. A former Congress leader who joined BJP in 2015, Sarma played a key role in the party’s Assam victory the following year. While Sarbananda Sonowal became BJP’s first chief minister in the state, Sarma took over after the party retained power in 2021, with Sonowal moving to the Union cabinet. In the recent assembly polls, BJP under Sarma won 82 seats in the 126-member assembly, crossing the majority mark on its own for the first time and securing a third consecutive term in power. Like Sarma, several of BJP’s sitting or former chief ministers in the Northeast had joined the party only shortly before being elevated to the top post. For instance, Pema Khandu, Manik Saha and N Biren Singh, among others, had been with the Congress before switching to BJP in 2016, but later went on to lead BJP governments in their respective states.The exceptionsThe strategy of inducting outsiders and elevating them to key positions, however, has not worked for BJP in every politically difficult state.In Punjab, former Congress MP Sunil Jakhar joined BJP in May 2022 and was appointed the party’s state unit president a little over a year later. However, the strategy failed to yield electoral dividends. In the 2024 general elections, BJP failed to open its account in Punjab and even lost the two seats it had won in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal in 2019. Later, reports emerged in September that Jakhar had resigned from the post, but BJP denied the claims and he continues to serve as the party’s Punjab unit chief. He faces a difficult task in making BJP a serious contender in Punjab ahead of the February 2027 elections, where the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress remain the two principal rivals.In a major setback to the AAP, seven of its Rajya Sabha MPs — including Raghav Chadha — joined the BJP last month. All seven MPs had been elected from Punjab, and the BJP hopes their induction will bolster its prospects in the state.Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, BJP failed to return to power despite inducting former chief minister Champai Soren, who switched from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha ahead of the 2024 assembly elections.Punjab: Next test of BJP’s ‘outsider’ modelWith BJP’s rise to power in West Bengal, Jharkhand now stands as the only remaining eastern state outside its control, alongside Mizoram in the Northeast.Its rise in non-Hindi-speaking states, particularly West Bengal, along with Odisha where it formed its maiden government in June 2024 under Mohan Charan Majhi, a homegrown leader, has helped the party shed its image of being confined to the Hindi heartland.The “outsider” model will next be put to the test in Punjab, where BJP has been part of an alliance government but has never governed on its own.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSanjay Raut Writes To Donald Trump Over Bengal Polls, Questions BJP Victory PraiseDeadly Hantavirus Outbreak On Luxury Cruise Ship | 3 Dead, Indians Among Crew Onboard MV HondiusDMK Denies Possibility Of Alliance With AIADMK As Vijay’s TVK Reshapes Tamil Nadu PoliticsDMK-AIADMK Tie-Up Buzz Grows As Stalin Weighs Options To Block Vijay Government“Mamata Can Set Up Her Own Court”: Nishikant Dubey’s Sharp Attack On TMC Over Bengal Law And OrderMahua Moitra Alleges Harassment Inside IndiGo Flight As Passengers Raise “TMC Chor” Slogans234 Mango Varieties On One Tree? ICAR’s Incredible Experiment Stuns Shivraj Singh ChouhanFrom Panihati To Howrah’s Shibpur: Bengal Rocked By Multiple Bomb BlastsNida Khan Arrested In Explosive TCS Nashik Harassment And Religious Coercion CaseGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To Resign123Photostories5 fruits that could be triggering your acneR. Ashwin, aka “Spin Wizard”, Chennai home is a crores-worth haven blending comfort, family life and cricketing successHow to grow lotus in your terrace or balcony garden: Simple step by step guide for beginnersBest Mother’s Day 2026 gift ideas to make your mom feel truly special8 most uniquely designed passports in the worldAnimals and insects that are as venomous as the Inland Taipan7 things emotionally safe homes do differently: Is your home among them?How to use fruit peels as a fertiliser (common fruits to know)Optical illusion personality test: Woman or trees? What you see first reveals if you are more emotional or logicalGK Fact of the Day: 7 animals that can survive without water for long123Hot PicksSBI Q4 resultsThane- Navi Mumbai corridorMaharashtra SSC ResultPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingTamil nadu government formationVaibhav SooryavanshiTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Mumbai Watermelon Death CaseDelhi Capital vs KKR IPL MatchWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaDaniil Medvedev WifeBan vs Pak

