May 8, 2026

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday chose Suvendu Adhikari to be the next chief minister of West Bengal after saffron party’s resounding victory in the state, securing 207 seats.Adhikri met West Bengal governor R N Ravi and staked claim to form the first BJP-led government in the state.“Bhoi is out and, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has said, bharosa is in,” Adhikari said after he was chosen for the top post.“The people of Bengal have given us a historic mandate. We will fulfil all the promises made in the BJP’s poll manifesto in Bengal,” he added.Suvendu Adhikari is widely seen as one of the key forces behind the BJP’s dramatic rise in West Bengal.When and where to watchAdhikari and his council of ministers are scheduled to be sworn in at a grand ceremony at Kolkata’s iconic Brigade Parade Grounds on May 9, Saturday, marking the BJP’s first-ever government formation in West Bengal.To watch the full coverage of the swearing-in ceremony, tune it to TOI. Who are expected to attendThe swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top Union ministers and around 20 chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, underscoring the significance the party attaches to its historic victory in Bengal. Numerous BJP workers and supporters are also expected to attend the high-profile event.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 MediaVideosShah Hails BJP’s Historic Bengal Victory, Credits People’s Faith In ModiBJP Names Suvendu Adhikari As West Bengal’s First BJP Chief MinisterViral MLA Preference List Shows KC Venugopal Claiming Majority Support As Kerala CMTMC Leader Kunal Ghosh Says Bengal Violence Must Be Viewed From Two Different PerspectivesCongress-DMK Split And TVK Support Trigger Fresh INDIA Alliance TensionsPakistan’s Bizarre ‘Why Speak English?’ Reaction After India Details Op Sindoor StrikesSanjay 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 Government123PhotostoriesCoffee vs Green Tea: Which is healthier overall?10 best UNESCO spa towns of Europe where people visit for wellness and healing10 Universities so beautiful, they feel like a journey through timeSuryakumar Yadav and Devisha Shetty become parents for the first time: Their love storyBird Flu outbreak in Maharashtra: How humans can get infected and the symptoms experts want you to watchR. Ashwin, aka “Spin Wizard”, Chennai home is a crores-worth haven blending comfort, family life and cricketing successOnion juice vs onion oil: Which is better for summer hair fall control?5 curds that aren’t your regular Dahi you must try in summer4 most hostile natural places on Earth — and why tourists still visit them8 beautiful life lessons Studio Ghibli movies teach children: Kindness, courage, and more123Hot 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
NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday chose Suvendu Adhikari to be the next chief minister of West Bengal after saffron party’s resounding victory in the state, securing 207 seats.Adhikri met West Bengal governor R N Ravi and staked claim to form the first BJP-led government in the state.“Bhoi is out and, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has said, bharosa is in,” Adhikari said after he was chosen for the top post.“The people of Bengal have given us a historic mandate. We will fulfil all the promises made in the BJP’s poll manifesto in Bengal,” he added.Suvendu Adhikari is widely seen as one of the key forces behind the BJP’s dramatic rise in West Bengal.When and where to watchAdhikari and his council of ministers are scheduled to be sworn in at a grand ceremony at Kolkata’s iconic Brigade Parade Grounds on May 9, Saturday, marking the BJP’s first-ever government formation in West Bengal.To watch the full coverage of the swearing-in ceremony, tune it to TOI. Who are expected to attendThe swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top Union ministers and around 20 chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, underscoring the significance the party attaches to its historic victory in Bengal. Numerous BJP workers and supporters are also expected to attend the high-profile event.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 MediaVideosShah Hails BJP’s Historic Bengal Victory, Credits People’s Faith In ModiBJP Names Suvendu Adhikari As West Bengal’s First BJP Chief MinisterViral MLA Preference List Shows KC Venugopal Claiming Majority Support As Kerala CMTMC Leader Kunal Ghosh Says Bengal Violence Must Be Viewed From Two Different PerspectivesCongress-DMK Split And TVK Support Trigger Fresh INDIA Alliance TensionsPakistan’s Bizarre ‘Why Speak English?’ Reaction After India Details Op Sindoor StrikesSanjay 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 Government123PhotostoriesCoffee vs Green Tea: Which is healthier overall?10 best UNESCO spa towns of Europe where people visit for wellness and healing10 Universities so beautiful, they feel like a journey through timeSuryakumar Yadav and Devisha Shetty become parents for the first time: Their love storyBird Flu outbreak in Maharashtra: How humans can get infected and the symptoms experts want you to watchR. Ashwin, aka “Spin Wizard”, Chennai home is a crores-worth haven blending comfort, family life and cricketing successOnion juice vs onion oil: Which is better for summer hair fall control?5 curds that aren’t your regular Dahi you must try in summer4 most hostile natural places on Earth — and why tourists still visit them8 beautiful life lessons Studio Ghibli movies teach children: Kindness, courage, and more123Hot 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's swearing in: Date, time, and guest list as West Bengal gets its first BJP CM

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday chose Suvendu Adhikari to be the next chief minister of West Bengal after saffron party’s resounding victory in the state, securing 207 seats.Adhikri met West Bengal governor R N Ravi and staked claim to form the first BJP-led government in the state.“Bhoi is out and, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has said, bharosa is in,” Adhikari said after he was chosen for the top post.“The people of Bengal have given us a historic mandate. We will fulfil all the promises made in the BJP’s poll manifesto in Bengal,” he added.Suvendu Adhikari is widely seen as one of the key forces behind the BJP’s dramatic rise in West Bengal.

