VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Once-in-170,000-year comet is streaking across the sky with glowing blue-green light: Spot it over Australia and New Zealand “That is a HORRIBLE outfit”: Fans roast Joe Burrow’s Met Gala 2026 look after QB plays it safe on fashion’s biggest night Vtuber Filian: VTuber Filian vanishes online after months away, massive content wipe shocks fans Mamata Baner KOLKATA: Crown gone. Fortress laid bare. Less than 24 hours after BJP’s Bengal sweep – and shocking defeat of Mamata Banerjee in bastion Bhowanipore – a quieter, but equally symbolic, shift unfolded on the streets.The elaborate security grid that for years defined the approach to Didi’s home at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street in nearby Kalighat began to dissolve with striking speed. Along Harish Chatterjee Street, near Hazra crossing, metal scissor barricades that once carved the road into controlled corridors were dragged aside and stacked along the edges.The police personnel who regulated entry, stopping residents and passers-by for questioning, were conspicuously absent by morning.For locals, the transformation was immediate, almost disorienting. “We had to slow down, answer questions and carry Aadhaar cards. Relatives had to take detours and we often alerted the cops in advance about their arrival,” said a neighbour of Mamata.Tarun Chatterjee, another resident of the lane, rubbed his eyes in disbelief. “When I was passing by Didi’s house today, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The usual hustle and bustle were missing. Then I saw bikes and cars moving freely. As I drove past Mamata’s house, no one questioned me,” he said.Narrow alleys connecting Harish Chatterjee Street to Kalighat Road – long sealed off in the name of security – were also reopened, restoring routes that remained inaccessible for years. “It was difficult for us to enter our own homes because of the high-profile security. While we feel sad for our VVIP resident, we are also relieved,” said Sudip Karmakar, another resident.Not far away, security layers were peeled off outside the home of Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, who is TMC general secretary and MP. Police deployment was also scaled down outside Abhishek’s office on Camac Street in central Kolkata.The rollback of this security architecture, built since Mamata’s second term in 2016, came on the heels of a political upset few had anticipated. For more than 15 years, Bhowanipore was the unshakeable TMC fortress, where electoral contests often felt like formalities.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.About the AuthorTamaghna BanerjeeTamaghna Banerjee, a reporter from Kolkata, covers crime, aviation, human rights and politics. He has a keen interest in human interest and rural reporting. He has done his postgraduation in journalism and mass communication. He has a total of 14 years in journalism.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDMK Hits Out As Congress Directs TNCC To Take Final Call On Vijay’s Support Request’Historic, Decisive’: Trump Congratulates PM Modi Over BJP’s Win In Bengal ElectionsDefeat but ‘Moral Win’? 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PM Modi NEW DELHI: As the dust settles on assembly poll results, BJP-led NDA’s dominance of India’s political landscape has become crystal clear.Of six heavyweight states with 278 Lok Sabha seats among them, which account for over half of Parliament’s 543 seats, the governing alliance is now in office in five of them that have a combined LS strength of 239.Since PM Narendra Modi led BJP to its maiden majority in 2014, BJP’s position in these states was never so commanding as it is now, having its chief ministers in three of them, with Bengal soon to be a glittering addition to the list.In contrast, INDIA bloc, now vanquished in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, has never been so feeble in battleground states which hold the key to parliamentary majority.After the four biggest states – Uttar Pradesh (80), Maharashtra (48), West Bengal (42) and Bihar (40), all with BJP-led NDA in office, comes Tamil Nadu (39) where actor Vijay has led TVK to close to majority mark in 2026 assembly poll. He has been vocal in his opposition to BJP as well as DMK, a strong member of INDIA bloc. The sixth state is the BJP stronghold of Madhya Pradesh with 29 seats..To be sure, Lok Sabha elections constitute a different battle altogether, and parties in office in states often fare poorly in parliamentary elections. In 2024, BJP was pushed to second position by SP-Congress alliance in Uttar Pradesh, while BJP came out on top in Congress-governed Karnataka. But unseating the incumbent while not governing any of the big states does become a herculean task for Opposition.With elections due in UP early next year and in Madhya Pradesh in 2028, the arithmetic may still change if opposition parties manage to take down BJP in the Hindi-heartland states.If the list is enlarged to include all 18 states with double-digit Lok Sabha tally, then their combined strength jumps to 502 in the 543-member House. On that list, Opposition does make its presence felt, but only just. It is in office in five states – Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Jharkhand and Punjab – which have a total of 92 seats.