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Suvendu Adhikari with Amit Shah NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was on Friday formally elected leader of the BJP legislature party in West Bengal, paving the way for him to become the state’s first BJP chief minister.The BJP legislature party met in Kolkata in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who announced Adhikari’s name after it was proposed and backed by the newly elected MLAs and senior party leaders. “I announce the name of Suvendu Adhikari elected as Leader of West Bengal BJP Legislative Party,” says Shah, appointed as the Central Observer for the election of the legislative party leader in West Bengal.The BJP scripted a historic victory in the recently concluded assembly elections, ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress and handing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee one of the biggest setbacks of her political career.Adhikari emerged as the frontrunner for the top post after securing victories from the politically significant Nandigram and Bhabanipur constituencies. While he retained Nandigram — where he had defeated Banerjee in 2021 — his win in Bhabanipur, considered Banerjee’s stronghold, was seen within BJP circles as a major symbolic breakthrough.Once among Banerjee’s closest associates and a key architect of the TMC’s rural expansion, Adhikari joined the BJP in December 2020 and went on to become the party’s most aggressive face in Bengal politics.According to BJP insiders, Adhikari’s organisational reach, sustained campaign against the TMC and electoral performance strengthened his claim for the top post. Other names discussed before the legislature party meeting included state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta.BJP govt formation in West Bengal: Suvendu Adhikari elected as party legislature party leader, set to take oath as CM on May 9The swearing-in ceremony of West Bengal’s first BJP government is scheduled to be held at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on May 9, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah, BJP president Nitin Nabin and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states expected to attend.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 MediaVideosSanjay Raut Writes To Donald Trump Over Bengal Polls, Questions BJP Victory PraiseDeadly Hantavirus Outbreak On Luxury Cruise Ship | 3 Dead, Indians Among Crew Onboard MV HondiusDMK Denies Possibility Of Alliance With AIADMK As Vijay’s TVK Reshapes Tamil Nadu PoliticsDMK-AIADMK Tie-Up Buzz Grows As Stalin Weighs Options To Block Vijay Government“Mamata Can Set Up Her Own Court”: Nishikant Dubey’s Sharp Attack On TMC Over Bengal Law And OrderMahua Moitra Alleges Harassment Inside IndiGo Flight As Passengers Raise “TMC Chor” Slogans234 Mango Varieties On One Tree? ICAR’s Incredible Experiment Stuns Shivraj Singh ChouhanFrom Panihati To Howrah’s Shibpur: Bengal Rocked By Multiple Bomb BlastsNida Khan Arrested In Explosive TCS Nashik Harassment And Religious Coercion CaseGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To Resign123Photostories5 fruits that could be triggering your acneR. Ashwin, aka “Spin Wizard”, Chennai home is a crores-worth haven blending comfort, family life and cricketing successHow to grow lotus in your terrace or balcony garden: Simple step by step guide for beginnersBest Mother’s Day 2026 gift ideas to make your mom feel truly special8 most uniquely designed passports in the worldAnimals and insects that are as venomous as the Inland Taipan7 things emotionally safe homes do differently: Is your home among them?How to use fruit peels as a fertiliser (common fruits to know)Optical illusion personality test: Woman or trees? What you see first reveals if you are more emotional or logicalGK Fact of the Day: 7 animals that can survive without water for long123Hot PicksSBI Q4 resultsThane- Navi Mumbai corridorMaharashtra SSC ResultPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingTamil nadu government formationVaibhav SooryavanshiTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Mumbai Watermelon Death CaseDelhi Capital vs KKR IPL MatchWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaDaniil Medvedev WifeBan vs Pak

Suvendu Adhikari with Amit Shah NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was on Friday formally elected leader of the BJP legislature party in West Bengal, paving the way for him to become the state’s first BJP chief minister.The BJP legislature party met in Kolkata in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who announced Adhikari’s name after it was proposed and backed by the newly elected MLAs and senior party leaders. “I announce the name of Suvendu Adhikari elected as Leader of West Bengal BJP Legislative Party,” says Shah, appointed as the Central Observer for the election of the legislative party leader in West Bengal.The BJP scripted a historic victory in the recently concluded assembly elections, ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress and handing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee one of the biggest setbacks of her political career.Adhikari emerged as the frontrunner for the top post after securing victories from the politically significant Nandigram and Bhabanipur constituencies. While he retained Nandigram — where he had defeated Banerjee in 2021 — his win in Bhabanipur, considered Banerjee’s stronghold, was seen within BJP circles as a major symbolic breakthrough.Once among Banerjee’s closest associates and a key architect of the TMC’s rural expansion, Adhikari joined the BJP in December 2020 and went