When and where to watch

Adhikari and his council of ministers are scheduled to be sworn in at a grand ceremony at Kolkata’s iconic Brigade Parade Grounds on May 9, Saturday, marking the BJP’s first-ever government formation in West Bengal.To watch the full coverage of the swearing-in ceremony, tune it to TOI.

Who are expected to attend

The swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top Union ministers and around 20 chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, underscoring the significance the party attaches to its historic victory in Bengal. Numerous BJP workers and supporters are also expected to attend the high-profile event.



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NEW DELHI: You can choose your friends, but not your neighbours. In India’s case, the neighbour it inherited after Partition was Pakistan, a country with which its ties have been defined by wars, mistrust and recurring conflict ever since Independence.Whenever the two countries have entered direct military confrontation, the outcome has largely remained the same: India emerged on top.From the first Kashmir war in 1947 to the battlefields of 1965, the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 and the heights of Kargil in 1999, Pakistan repeatedly found itself on the losing side.Yet, after setbacks in conventional warfare, Islamabad continued with what India has long described as a strategy of proxy conflict, marked by Pakistan’s long-denied but widely documented links to militant groups operating in Kashmir.India is today marking another such military victory, one that followed the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir last year in which Pakistan-backed militants killed 26 civilians.New Delhi responded with precision strikes targeting militant camps inside Pakistan, setting off a full-blown military standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.But just how close did the region come to the brink?How it startedThe chain of events started with Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir backing the “two-nation theory” that led to the creation of Pakistan, citing differences between Hindus and Muslims in “every possible aspect of life”.Just days before the Pahalgam attack, Munir reminded a gathering of overseas Pakistanis that the cultural, religious, and civilisational divergence from Hindus remains the raison d’être of Pakistan.”You have to narrate Pakistan’s story to your children so that they don’t forget that our forefathers thought we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life,” Munir said.And then came the old slogan: Kashmir is Pakistan’s “jugular vein”.The Pahalgam attackJust days later, Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley witnessed one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on Indian soil in recent memory.On April 22, 2025, terrorists belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, entered a civilian area and allegedly separated victims based on religion.Within hours, authorities confirmed that 26 civilians were killed in what was described by security establishment sources as a coordinated terror attack targeting civilians in a high-footfall tourist zone.Security forces immediately launched search operations across surrounding forest belts, and the area was sealed off. Tourists were evacuated from adjoining routes as emergency protocols were activated across south Kashmir.’India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers’A day later, during a rally in Bihar’s Madhubani, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed action. “India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers,” he said.Speaking about the Jammu and Kashmir attack in Hindi, Modi suddenly switched to English and declared, “Today, from the soil of Bihar, I say this to the whole world: India will identify, trace and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth.”The rare shift to English was clearly meant not for Indians, but for the world.Meanwhile, India also downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan, suspended the Indus WatersTreaty, sealed the Attari-Wagah border, declared Pakistani diplomats persona non grata, and suspended visas for Pakistani nationals. India also carried out naval missile tests and large-scale Indian Air Force drills.For Pakistan, the Indus river system is seen as more of a “jugular vein” than Kashmir itself, as its waters are crucial for agriculture in the politically influential provinces of Punjab and Sindh.Pakistan retaliated diplomatically by suspending visas for Indians, shutting its airspace to Indian-operated aircraft, halting trade, and suspending the Simla Agreement.With this, it became clearer that a military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours was increasingly likely.Operation SindoorWhile giving the armed forces a free hand to mount the Indian response, PM Modi told the three service chiefs:”Wahaan pe goli chalegi, to yahaan se gola chalega — if they fire bullets, we respond with mortar shells.” The clear brief was to up the ante each time and give a befitting response to the terrorists and their state sponsors. In the early hours of May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The tri-services operation, carried out from Indian soil, targeted camps linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen.Among the major targets identified were:Markaz Taiba in Muridke, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba operationsMarkaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, considered a major Jaish-e-Mohammed centreSyedna Bilal and Shawai Nalla camps in MuzaffarabadSarjal camp in Tehra KalanMehmoona Joya in Sialkot, associated with Hizbul Mujahideen The operation lasted just minutes, but its impact stretched across four tense days of military escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Defence minister Rajnath Singh said that more than 100 terrorists were eliminated during Operation Sindoor.\\ Pakistan’s nuclear bluffAfter the first round of strikes, US Vice – President JD Vance reached out to PM Modi on May 9, informing him that Pakistan was going to dramatically escalate the conflict, potentially turning it into an all-out war.India remained unmoved. PM Modi told Vance that India’s retaliation would be “far more forceful, stronger and devastating”. He reinforced the point in his address to the nation, making it clear that “India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail and that it would “strike decisively” without discriminating “between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism”.Pakistan’s retaliationThe following day, Pakistan launched drone strikes and heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan also attempted multiple airspace violations across India’s western border and launched nearly 300-400 drones across 36 locations targeting military infrastructure, killing 16 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir.Forces, however, intercepted and neutralised many of the drones using both kinetic and non-kinetic systems.Pakistan attempted strikes on Indian Air Force