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDMK Hits Out As Congress Directs TNCC To Take Final Call On Vijay’s Support Request’Historic, Decisive’: Trump Congratulates PM Modi Over BJP’s Win In Bengal ElectionsDefeat but ‘Moral Win’? Mamata Targets EC, Hints At BIGGER Opposition AlliancePower Bank Catches Fire On IndiGo Hyderabad-Chandigarh Flight, All Passengers And Crew EvacuatedIndia Seeks To Lease Three Ultra Heavy Lift Helicopters To Boost CapabilityAIMIM Chief Owaisi Says Muslim Votes Wasted on Secular Parties, Calls for ShiftKejriwal Alleges BJP “Robbed” Punjab of Rajya Sabha Seats, Vows Political Revenge“Democracy Being Mocked”: Bhagwant Mann Meets President Over Defection of 7 AAP Rajya Sabha MPsNCERT Clears Revised Class 8 Textbook After Judiciary Chapter Row And Public ApologyPM Modi call Fujairah Attack ‘Unacceptable’, Three Indians Injured In UAE123PhotostoriesWatermelon vs. mango: Which is better for summer nutrition and the right way to consume5 unique national parks in South America where waterfalls, wildlife and wilderness come aliveHow to make Chef Ranveer Brar-Style Lucknowi Dal Falaknuma at homeOlder than dinosaurs? 5 prehistoric-era animals that still walk the Earth todayKaran Johar to Ananya Birla:Indian stars who stole the show at Met Gala 2026From ‘The Dark Knight’ to ‘Brokeback Mountain’: Heath Ledger’s top films to stream on OTT right nowA fresh, green home without the effort: Plants that thrive even when you forget8 ‘weird’ dog behaviours explained: What your pet is really trying to tell youSubtle signs you’re outgrowing a friendship– And how to deal with itBroccoli vs Cauliflower: One has more nutrients, the other fewer calories, which should you really be eating?123Hot PicksBarrackpore election resultTiruchirappalli election resultMettupalayam election resultsEttumanoor election resultPerambur election resultBagnan election resultKazhakkoottam election resultTop TrendingIran warRahul GandhiBadruddin AjmalIPL Playoff Qualification ScenariosIPL 2026 Points TableMI IPL Playoff Qualification ScenariosJalandhar BlastNEET 2026: Exam-day guideSRMJEEE 2026 Phase 1 ResultTVK Chief Vijay Pakistan’s politician reveals Islamabad ties with terror groups | India News Mamata Banerjee NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee Tuesday refused to resign as West Bengal chief minister, asserting that she does not recognise the election outcome and claiming a “moral victory” for her party. “I was on the streets, I will be on the streets. I won’t leave the battlefield,” she said. Addressing her first presser after BJP’s landslide win, the outgoing CM alleged “large-scale manipulation” of the electoral process, which, she claimed, had been rigged by the EC, PM and Union home minister to ensure her party’s defeat. TMC won 80 seats in the 294-member assembly, while BJP’s tally was 207. Reacting to the statement, state EC CEO Manoj Agarwal said, “She has been MP, MLA multiple times. She understands constitutional laws better than most. How can I speak on this? The law applies to all.” .Mamata Banerjee said, “We haven’t lost. We have been forcibly defeated. Our fight was not against BJP, we were fighting against EC. The chief election commissioner was the villain of this election. He looted democracy and the electoral process. This is murder of democracy.” Asked if she would resign, she shot back, “Morally, we have won the election. Why should I resign?” “This was like a fixed match — a set-up by EC and BJP. There was direct interference from the Union home minister and Prime Minister. They played a mischievous game,” she alleged. A 15- member committee of TMC MPs and MLAs will probe the alleged irregularities. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra described the TMC chief ’s refusal to resign as an “attack on Constitution and its architect, B R Ambedkar”. “When a CM or Prime Minister loses, they resign. Transfer of power has always taken place peacefully in India for 75 years. But what Mamata Banerjee has said and done, I must say with regret that this tradition has been hurt. This is not an attack on BJP but on democracy,” the BJP spokesperson said. Former Bengal advocategeneral Jayanta Mitra said, “The CM came to office with the sanction of people. If she loses people’s confidence, she has to resign. The governor can dismiss her under Article 164 of Constitution (if she does not quit).” BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated Banerjee in her home turf Bhowanipore, said, “Everything is mentioned in the Constitution. I need not say much.” BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar said, “Such a joke does not merit any response. We do not want to waste a word on those who have no respect for the Constitution.”Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDMK Hits Out As Congress Directs TNCC To Take Final Call On Vijay’s Support Request’Historic, Decisive’: Trump Congratulates PM Modi Over BJP’s Win In Bengal ElectionsDefeat but ‘Moral Win’? 