on to become the party’s most aggressive face in Bengal politics.According to BJP insiders, Adhikari’s organisational reach, sustained campaign against the TMC and electoral performance strengthened his claim for the top post. Other names discussed before the legislature party meeting included state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta.BJP govt formation in West Bengal: Suvendu Adhikari elected as party legislature party leader, set to take oath as CM on May 9The swearing-in ceremony of West Bengal’s first BJP government is scheduled to be held at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on May 9, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah, BJP president Nitin Nabin and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states expected to attend.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 MediaVideosSanjay Raut Writes To Donald Trump Over Bengal Polls, Questions BJP Victory PraiseDeadly Hantavirus Outbreak On Luxury Cruise Ship | 3 Dead, Indians Among Crew Onboard MV HondiusDMK Denies Possibility Of Alliance With AIADMK As Vijay’s TVK Reshapes Tamil Nadu PoliticsDMK-AIADMK Tie-Up Buzz Grows As Stalin Weighs Options To Block Vijay Government“Mamata Can Set Up Her Own Court”: Nishikant Dubey’s Sharp Attack On TMC Over Bengal Law And OrderMahua Moitra Alleges Harassment Inside IndiGo Flight As Passengers Raise “TMC Chor” Slogans234 Mango Varieties On One Tree? ICAR’s Incredible Experiment Stuns Shivraj Singh ChouhanFrom Panihati To Howrah’s Shibpur: Bengal Rocked By Multiple Bomb BlastsNida Khan Arrested In Explosive TCS Nashik Harassment And Religious Coercion CaseGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To Resign123Photostories5 fruits that could be triggering your acneR. Ashwin, aka “Spin Wizard”, Chennai home is a crores-worth haven blending comfort, family life and cricketing successHow to grow lotus in your terrace or balcony garden: Simple step by step guide for beginnersBest Mother’s Day 2026 gift ideas to make your mom feel truly special8 most uniquely designed passports in the worldAnimals and insects that are as venomous as the Inland Taipan7 things emotionally safe homes do differently: Is your home among them?How to use fruit peels as a fertiliser (common fruits to know)Optical illusion personality test: Woman or trees? What you see first reveals if you are more emotional or logicalGK Fact of the Day: 7 animals that can survive without water for long123Hot PicksSBI Q4 resultsThane- Navi Mumbai corridorMaharashtra SSC ResultPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingTamil nadu government formationVaibhav SooryavanshiTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Mumbai Watermelon Death CaseDelhi Capital vs KKR IPL MatchWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaDaniil Medvedev WifeBan vs Pak

Vamsikrishna 0
NEW DELHI: TVK has finally achieved the numbers needed to form the government in Tamil Nadu after days of intense political uncertainty, strategic negotiations and shifting alliance equations in the aftermath of the hung assembly verdict.The breakthrough came after Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) formally extended support to Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), helping the party attain the crucial majority mark of 118 in the 234-member assembly. Watch DMK Denies Possibility Of Alliance With AIADMK As Vijay’s TVK Reshapes Tamil Nadu PoliticsActor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK, which emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats, had initially fallen short of the majority mark. Though Vijay’s party won 108 seats, the TVK chief would have to leave one seat as he contested from two constituencies, bringing down the tally to 107.With Congress, VCK, CPI and CPM backing TVK, the alliance finally crossed the majority mark with 118 MLAs.The final tally stands at:TVK: 107Congress: 5VCK: 2CPI: 2CPM: 2How TVK achieved the numbersCongress, which was quick to break away from DMK, was the first to extend support to TVK with its five MLAs, taking the alliance tally to 112. However, the coalition still remained short of the 118 seats required to form the government, triggering a political stalemate and putting the spotlight firmly on smaller regional and Left parties.As uncertainty gripped the state’s political landscape, parties that had long remained within the DMK-led alliance began reconsidering their positions in light of TVK’s emergence as the dominant force in the assembly.Finally, CPM general secretary MA Baby, while addressing mediapersons in Delhi, said the CPI, CPM and VCK, which together have six MLAs in the state assembly, have been taking measures to enable TVK to demonstrate majority support and stake claim to form the government.Earlier, CPM state leader P Shanmugam had confirmed receiving a formal letter from Vijay seeking support. He had argued that constitutional convention favoured inviting the single largest party to form the government in a hung assembly.TVK’s successful push to the majority mark marks a historic political moment in Tamil Nadu, effectively ending the decades-old DMK-AIADMK dominance and signalling the arrival of a new political force at the centre of the state’s politics.