bases in Awantipura, Srinagar and Uttarlai, along with Army installations in Jammu, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Chandigarh.India’s multi-layered air defence network, led by the S-400 Triumf missile system, intercepted the attacks.On May 9, India launched a major retaliatory strike and destroyed a Chinese-origin HQ-9 surface-to-air missile and radar system in Lahore. Other locations targeted included Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Attock, Bahawalpur, Miano and areas near Karachi.The strikes convinced Pakistan that the war would only go downhill for it.Both Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Munir reportedly spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asking Washington to intervene and get India to stand down.They apparently claimed that if an all-out war were to break out, Pakistan would be forced to use all available options**, which they hinted may even include nuclear weapons.The Navy closes inMeanwhile, the Indian Navy was fully deployed in the Arabian Sea. Vice Admiral AN Pramod later said the Indian Navy immediately mobilised its carrier battle group into the northern Arabian Sea in full combat readiness, adopting what he called a “decisive and deterrent posture.””In the aftermath of the cowardly attacks on innocent tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani-sponsored terrorists on April 22, the Indian Navy’s carrier battle group, surface forces, submarines and aviation assets were immediately deployed at sea with full combat readiness,” he said.”We tested and refined tactics and procedures at sea during multiple weapon firings in the Arabian Sea within 96 hours of the terrorist attack,” he added.Pramod also mentioned that Pakistan’s naval and air units were forced into a largely defensive stance, retreating to harbours or staying close to the coastline, movements that Indian forces continuously monitored.”Our forces remained forward deployed in the northern Arabian Sea in a decisive and deterrent posture with full readiness and capacity to strike select targets at sea and on land, including Karachi, at a time of our choosing,” he said.CeasefireAfter four days, an understanding was reached between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries to halt all military activity across land, air and sea. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Pakistan’s DGMO contacted his Indian counterpart at 3.35 pm on May 10, after which both sides agreed to stop all firing and military operations from 5 pm IST.During the confrontation, the armed forces inflicted significant damage on Pakistani military assets. DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai stated that 35-40 Pakistani military personnel were killed.India-Pakistan relations have long been defined by cycles of tension that pull the two neighbours back to the brink time and again. With none of the core disputes fully resolved, the possibility of renewed hostilities continues to hang over the relationship.India and Pakistan may continue to cycle through periods of confrontation and uneasy calm. But with widening asymmetries in economic strength, diplomatic leverage and military capability, the balance in future crises increasingly appears tilted in India’s favour.About the AuthorRohitashwa RanjanRohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His work tracks elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPakistan’s Bizarre ‘Why Speak English?’ Reaction After India Details Op Sindoor StrikesSanjay 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 Case123PhotostoriesTired of standing while cooking in the kitchen? Simple sit and cook kitchen ideas to help!5 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 logical123Hot 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: You can choose your friends, but not your neighbours. In India’s case, the neighbour it inherited after Partition was Pakistan, a country with which its ties have been defined by wars, mistrust and recurring conflict ever since Independence.Whenever the two countries have entered direct military confrontation, the outcome has largely remained the same: India emerged on top.From the first Kashmir war in 1947 to the battlefields of 1965, the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 and the heights of Kargil in 1999, Pakistan repeatedly found itself on the losing side.Yet, after setbacks in conventional warfare, Islamabad continued with what India has long described as a strategy of proxy conflict, marked by Pakistan’s long-denied but widely documented links to militant groups operating in Kashmir.India is today marking another such military victory, one that followed the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir last year in which Pakistan-backed militants killed 26 civilians.New Delhi responded with precision strikes targeting militant camps inside Pakistan, setting off a full-blown military standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.But just how close did the region come to the brink?How it startedThe chain of events started with Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir backing the “two-nation theory” that led to the creation of Pakistan, citing differences between Hindus and Muslims in “every possible aspect of life”.Just days before the Pahalgam attack, Munir reminded a gathering of overseas Pakistanis that the cultural, religious, and civilisational divergence from Hindus remains the raison d’être of Pakistan.”You have to narrate Pakistan’s story to your children so that they don’t forget that our forefathers thought we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life,” Munir said.And then came the old slogan: Kashmir is Pakistan’s “jugular vein”.The Pahalgam attackJust days later, Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley witnessed one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on Indian soil in recent memory.On April 22, 2025, terrorists belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, entered a civilian area and allegedly separated victims based on religion.Within hours, authorities confirmed that 26 civilians were killed in what was described by security establishment sources as a coordinated terror attack targeting civilians in a high-footfall tourist zone.Security forces immediately launched search operations across surrounding forest belts, and the area was sealed off. Tourists were evacuated from adjoining routes as emergency protocols were activated across south Kashmir.’India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers’A day later, during a rally in Bihar’s Madhubani, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed action. “India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers,” he said.Speaking about the Jammu and Kashmir attack in Hindi, Modi suddenly switched to English and declared, “Today, from the soil of Bihar, I say this to the whole world: India will identify, trace and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth.”The rare shift to English was clearly meant not for Indians, but for the world.Meanwhile, India also downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan, suspended