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Expert busts common fertility myths123Hot PicksBarrackpore election resultTiruchirappalli election resultMettupalayam election resultsEttumanoor election resultPerambur election resultBagnan election resultKazhakkoottam election resultTop TrendingIran warRahul GandhiBadruddin AjmalIPL Playoff Qualification ScenariosIPL 2026 Points TableMI IPL Playoff Qualification ScenariosJalandhar BlastNEET 2026: Exam-day guideSRMJEEE 2026 Phase 1 ResultTVK Chief Vijay Sundar Pichai found the ‘calmest place in the world’ underwater and it reshaped his approach to leadership | Taurus Horoscope Today, May 6, 2026: Stay alert while handling tools and machines Man linked to Bishnoi network shot in Canada | India News The staggering amount Cristiano Ronaldo earns per Instagram post as the most-followed person in the world | Football News Aries Horoscope Today, May 6, 2026: Students and young Aries will feel competitive Methana volcano in Greece was never dead: Scientists reveal 100,000 years of hidden magma activity Florida mom foul mouthed arrest during youth football game after she is accused of kicking child on field 70% H-1B approvals from India in FY 2025 revealed in new report, US senator shocked Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries sends sacred Hindu text Shikshapatri on UK tour to mark bicentenary Scientists discover a 66-foot giant tree in the Andes, and it’s related to tomatoes and potatoes | World News Riddhima Kapoor Sahni gets emotional over daughter Samara’s debut, recalls working with Neetu Kapoor, advice from Ranbir Kapoor Quote of the day by Emily Blunt on parenting: “I feel bedtime is this essential anchor… The 10-minute chats where they tell you everything, you don’t want to miss them.” | Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for May 6, 2026 Eta Aquarid meteor shower to peak overnight on May 5–6: Best viewing times, visibility tips, and how to catch the brightest shooting stars Was Nitish Rana out hit-wicket? Viral dismissal in DC vs CSK match explained Quote of the day by Amelia Earhart: “Some of us have great runways already built for us. If you have one, take off. But if you don’t have one, realize it is your responsibility to grab a shovel and build one for yourself and for those who will follow after you.” | World News Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey’s ‘Wicked’ heads to Peacock with a sing-along version dropping on May 21 5 unique national parks in South America where waterfalls, wildlife and wilderness come alive Meet Janaki Ammal: The scientist whose research powers India’s sugarcane revolution and ethanol growth NFL Trade Rumor: Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys linked to Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa NC will hand over Kargil council reins to Congress, Farooq Abdullah says after ‘feud’ | India News IPL 2026: CSK’s disciplined bowling and Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 87 brush aside DC in capital | Cricket News Pooja Hegde predicted Thalapathy Vijay’s victory during the ‘Jana Nayagan’ shoot: ‘Guess I called it before it happened?’ Quote of the day by Michael Faraday: “Nothing is too wonderful to be true, if it be consistent with the laws of nature.” ‘Mujhe laga achha score hai’: Axar Patel says set batters made difference after DC loss to CSK Cabinet okays 2 semiconductor units worth Rs 3,936 crore; total approved projects under ISM rise to 12 Karan Johar credits Shah Rukh Khan for his Met Gala debut: ‘He’s the reason I stand here today’ ‘Mere paas itne paise nai they ki logon ko mithai khila sakun: Father shares success secret of his son who scored 498/500 Amazon CEO Andy Jassy tells investors not to fear AI expenditure, says ‘It’s exactly why they will …’ Photo credit: PTI NEW DELHI: A scooter parked near the BSF Chowk in Punjab’s Jalandhar district caught fire on Tuesday evening, triggering panic in the area, though no one was injured, police said.The incident occurred around 8 pm on the busy road outside the Punjab Frontier headquarters of the Border Security Force (BSF), which connects the main city with the Amritsar-New Delhi national highway. The scooter was completely gutted, officials said.A police patrol team was nearby when the incident happened. Senior police officials, along with forensic experts, a dog squad and a bomb disposal team, have reached the spot to take stock of the situation. The area has been cordoned off.Investigation under wayJalandhar Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur told PTI that it is too early to say whether a blast had taken place.”Prima facie, the facts are that an Activa (scooter) parked here caught fire. We are still verifying the facts on the ground,” she said.The impact of the explosion scattered debris several metres around and damaged a traffic light pole. Forensic teams have been collecting vital evidence and samples from the spot.Police have been questioning Gurpreet Singh, the owner of the scooter. He told police that the mechanical service of his vehicle was due and that he worked for a delivery company. He had parked the vehicle outside the BSF headquarters after delivering an order, officials said.Security concernsThe incident comes a day before Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is scheduled to visit Jalandhar during his ‘Shukrana Yatra’ on Wednesday and stay at his official residence in Old Baradari.Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results results on Times of India.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Historic, Decisive’: Trump Congratulates PM Modi Over BJP’s Win In Bengal ElectionsDefeat but ‘Moral Win’? 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