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 MediaVideosSanjay Raut Writes To Donald Trump Over Bengal Polls, Questions BJP Victory PraiseDeadly Hantavirus Outbreak On Luxury Cruise Ship | 3 Dead, Indians Among Crew Onboard MV HondiusDMK Denies Possibility Of Alliance With AIADMK As Vijay’s TVK Reshapes Tamil Nadu PoliticsDMK-AIADMK Tie-Up Buzz Grows As Stalin Weighs Options To Block Vijay Government“Mamata Can Set Up Her Own Court”: Nishikant Dubey’s Sharp Attack On TMC Over Bengal Law And OrderMahua Moitra Alleges Harassment Inside IndiGo Flight As Passengers Raise “TMC Chor” Slogans234 Mango Varieties On One Tree? 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The answer may surprise youThe Sacred Neck Bead Seen on Anushka Sharma and Its Spiritual Benefits5 smart upcycling DIYs that turn trash into stunning home decor (at a low cost!)These plants are banned from being grown in UK gardens123Hot PicksSBI Q4 resultsThane- Navi Mumbai corridorMaharashtra SSC ResultPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingTamil nadu government formationVaibhav SooryavanshiTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Mumbai Watermelon Death CaseDelhi Capital vs KKR IPL MatchWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaDaniil Medvedev WifeBan vs Pak

NEW DELHI: TVK has finally achieved the numbers needed to form the government in Tamil Nadu after days of intense political uncertainty, strategic negotiations and shifting alliance equations in the aftermath of the hung assembly verdict.The breakthrough came after Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) formally extended support to Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), helping the party attain the crucial majority mark of 118 in the 234-member assembly. Watch DMK Denies Possibility Of Alliance With AIADMK As Vijay’s TVK Reshapes Tamil Nadu PoliticsActor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK, which emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats, had initially fallen short of the majority mark. Though Vijay’s party won 108 seats, the TVK chief would have to leave one seat as he contested from two constituencies, bringing down the tally to 107.With Congress, VCK, CPI and CPM backing TVK, the alliance finally crossed the majority mark with 118 MLAs.The final tally stands at:TVK: 107Congress: 5VCK: 2CPI: 2CPM: 2How TVK achieved the numbersCongress, which was quick to break away from DMK, was the first to extend support to TVK with its five MLAs, taking the alliance tally to 112. However, the coalition still remained short of the 118 seats required to form the government, triggering a political stalemate and putting the spotlight firmly on smaller regional and Left parties.As uncertainty gripped the state’s political landscape, parties that had long remained within the DMK-led alliance began reconsidering their positions in light of TVK’s emergence as the dominant force in the assembly.Finally, CPM general secretary MA Baby, while addressing mediapersons in Delhi, said the CPI, CPM and VCK, which together have six MLAs in the state assembly, have been taking measures to enable TVK to demonstrate majority support and stake claim to form the government.Earlier, CPM state leader P Shanmugam had confirmed receiving a formal letter from Vijay seeking support. He had argued that constitutional convention favoured inviting the single largest party to form the government in a hung assembly.TVK’s successful push to the majority mark marks a historic political moment in Tamil Nadu, effectively ending the decades-old DMK-AIADMK dominance and signalling the arrival of a new political force at the centre of the state’s politics.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 MediaVideosSanjay Raut Writes To Donald Trump Over Bengal Polls, Questions BJP Victory PraiseDeadly Hantavirus Outbreak On Luxury Cruise Ship | 3 Dead, Indians Among Crew Onboard MV HondiusDMK Denies Possibility Of Alliance With AIADMK As Vijay’s TVK Reshapes Tamil Nadu PoliticsDMK-AIADMK Tie-Up Buzz Grows As Stalin Weighs Options To Block Vijay Government“Mamata Can Set Up Her Own Court”: Nishikant Dubey’s Sharp Attack On TMC Over Bengal Law And OrderMahua Moitra Alleges Harassment Inside IndiGo Flight As Passengers Raise “TMC Chor” Slogans234 Mango Varieties On One Tree? ICAR’s Incredible Experiment Stuns Shivraj Singh ChouhanFrom Panihati To Howrah’s Shibpur: Bengal Rocked By Multiple Bomb BlastsNida Khan Arrested In Explosive TCS Nashik Harassment And Religious Coercion CaseGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To Resign123Photostories8 most uniquely designed passports in the worldAnimals and insects that are as venomous as the Inland Taipan7 things emotionally safe homes do differently: Is your home among them?How to use fruit peels as a fertiliser (common fruits to know)Optical illusion personality test: Woman or trees? What you see first reveals if you are more emotional or logicalGK Fact of the Day: 7 animals that can survive without water for longAre dolphins, sharks, and whales mammals? The answer may surprise youThe Sacred Neck Bead Seen on Anushka Sharma and Its Spiritual Benefits5 smart upcycling DIYs that turn trash into stunning home decor (at a low cost!)These plants are banned from being grown in UK gardens123Hot PicksSBI Q4 resultsThane- Navi Mumbai corridorMaharashtra SSC ResultPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingTamil nadu government formationVaibhav SooryavanshiTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Mumbai Watermelon Death CaseDelhi Capital vs KKR IPL MatchWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaDaniil Medvedev WifeBan vs Pak