the Indus WatersTreaty, sealed the Attari-Wagah border, declared Pakistani diplomats persona non grata, and suspended visas for Pakistani nationals. India also carried out naval missile tests and large-scale Indian Air Force drills.For Pakistan, the Indus river system is seen as more of a “jugular vein” than Kashmir itself, as its waters are crucial for agriculture in the politically influential provinces of Punjab and Sindh.Pakistan retaliated diplomatically by suspending visas for Indians, shutting its airspace to Indian-operated aircraft, halting trade, and suspending the Simla Agreement.With this, it became clearer that a military confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours was increasingly likely.Operation SindoorWhile giving the armed forces a free hand to mount the Indian response, PM Modi told the three service chiefs:”Wahaan pe goli chalegi, to yahaan se gola chalega — if they fire bullets, we respond with mortar shells.” The clear brief was to up the ante each time and give a befitting response to the terrorists and their state sponsors. In the early hours of May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The tri-services operation, carried out from Indian soil, targeted camps linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen.Among the major targets identified were:Markaz Taiba in Muridke, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba operationsMarkaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, considered a major Jaish-e-Mohammed centreSyedna Bilal and Shawai Nalla camps in MuzaffarabadSarjal camp in Tehra KalanMehmoona Joya in Sialkot, associated with Hizbul Mujahideen The operation lasted just minutes, but its impact stretched across four tense days of military escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Defence minister Rajnath Singh said that more than 100 terrorists were eliminated during Operation Sindoor.\\\\ Pakistan’s nuclear bluffAfter the first round of strikes, US Vice – President JD Vance reached out to PM Modi on May 9, informing him that Pakistan was going to dramatically escalate the conflict, potentially turning it into an all-out war.India remained unmoved. PM Modi told Vance that India’s retaliation would be “far more forceful, stronger and devastating”. He reinforced the point in his address to the nation, making it clear that “India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail and that it would “strike decisively” without discriminating “between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism”.Pakistan’s retaliationThe following day, Pakistan launched drone strikes and heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan also attempted multiple airspace violations across India’s western border and launched nearly 300-400 drones across 36 locations targeting military infrastructure, killing 16 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir.Forces, however, intercepted and neutralised many of the drones using both kinetic and non-kinetic systems.Pakistan attempted strikes on Indian Air Force bases in Awantipura, Srinagar and Uttarlai, along with Army installations in Jammu, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Chandigarh.India’s multi-layered air defence network, led by the S-400 Triumf missile system, intercepted the attacks.On May 9, India launched a major retaliatory strike and destroyed a Chinese-origin HQ-9 surface-to-air missile and radar system in Lahore. Other locations targeted included Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Attock, Bahawalpur, Miano and areas near Karachi.The strikes convinced Pakistan that the war would only go downhill for it.Both Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Munir reportedly spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asking Washington to intervene and get India to stand down.They apparently claimed that if an all-out war were to break out, Pakistan would be forced to use all available options**, which they hinted may even include nuclear weapons.The Navy closes inMeanwhile, the Indian Navy was fully deployed in the Arabian Sea. Vice Admiral AN Pramod later said the Indian Navy immediately mobilised its carrier battle group into the northern Arabian Sea in full combat readiness, adopting what he called a “decisive and deterrent posture.””In the aftermath of the cowardly attacks on innocent tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani-sponsored terrorists on April 22, the Indian Navy’s carrier battle group, surface forces, submarines and aviation assets were immediately deployed at sea with full combat readiness,” he said.”We tested and refined tactics and procedures at sea during multiple weapon firings in the Arabian Sea within 96 hours of the terrorist attack,” he added.Pramod also mentioned that Pakistan’s naval and air units were forced into a largely defensive stance, retreating to harbours or staying close to the coastline, movements that Indian forces continuously monitored.”Our forces remained forward deployed in the northern Arabian Sea in a decisive and deterrent posture with full readiness and capacity to strike select targets at sea and on land, including Karachi, at a time of our choosing,” he said.CeasefireAfter four days, an understanding was reached between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries to halt all military activity across land, air and sea. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Pakistan’s DGMO contacted his Indian counterpart at 3.35 pm on May 10, after which both sides agreed to stop all firing and military operations from 5 pm IST.During the confrontation, the armed forces inflicted significant damage on Pakistani military assets. DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai stated that 35-40 Pakistani military personnel were killed.India-Pakistan relations have long been defined by cycles of tension that pull the two neighbours back to the brink time and again. With none of the core disputes fully resolved, the possibility of renewed hostilities continues to hang over the relationship.India and Pakistan may continue to cycle through periods of confrontation and uneasy calm. But with widening asymmetries in economic strength, diplomatic leverage and military capability, the balance in future crises increasingly appears tilted in India’s favour.About the AuthorRohitashwa RanjanRohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His work tracks elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPakistan’s Bizarre ‘Why Speak English?’ Reaction After India Details Op Sindoor StrikesSanjay 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 Case123PhotostoriesTired of standing while cooking in the kitchen? Simple sit and cook kitchen ideas to help!5 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 logical123Hot 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