Vamsikrishna 0
TVK chief Vijay NEW DELHI: Actor-politician Vijay is set to meet Tamil Nadu governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar for the third time to stake claim to form government, after the May 4 verdict placed his TVK as the single-largest party in the state.From silver-screen superstardom to the edge of Chennai’s Fort St George, Vijay has caused the biggest political disruption Tamil Nadu has seen in decades. His two-year-old party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, stormed into the assembly with 108 seats, shattering the long-standing DMK-AIADMK dominance that has defined the state’s politics for nearly half a century.The “Thalapathy wave” rattled seasoned Dravidian veterans such as MK Stalin, O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami. At 51, Vijay transformed from political newcomer to the single-largest force in Tamil Nadu almost overnight, winning both the seats he contested, Perambur and Tiruchirapalli East.Yet, despite the historic debut, the final leap to power has hit a constitutional wall.TVK’s tally of 108 seats, even with the support of five Congress MLAs, leaves the alliance at 112, still six short of the magical majority mark of 118 in the 234-member assembly. And that gap has now become the centre of Tamil Nadu’s newest political and constitutional showdown.Governor’s pause triggers fresh political stormThe big TVK numbers did not impress governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to make call to party’s boss Vijay, keeping him away from power.Tamil Nadu governor Arlekar cited “unestablished majority” as the only key reason, causing constitutional stalemate situation for superstar Vijay against the traditional gatekeepers of power in state.According to news agency PTI sources, Arlekar called Vijay to Lok Bhavan and sought clarity on the “magic number” required for government formation. He reportedly asked TVK to furnish details of legislators backing its claim.The governor’s stance immediately triggered sharp reactions from TVK leaders and opposition voices, many accusing Raj Bhavan of deliberately stalling the process.State Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar alleged that the governor was “bowing” to the BJP rather than to the Constitution. Senior advocate and former Congress leader Kapil Sibal accused the governor of “buying time” to facilitate political manoeuvring.“I was hoping that by now the governor would have invited TVK to form the government… When governors become agents of the BJP, they do the bidding of the BJP,” Sibal said. Meanwhile, AIADMK national spokesperson Kovai Sathyan defended the governor’s stand and attacked TVK’s claims.”TVK is the one that gave a confession, claiming that we are the single largest party with 108 seats, and we have the support of 5 more. So, the Governor is duty-bound to ask, ‘Where are the other 5?” Sathyan said.Can Governor insist on proof before invitation?The central constitutional question now dominating Tamil Nadu politics is simple: Can a governor ask a party to prove majority even before inviting it to form the government?Senior advocate and former president of Delhi high court bar association, Kirti Uppal told TOI that there is no absolute constitutional rule requiring the governor to first invite the single-largest party.”There is no constitutional rule or absolute right that the single largest party must be invited first. “Single largest party” is a political convention, not a binding constitutional mandate,” Uppal said.He pointed to Article 163(2) of the Constitution, which gives the governor discretionary powers in certain circumstances.“163(2): If any question arises whether any matter is or is not a matter as respects which the Governor is by or under this Constitution required to act in his discretion, the decision of the governor in his discretion shall be final, and the validity of anything done by the Governor shall not be called in question on the ground that he ought or ought not to have acted in his discretion.”Uppal further argued that a floor test remains the ultimate democratic method to determine majority.”The governor can order a floor test at any time, whether it is before the government. formation or during the tenure of the ministry. Ultimately, the floor test is considered the supreme democratic method to test the majority of the government on the floor of the house,” he added.However, another Supreme Court advocate Vivek Narayan Sharma offered a sharply different interpretation.”Governor cannot insist on a floor test before inviting a party to form the government. A floor test is constitutionally meant to test the majority of a government that has already been appointed, not to determine who gets appointed in the first place,” the advocate told TOI.”The governor’s role at the invitation