BJP picked Suvendu Adhikari as its West Bengal legislative party leader, who is now set to become the state’s first BJP chief minister.Vijay’s TVK secured the numbers to form the Tamil Nadu government after VCK, CPI and CPI(M) extended support and shall be meeting the Tamil Nadu governor to stake claims for CM position.A leaked Congress MLA preference list intensified speculation over Kerala’s next chief minister, with K C Venugopal, V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala emerging as frontrunners.Sanjay Raut wrote to US President Donald Trump for congratulating PM Narendra Modi on the BJP’s Bengal victory, calling the remarks premature and questioning the fairness of the state election process.Pakistan army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry in a bizarre counter to India’s Operation Sindoor briefing, questioned DGMO speaking in English, triggering sharp reactions online. Watch Amit Shah Arrives In Kolkata To Lead BJP Meeting On Bengal Chief MinisterSuvendu Adhikari to become new West Bengal CM; oath ceremony tomorrowBJP has named Suvendu Adhikari as leader of the BJP legislative party in West Bengal. He is set to take oath as the state’s first BJP chief minister on Saturday. The announcement came after a crucial BJP meeting in Kolkata chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah, who attended as the party’s central observer. Follow live updatesVijay’s TVK gets number to meet majority mark; set to meet governor at 6pmVijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam crossed the majority mark in the Tamil Nadu assembly after securing support from VCK, CPI and CPI(M). The backing paved the way for Vijay to form the government with the required 118 seats in the 234-member House. He is now set to meet the Tamil Nadu governor to prove numbers. Follow live updatesKerala CM face: BJP drops leaked Congress list with ‘KC’ markingsThe race for Kerala chief minister intensified after BJP Kerala shared a leaked Congress MLA preference list that allegedly indicated biased support for KC Venugopal. Uduma MLA K Neelakandan also raised objections over the leaked Congress preference list, claiming his choice for the chief minister’s post was not recorded despite informing AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken. Read the full storySanjay Raut writes to Trump over Bengal win message to PM Modi; BJP hits backShiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticised US President Donald Trump for praising PM Narendra Modi over the BJP’s West Bengal poll victory, calling it premature and inappropriate. Raut questioned the fairness of the elections and alleged institutional bias, while BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Opposition leaders of tarnishing India’s image globally. Read the full story’Why in English?’ Pakistan’s bizarre reaction to Indian presser on Op Sindoor goes viralPakistan army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry drew criticism after questioning why Indian military officials addressed the media in English during the Operation Sindoor anniversary briefing. His remarks, made during Pakistan’s press conference marking the 2025 India-Pakistan confrontation, went viral, with many social media users mocking the focus on language over security issues. Read the full storyAbout 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 MediaVideosPakistan’s Bizarre ‘Why Speak English?’ Reaction After India Details Op Sindoor StrikesSanjay 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 Case123Photostories8 beautiful life lessons Studio Ghibli movies teach children: Kindness, courage, and moreTired of standing while cooking in the kitchen? Simple sit and cook kitchen ideas to help!5 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)123Hot 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

BJP picked Suvendu Adhikari as its West Bengal legislative party leader, who is now set to become the state’s first BJP chief minister.Vijay’s TVK secured the numbers to form the Tamil Nadu government after VCK, CPI and CPI(M) extended support and shall be meeting the Tamil Nadu governor to stake claims for CM position.A leaked Congress MLA preference list intensified speculation over Kerala’s next chief minister, with K C Venugopal, V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala emerging as frontrunners.Sanjay Raut wrote to US President Donald Trump for congratulating PM Narendra Modi on the BJP’s Bengal victory, calling the remarks premature and questioning the fairness of the state election process.Pakistan army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry in a bizarre counter to India’s Operation Sindoor briefing, questioned DGMO speaking in English, triggering sharp reactions online. Watch Amit Shah Arrives In Kolkata To Lead BJP Meeting On Bengal Chief MinisterSuvendu Adhikari to become new West Bengal CM; oath ceremony tomorrowBJP has named Suvendu Adhikari as leader of the BJP legislative party in West Bengal. He is set to take oath as the state’s first BJP chief minister on Saturday. The announcement came after a crucial BJP meeting in Kolkata chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah, who attended as the party’s central observer. Follow live updatesVijay’s TVK gets number to meet majority mark; set to meet governor at 6pmVijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam crossed the majority mark in the Tamil Nadu assembly after securing support from VCK, CPI and CPI(M). The backing paved the way for Vijay to form the government with the required 118 seats in the 234-member House. He is now set to meet the Tamil Nadu governor to prove numbers. Follow live updatesKerala CM face: BJP drops leaked Congress list with ‘KC’ markingsThe race for Kerala chief minister intensified after BJP Kerala shared a leaked Congress MLA preference list that allegedly indicated biased support for KC Venugopal. Uduma MLA K Neelakandan also raised objections over the leaked Congress preference list, claiming his choice for the chief minister’s post was not recorded despite informing AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken. Read the full storySanjay Raut writes to Trump over Bengal win message to PM Modi; BJP hits backShiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticised US President Donald Trump for praising PM Narendra Modi over the BJP’s West Bengal poll victory, calling it premature and inappropriate. Raut questioned the fairness of the elections and alleged institutional bias, while BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Opposition leaders of tarnishing India’s image globally. Read the full story’Why in English?’ Pakistan’s bizarre reaction to Indian presser on Op Sindoor goes viralPakistan army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry drew criticism after questioning why Indian military officials addressed the media in English during the Operation Sindoor anniversary briefing. His remarks, made during Pakistan’s press conference marking the 2025 India-Pakistan confrontation, went viral, with many social media users mocking the focus on language over security issues. Read the full storyAbout 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 MediaVideosPakistan’s Bizarre ‘Why Speak English?’ Reaction After India Details Op Sindoor StrikesSanjay 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 Case123Photostories8 beautiful life lessons Studio Ghibli movies teach children: Kindness, courage, and moreTired of standing while cooking in the kitchen? Simple sit and cook kitchen ideas to help!5 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)123Hot 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: Suvendu Adhikari’s rise as BJP’s choice for chief minister in West Bengal comes after years of positioning himself as the party’s most formidable anti-Mamata Banerjee face in the state. From defeating the Trinamool Congress supremo in her own den to leading the BJP’s aggressive Hindutva-driven campaign, Adhikari steadily emerged as the saffron party’s strongest leader in Bengal. The BJP’s sweeping victory in the state, winning 207 seats in the 294-member assembly and ending the TMC’s 15-year rule, further cemented Adhikari’s stature within the party. His electoral success, grassroots influence, insider understanding of the TMC and ability to consolidate anti-Trinamool votes ultimately made him the BJP leadership’s natural choice to head its first government in West Bengal.Giant slayer: Man who defeated Mamata from her own fortress twiceOne of the biggest reasons behind the BJP choosing Suvendu Adhikari as the face of its first government in West Bengal is his stunning victory over Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, a constituency long regarded as the Trinamool Congress supremo’s political fortress. Defeating a sitting chief minister on her home turf gave Adhikari unmatched political weight within the BJP and instantly elevated him as the party’s strongest leader in the state.A former close aide of Mamata Banerjee who later switched to the BJP, Adhikari emerged as the saffron party’s most aggressive anti-TMC face in Bengal. In the high-stakes Bhabanipur contest, he secured 73,917 votes against Mamata Banerjee’s 58,812, defeating her by a margin of 15,105 votes in what became the closely watched battle of the elections.The result carried enormous symbolic value because Bhabanipur has historically remained deeply associated with Mamata Banerjee’s political identity. Located in Kolkata district and part of the Kolkata Dakshin parliamentary constituency, the seat has long been considered one of the safest strongholds of the Trinamool Congress. After losing Nandigram in the 2021 assembly elections to Adhikari, Mamata had returned to the assembly by comfortably winning the Bhabanipur bypoll later that year with more than 65,000 votes.For the BJP leadership, Adhikari’s victory proved that he was capable of directly challenging Mamata Banerjee in areas where the opposition had traditionally struggled, not once, but twice.No alternative, at least for nowThough there were a few suitors for the top post, there was no one who could come as close to Adhikari, at least for now. While several BJP leaders strengthened their position in the elections, none matched Adhikari’s electoral impact. His victories in both Nandigram and Bhabanipur established him as the party’s strongest anti-TMC face and the leader most capable of directly challenging Mamata Banerjee.Agnimitra Paul retained the Asansol Dakshin Assembly seat by defeating Trinamool Congress candidate Tapas Banerjee by over 40,000 votes, further cementing her position as one of BJP’s emerging leaders in Bengal. Senior leader Dilip Ghosh also won the Kharagpur Sadar Assembly constituency, reaffirming his hold within the party organisation.However, despite the presence of leaders like Paul and Ghosh, the BJP leadership saw no one who could match Adhikari’s grassroots influence, organisational control and political stature in Bengal. Though there were a few contenders for the top post, none came as close to Adhikari — at least for now.Insider on TMC playbookThe BJP also viewed Suvendu Adhikari as a leader who understands the Trinamool Congress from the inside, having spent more than two decades within the party before switching sides in 2020.Adhikari began his political career with the Congress and became a councillor in Kanthi municipality in 1995 before joining the Trinamool Congress in 1998. Over the years, he emerged as one of the party’s most influential grassroots organisers and played a crucial role in the 2007 Nandigram land agitation against the Left Front government, a movement that eventually helped Mamata Banerjee come to power in Bengal.He went on to become a Lok Sabha MP from Tamluk in 2009 and retained the seat in 2014 before returning to state politics in 2016 as a Trinamool MLA from Nandigram and a cabinet minister in the Mamata Banerjee government. His long association with the TMC gave him deep insight into the party’s organisational structure, electoral strategies and voter networks.After leaving the TMC in December 2020 and joining the BJP, Adhikari quickly became the saffron party’s sharpest weapon against Mamata Banerjee. His victory over her in Nandigram in the 2021 assembly elections further strengthened his stature and eventually led to him becoming the leader of the opposition in West Bengal.Hindutva appeal which aligns with BJP’s core politicsAnother major factor behind Suvendu Adhikari’s rise as the BJP’s chief ministerial face was his ability to consolidate Hindu votes, a strategy that closely aligns with the BJP’s broader political identity and electoral approach in Bengal.After winning both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, Adhikari openly credited Hindu voters for his victory, particularly in Nandigram where he defeated TMC candidate Pabitra Kar by 9,665 votes. “This time I won the election with almost ten thousand votes. The Hindu people of Nandigram made me win again. There, the entire Muslim vote went to TMC. I will work for the Hindus of Nandigram,” ANI quoted Adhikari saying a day after assembly election results.For the BJP leadership, Adhikari’s success reinforced the party’s belief that he could emerge as the central face of Hindu consolidation in Bengal politics. His aggressive attacks on the TMC, combined with strong messaging around ideology and identity politics, resonated with the BJP’s core support base in the state.Vocal agressive leaderSuvendu Adhikari’s emergence as the BJP’s choice for chief minister was also driven by his image as the party’s most vocal and aggressive leader of opposition in West Bengal, a politician who consistently took the fight directly to Mamata Banerjee and the TMC both politically and ideologically.Throughout the campaign, Adhikari projected himself as the BJP’s strongest Hindutva voice in the state. From leading Ram Navami rallies in Bhabanipur and calling for “Ram Rajya” in Bengal to openly crediting Hindu voters for his victories, he aligned himself closely with the BJP’s core ideological messaging. He repeatedly attacked the TMC over infiltration, minority appeasement and law and order issues, positioning himself as the face of an aggressive anti-TMC movement.His combative style became even more visible after the election results. The BJP’s sweeping victory, winning 207 seats in the 294-member assembly while the TMC was reduced to 80 after ruling Bengal for 15 years, further cemented Adhikari’s stature as the undisputed face of the party in the state.