stage is only prima facie satisfaction, not conclusive adjudication. The Governor may make a prima facie inquiry through letters of support or coalition claims, but cannot insist on a ‘prove majority first, then I will appoint you’ approach as if Raj Bhavan itself were the floor of the House.”What Constitution and Supreme Court sayThe debate over the governor’s powers in hung assemblies is not new.Under Article 164(1), the Constitution says the chief minister is appointed by the governor, but it does not specify the order in which parties or alliances must be invited.Constitutional experts say the governor’s role is to objectively determine who appears most capable of commanding the confidence of the house. That could be:The single-largest partyA pre-poll allianceA post-poll coalitionAny other grouping that can demonstrate majority supportA major precedent emerged after the 2017 Goa assembly election. Congress emerged as the single-largest party, but then governor Mridula Sinha invited the BJP after it secured support letters from allies and demonstrated majority support.When the matter reached the Supreme Court in Chandrakant Kavlekar v Union of India, the court did not overturn the governor’s decision. Instead, it ordered an immediate floor test.Similar situations surfaced in 2017 Manipur assembly election and 2018 Meghalaya assembly election, where Congress emerged as the single-largest party but BJP-backed coalitions were invited because they demonstrated better majority numbers.The constitutional debate intensified during the 2018 Karnataka government formation controversy and the 2019 Maharashtra government formation crisis, where questions over governors’ discretion reached the Supreme Court.Karnataka in 2018, when the BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 104 seats but was short of majority.The Congress and JD(S) quickly formed a post-poll alliance and claimed they had enough numbers to form the government.Despite this, then governor Vajubhai Vala invited BJP leader BS Yediyurappa to form the government first and asked him to prove majority in the assembly.The move sparked a constitutional controversy and reached the Supreme Court. The court ordered an immediate floor test. Before the vote could happen, Yediyurappa resigned as he could not gather enough support. The Congress-JD(S) alliance later formed the government under HD Kumaraswamy.Another landmark case often cited is Rameshwar Prasad v Union of India. The Supreme Court observed that preference generally goes to a claimant capable of demonstrating majority support, such as a coalition, before a single-largest party lacking numbers.The court also clarified that governors cannot reject majority claims merely based on suspicion about how alliances were formed.TVK races for numbers as allies deliberateAs the situation carries on with constitutional weight, TVK has put more efforts to gather from smaller parties, like VCK and Left, both having 2 members each.TVK joint general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar met leaders of the Communist Party of India in Chennai seeking support for a “progressive government”. CPI leader M Veerapandiyan confirmed that Vijay had formally written to the party seeking support and said an emergency executive meeting had been called.Thol Thirumavalavan has also urged the governor to invite Vijay to form the government and prove his majority on the assembly floor.Meanwhile, CPM general secretary MA Baby questioned the delay in the governor’s invitation and said the party would take a final call after consultations with the DMK.Congress-DMK ties under strainThe political churn has also shaken one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest alliances.Congress’s decision to back TVK has deeply strained its relationship with the DMK, with DMK leaders accusing Congress of betrayal, tagging the party as “backstabbers.”The DMK legislature party passed a resolution condemning Congress’s “sudden political shift”, while party leaders pointed out that Congress had benefited electorally from the alliance in previous elections.DMK MP Kalanidhi Veeraswamy claimed TVK was “desperate” and alleged that Congress may have switched sides after promises of ministerial positions.Beyond numbers, a larger federalism debateThe standoff has once again revived Tamil Nadu’s long-running tensions with the governor’s office and broader questions about country’s federalism.The debate echoes recent observations by Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathna, who said states are “not subordinate to the Centre, but coordinate units within the constitutional scheme.” The Tamil Nadu deadlock not merely seen as a numbers game, but as part of a larger national debate over gubernatorial discretion, cooperative federalism and the balance of power between elected governments and constitutional offices.Vijay has already transformed Tamil Nadu politics. Whether he can now cross the final gubernatorial hurdle and turn disruption into government is the question that could define the state’s next political era.