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 MediaVideosCongress-DMK Split And TVK Support Trigger Fresh INDIA Alliance TensionsPakistan’s Bizarre ‘Why Speak English?’ Reaction After India Details Op Sindoor StrikesSanjay 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 Blasts123PhotostoriesR. Ashwin, aka “Spin Wizard”, Chennai home is a crores-worth haven blending comfort, family life and cricketing success5 curds that aren’t your regular Dahi you must try in summer4 most hostile natural places on Earth — and why tourists still visit them8 beautiful life lessons Studio Ghibli movies teach children: Kindness, courage, and moreTired of standing while cooking in the kitchen? Simple sit and cook kitchen ideas to help!5 fruits that could be triggering your acneHow 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 Taipan123Hot 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: Suvendu Adhikari’s rise as BJP’s choice for chief minister in West Bengal comes after years of positioning himself as the party’s most formidable anti-Mamata Banerjee face in the state. From defeating the Trinamool Congress supremo in her own den to leading the BJP’s aggressive Hindutva-driven campaign, Adhikari steadily emerged as the saffron party’s strongest leader in Bengal. The BJP’s sweeping victory in the state, winning 207 seats in the 294-member assembly and ending the TMC’s 15-year rule, further cemented Adhikari’s stature within the party. His electoral success, grassroots influence, insider understanding of the TMC and ability to consolidate anti-Trinamool votes ultimately made him the BJP leadership’s natural choice to head its first government in West Bengal.Giant slayer: Man who defeated Mamata from her own fortress twiceOne of the biggest reasons behind the BJP choosing Suvendu Adhikari as the face of its first government in West Bengal is his stunning victory over Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, a constituency long regarded as the Trinamool Congress supremo’s political fortress. Defeating a sitting chief minister on her home turf gave Adhikari unmatched political weight within the BJP and instantly elevated him as the party’s strongest leader in the state.A former close aide of Mamata Banerjee who later switched to the BJP, Adhikari emerged as the saffron party’s most aggressive anti-TMC face in Bengal. In the high-stakes Bhabanipur contest, he secured 73,917 votes against Mamata Banerjee’s 58,812, defeating her by a margin of 15,105 votes in what became the closely watched battle of the elections.The result carried enormous symbolic value because Bhabanipur has historically remained deeply associated with Mamata Banerjee’s political identity. Located in Kolkata district and part of the Kolkata Dakshin parliamentary constituency, the seat has long been considered one of the safest strongholds of the Trinamool Congress. After losing Nandigram in the 2021 assembly elections to Adhikari, Mamata had returned to the assembly by comfortably winning the Bhabanipur bypoll later that year with more than 65,000 votes.For the BJP leadership, Adhikari’s victory proved that he was capable of directly challenging Mamata Banerjee in areas where the opposition had traditionally struggled, not once, but twice.No alternative, at least for nowThough there were a few suitors for the top post, there was no one who could come as close to Adhikari, at least for now. While several BJP leaders strengthened their position in the elections, none matched Adhikari’s electoral impact. His victories in both Nandigram and Bhabanipur established him as the party’s strongest anti-TMC face and the leader most capable of directly challenging Mamata Banerjee.Agnimitra Paul retained the Asansol Dakshin Assembly seat by defeating Trinamool Congress candidate Tapas Banerjee by over 40,000 votes, further cementing her position as one of BJP’s emerging leaders in Bengal. Senior leader Dilip Ghosh also won the Kharagpur Sadar Assembly constituency, reaffirming his hold within the party organisation.However, despite the presence of leaders like Paul and Ghosh, the BJP leadership saw no one who could match Adhikari’s grassroots influence, organisational control and political stature in Bengal. Though there were a few contenders for the top post, none came as close to Adhikari — at least for now.Insider on TMC playbookThe BJP also viewed Suvendu Adhikari as a leader who understands the Trinamool Congress from the inside, having spent more than two decades within the party before switching sides in 2020.Adhikari began his political career with the Congress and became a councillor in Kanthi municipality in 1995 before joining the Trinamool Congress in 1998. Over the years, he emerged as one of the party’s most influential grassroots organisers and played a crucial role in the 2007 Nandigram land agitation against the Left Front government, a movement that eventually helped Mamata Banerjee come to power in Bengal.He went on to become a Lok Sabha MP from Tamluk in 2009 and retained the seat in 2014 before returning to state politics in 2016 as a Trinamool MLA from Nandigram and a cabinet minister in the Mamata Banerjee government. His long association with the TMC gave him deep insight into the party’s organisational structure, electoral strategies and voter networks.After leaving the TMC in December 2020 and joining the BJP, Adhikari quickly became the saffron party’s sharpest weapon against Mamata Banerjee. His victory over her in Nandigram in the 2021 assembly elections further strengthened his stature and eventually led to him becoming the leader of the opposition in West Bengal.Hindutva appeal which aligns with BJP’s core politicsAnother major factor behind Suvendu Adhikari’s rise as the BJP’s chief ministerial face was his ability to consolidate Hindu votes, a strategy that closely aligns with the BJP’s broader political identity and electoral approach in Bengal.After winning both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, Adhikari openly credited Hindu voters for his victory, particularly in Nandigram where he defeated TMC candidate Pabitra Kar by 9,665 votes. “This time I won the election with almost ten thousand votes. The Hindu people of Nandigram made me win again. There, the entire Muslim vote went to TMC. I will work for the Hindus of Nandigram,” ANI quoted Adhikari saying a day after assembly election results.For the BJP leadership, Adhikari’s success reinforced the party’s belief that he could emerge as the central face of Hindu consolidation in Bengal politics. His aggressive attacks on the TMC, combined with strong messaging around ideology and identity politics, resonated with the BJP’s core support base in the state.Vocal agressive leaderSuvendu Adhikari’s emergence as the BJP’s choice for chief minister was also driven by his image as the party’s most vocal and aggressive leader of opposition in West Bengal, a politician who consistently took the fight directly to Mamata Banerjee and the TMC both politically and ideologically.Throughout the campaign, Adhikari projected himself as the BJP’s strongest Hindutva voice in the state. From leading Ram Navami rallies in Bhabanipur and calling for “Ram Rajya” in Bengal to openly crediting Hindu voters for his victories, he aligned himself closely with the BJP’s core ideological messaging. He repeatedly attacked the TMC over infiltration, minority appeasement and law and order issues, positioning himself as the face of an aggressive anti-TMC movement.His combative style became even more visible after the election results. The BJP’s sweeping victory, winning 207 seats in the 294-member assembly while the TMC was reduced to 80 after ruling Bengal for 15 years, further cemented Adhikari’s stature as the undisputed face of the party in the state.