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSanjay Raut Writes To Donald Trump Over Bengal Polls, Questions BJP Victory PraiseDeadly Hantavirus Outbreak On Luxury Cruise Ship | 3 Dead, Indians Among Crew Onboard MV HondiusDMK Denies Possibility Of Alliance With AIADMK As Vijay’s TVK Reshapes Tamil Nadu PoliticsDMK-AIADMK Tie-Up Buzz Grows As Stalin Weighs Options To Block Vijay Government“Mamata Can Set Up Her Own Court”: Nishikant Dubey’s Sharp Attack On TMC Over Bengal Law And OrderMahua Moitra Alleges Harassment Inside IndiGo Flight As Passengers Raise “TMC Chor” Slogans234 Mango Varieties On One Tree? 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TVK chief Vijay NEW DELHI: Actor-politician Vijay is set to meet Tamil Nadu governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar for the third time to stake claim to form government, after the May 4 verdict placed his TVK as the single-largest party in the state.From silver-screen superstardom to the edge of Chennai’s Fort St George, Vijay has caused the biggest political disruption Tamil Nadu has seen in decades. His two-year-old party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, stormed into the assembly with 108 seats, shattering the long-standing DMK-AIADMK dominance that has defined the state’s politics for nearly half a century.The “Thalapathy wave” rattled seasoned Dravidian veterans such as MK Stalin, O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami. At 51, Vijay transformed from political newcomer to the single-largest force in Tamil Nadu almost overnight, winning both the seats he contested, Perambur and Tiruchirapalli East.Yet, despite the historic debut, the final leap to power has hit a constitutional wall.TVK’s tally of 108 seats, even with the support of five Congress MLAs, leaves the alliance at 112, still six short of the magical majority mark of 118 in the 234-member assembly. And that gap has now become the centre of Tamil Nadu’s newest political and constitutional showdown.Governor’s pause triggers fresh political stormThe big TVK numbers did not impress governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to make call to party’s boss Vijay, keeping him away from power.Tamil Nadu governor Arlekar cited “unestablished majority” as the only key reason, causing constitutional stalemate situation for superstar Vijay against the traditional gatekeepers of power in state.According to news agency PTI sources, Arlekar called Vijay to Lok Bhavan and sought clarity on the “magic number” required for government formation. He reportedly asked TVK to furnish details of legislators backing its claim.The governor’s stance immediately triggered sharp reactions from TVK leaders and opposition voices, many accusing Raj Bhavan of deliberately stalling the process.State Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar alleged that the governor was “bowing” to the BJP rather than to the Constitution. Senior advocate and former Congress leader Kapil Sibal accused the governor of “buying time” to facilitate political manoeuvring.“I was hoping that by now the governor would have invited TVK to form the government… When governors become agents of the BJP, they do the bidding of the BJP,” Sibal said. Meanwhile, AIADMK national spokesperson Kovai Sathyan defended the governor’s stand and attacked TVK’s claims.”TVK is the one that gave a confession, claiming that we are the single largest party with 108 seats, and we have the support of 5 more. So, the Governor is duty-bound to ask, ‘Where are the other 5?” Sathyan said.Can Governor insist on proof before invitation?The central constitutional question now dominating Tamil Nadu politics is simple: Can a governor ask a party to prove majority even before inviting it to form the government?Senior advocate and former president of Delhi high court bar association, Kirti Uppal told TOI that there is no absolute constitutional rule requiring the governor to first invite the single-largest party.”There is no constitutional rule or absolute right that the single largest party must be invited first. “Single largest party” is a political convention, not a binding constitutional mandate,” Uppal said.He pointed to Article 163(2) of the Constitution, which gives the governor discretionary powers in certain circumstances.“163(2): If any question arises whether any matter is or is not a matter as respects which the Governor is by or under this Constitution required to act in his discretion, the decision of the governor in his discretion shall be final, and the validity of anything done by the Governor shall not be called in question on the ground that he ought or ought not to have acted in his discretion.”Uppal further argued that a floor test remains the ultimate democratic method to determine majority.”The governor can order a floor test at any time, whether it is before the government. formation or during the tenure of the ministry. Ultimately, the floor test is considered the supreme democratic method to test the majority of the government on the floor of the house,” he added.However, another Supreme Court advocate Vivek Narayan Sharma offered a sharply different interpretation.”Governor cannot insist on a floor test before inviting a party to form the government. A floor test is constitutionally meant to test the majority of a government that has already been appointed, not to determine who gets appointed in the first place,” the advocate told TOI.”The governor’s role at the invitation stage is only prima facie satisfaction, not conclusive adjudication. The Governor may make a prima facie inquiry through letters of support or coalition claims, but cannot insist on a ‘prove majority first, then I will appoint you’ approach as if Raj Bhavan itself were the floor of the House.”What Constitution and Supreme Court sayThe debate over the governor’s powers in hung assemblies is not new.Under Article 164(1), the Constitution says the chief minister is appointed by the governor, but it does not specify the order in which parties or alliances must be invited.Constitutional experts say the governor’s role is to objectively determine who appears most capable of commanding the confidence of the house. That could be:The single-largest partyA pre-poll allianceA post-poll coalitionAny other grouping that can demonstrate majority supportA major precedent emerged after the 2017 Goa assembly election. Congress emerged as the single-largest party, but then governor Mridula Sinha invited the BJP after it secured support letters from allies and demonstrated majority support.When the matter reached the Supreme Court in Chandrakant Kavlekar v Union of India, the court did not overturn the governor’s decision. Instead, it ordered an immediate floor test.Similar situations surfaced in 2017 Manipur assembly election and 2018 Meghalaya assembly election, where Congress emerged as the single-largest party but BJP-backed coalitions were invited because they demonstrated better majority numbers.The constitutional debate intensified during the 2018 Karnataka government formation controversy and the 2019 Maharashtra government formation crisis, where questions over governors’ discretion reached the Supreme Court.Karnataka in 2018, when the BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 104 seats but was short of majority.The Congress and JD(S) quickly formed a post-poll alliance and claimed they had enough numbers to form the government.Despite this, then governor Vajubhai Vala invited BJP leader BS Yediyurappa to form the government first and asked him to prove majority in the assembly.The move sparked a constitutional controversy and reached the Supreme Court. The court ordered an immediate floor test. Before the vote could happen, Yediyurappa resigned as he could not gather enough support. The Congress-JD(S) alliance later formed the government under HD Kumaraswamy.Another landmark case often cited is Rameshwar Prasad v Union of India. The Supreme Court observed that preference generally goes to a claimant capable of demonstrating majority support, such as a coalition, before a single-largest party lacking numbers.The court also clarified that governors cannot reject majority claims merely based on suspicion about how alliances were formed.TVK races for numbers as allies deliberateAs the situation carries on with constitutional weight, TVK has put more efforts to gather from smaller parties, like VCK and Left, both having 2 members each.TVK joint general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar met leaders of the Communist Party of India in Chennai seeking support for a “progressive government”. CPI leader M Veerapandiyan confirmed that Vijay had formally written to the party seeking support and said an emergency executive meeting had been called.Thol Thirumavalavan has also urged the governor to invite Vijay to form the government and prove his majority on the assembly floor.Meanwhile, CPM general secretary MA Baby questioned the delay in the governor’s invitation and said the party would take a final call after consultations with the DMK.Congress-DMK ties under strainThe political churn has also shaken one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest alliances.Congress’s decision to back TVK has deeply strained its relationship with the DMK, with DMK leaders accusing Congress of betrayal, tagging the party as “backstabbers.”The DMK legislature party passed a resolution condemning Congress’s “sudden political shift”, while party leaders pointed out that Congress had benefited electorally from the alliance in previous elections.DMK MP Kalanidhi Veeraswamy claimed TVK was “desperate” and alleged that Congress may have switched sides after promises of ministerial positions.Beyond numbers, a larger federalism debateThe standoff has once again revived Tamil Nadu’s long-running tensions with the governor’s office and broader questions about country’s federalism.The debate echoes recent observations by Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathna, who said states are “not subordinate to the Centre, but coordinate units within the constitutional scheme.” The Tamil Nadu deadlock not merely seen as a numbers game, but as part of a larger national debate over gubernatorial discretion, cooperative federalism and the balance of power between elected governments and constitutional offices.Vijay has already transformed Tamil Nadu politics. Whether he can now cross the final gubernatorial hurdle and turn disruption into government is the question that could define the state’s next political era.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. 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