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 MediaVideosCongress-DMK Split And TVK Support Trigger Fresh INDIA Alliance TensionsPakistan’s Bizarre ‘Why Speak English?’ Reaction After India Details Op Sindoor StrikesSanjay 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 Blasts123PhotostoriesR. Ashwin, aka “Spin Wizard”, Chennai home is a crores-worth haven blending comfort, family life and cricketing success5 curds that aren’t your regular Dahi you must try in summer4 most hostile natural places on Earth — and why tourists still visit them8 beautiful life lessons Studio Ghibli movies teach children: Kindness, courage, and moreTired of standing while cooking in the kitchen? Simple sit and cook kitchen ideas to help!5 fruits that could be triggering your acneHow 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 Taipan123Hot 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: The investigation into the Air India AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people in June 2025, is in its final stage, and the report is expected to be made public within a month, Union civil aviation minister Rammohan Naidu said on Friday.He added that the probe is being conducted with “seriousness, fairness and transparency” due to international scrutiny over the disaster.Speaking on the sidelines of an event at GIFT City in Gujarat, Naidu said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had been carrying out an independent investigation with full support from the government.“Investigation is going on very strongly. We have to understand one thing that when foreign nationals were travelling on the plane that crashed, it (the probe report) will be up for scrutiny by any country. Any country or organisation can raise questions,” news agency PTI reported quoting Naidu.“Hence, the investigations have to be conducted with seriousness, fairness and transparency, and it being done in that spirit,” he said. The minister said the probe had reached its concluding phase and the findings were likely to be made public within a month.“The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting independent investigations and, whatever resources they have asked for, we have been providing,” the Union minister said.Naidu also said the civil aviation ministry was continuing to coordinate compensation and assistance for the victims’ families through a dedicated cell set up after the crash.“We are monitoring the situation. We have a cell in the ministry, which is coordinating compensation and other things announced at that time. If someone has any issue, we will look into it,” he said while responding to concerns raised by some families regarding Air India’s handling of compensation and support.The minister’s comments come amid growing demands from victims’ relatives for greater transparency in the investigation. Around 30 families from across Gujarat recently wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the release of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) black box data to help uncover the cause of the crash.Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft bound for London Gatwick, crashed into a medical college hostel complex shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025.The aircraft burst into flames on impact, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground, making it one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.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 MediaVideosPakistan’s Bizarre ‘Why Speak English?’ Reaction After India Details Op Sindoor StrikesSanjay 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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. NEW DELHI: The investigation into the Air India AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people in June 2025, is in its final stage, and the report is expected to be made public within a month, Union civil aviation minister Rammohan Naidu said on Friday.He added that the probe is being conducted with “seriousness, fairness and transparency” due to international scrutiny over the disaster.Speaking on the sidelines of an event at GIFT City in Gujarat, Naidu said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had been carrying out an independent investigation with full support from the government.“Investigation is going on very strongly. We have to understand one thing that when foreign nationals were travelling on the plane that crashed, it (the probe report) will be up for scrutiny by any country. Any country or organisation can raise questions,” news agency PTI reported quoting Naidu.“Hence, the investigations have to be conducted with seriousness, fairness and transparency, and it being done in that spirit,” he said. The minister said the probe had reached its concluding phase and the findings were likely to be made public within a month.“The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting independent investigations and, whatever resources they have asked for, we have been providing,” the Union minister said.Naidu also said the civil aviation ministry was continuing to coordinate compensation and assistance for the victims’ families through a dedicated cell set up after the crash.“We are monitoring the situation. We have a cell in the ministry, which is coordinating compensation and other things announced at that time. If someone has any issue, we will look into it,” he said while responding to concerns raised by some families regarding Air India’s handling of compensation and support.The minister’s comments come amid growing demands from victims’ relatives for greater transparency in the investigation. Around 30 families from across Gujarat recently wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the release of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) black box data to help uncover the cause of the crash.Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft bound for London Gatwick, crashed into a medical college hostel complex shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025.The aircraft burst into flames on impact, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground, making it one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.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 MediaVideosPakistan’s Bizarre ‘Why Speak English?’ Reaction After India Details Op Sindoor StrikesSanjay 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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