LIVE: TN CM Vijay meets AIADMK rebels; Shanmugam says ‘ready to back TVK’
Led by SP Velumani and CV Shanmugam, around 30 AIADMK MLAs backed Vijay’s government while questioning Palaniswami’s leadership after the party’s poll debacle
BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma took oath as Chief Minister of Assam on Tuesday (May 12), along with four ministers — two from the BJP and one each from its allies AGP and BPF.
This marks the formation of the third NDA government in Assam, with Sarma beginning his second consecutive term as Chief Minister, making him the only non-Congress leader in the state to achieve this feat.
In contrast, the Kerala stalemate over the Congress’s CM candidate continues. In a bid to break the impasse, the party’s Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunsi has summoned several former state unit chiefs for further discussions with Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi today.
In West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had an “eventful” first day in office on Monday, setting into motion many of the election promises, even as the TMC moved Supreme Court alleging that deletions due to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls affected the results in certain assembly constituencies in West Bengal. The court asked it to file a petition.
And in Tamil Nadu, Vijay begins with a highly symbolic gesture of meeting senior leaders of all political parties, showing that he would encourage healthy politics and not bitter rivalry in the state.
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Live Updates
- 12 May 2026 8:06 AM IST
Congress infighting in Kerala exposed, says CPI(M) leader MA Baby
CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby on Monday took a swipe at the Congress-led UDF over the ongoing tussle for leadership positions in Kerala, saying the coalition's internal divisions had been "thoroughly exposed".
Talking to PTI Videos, Baby said a decision on the name of the leader of opposition (LoP) in Kerala would be decided by the CPI(M)'s state unit at an appropriate time.
“In fact, we need to discuss the LoP in Kerala when there is some guarantee that there is going to be a chief minister and the Assembly session is being convened,” the CPI(M) general secretary said.
Taking a dig at the Congress over the leadership race, Baby said the developments reflected a "very strange situation" within the party.
"They claim that this is a United Democratic Front, UDF; but there is no unity at the top level of the leading party of the UDF, which is the Congress," he said.
Baby also mocked the frequent consultations between Kerala and Delhi amid the leadership discussions.
"Dozens of people are flying from Kerala to Delhi and back to Thiruvananthapuram. So, it is benefiting only various airlines. People are not having any benefit," he said.
He also claimed that the Congress-led governments in the state had often witnessed destabilisation arising from factional rivalries.
"Anyway, we will wait and see how it will evolve in the coming days," he added.
- 12 May 2026 8:03 AM IST
What Suvendu said at first administrative review meet
West Bengal Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari on Monday asked senior officials to ensure transparency, accountability and strict adherence to rules in governance, news agency PTI reported citing “a well-placed source”.
A day after assuming office as the BJP's first chief minister in the state, Adhikari chaired his first administrative review meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala, Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh and secretaries and principal secretaries of all departments.
During the meeting, Adhikari told officials not to repeatedly mention “By the inspiration of the chief minister” in every official matter to please him.
Adhikari also stressed that officers would be held accountable for lapses in their respective departments and warned against unnecessary expenditures.
“You can spend where necessary, but there should be no wastage of public money,” the chief minister told officials, according to sources.
Adhikari also made it clear that the government would function by giving officers their due dignity and space to work professionally. At the same time, any proven complaint against an official would invite action. “If any allegation against an officer is proved, action will be taken,” he told officials.
The CM said that he does not believe in publicly reprimanding bureaucrats at government programmes in front of the media. However, officials responsible for mistakes would have to take responsibility for their actions.
To ensure smoother coordination, Adhikari directed the creation of a common communication group, likely via WhatsApp or email, which would include the chief secretary and secretaries of all departments. Adhikari himself is also expected to be part of the group, sources said.
Officials were encouraged to communicate directly with the chief minister or the chief secretary whenever required and to express their opinions freely on matters related to governance and development.
“If you have any suggestions, give them without fear. I will consider,” Adhikari told the secretaries during the meeting.
According to sources, Adhikari also referred to alleged administrative shortcomings during the previous Trinamool Congress government.
“For years, many of you only agreed with whatever was said. Now I want honest opinions for the development of the state,” Adhikari said.
The chief minister directed officials to immediately restart centrally sponsored schemes that had remained stalled in the state and asked departments to begin implementing promises made in the BJP’s election manifesto in a phased manner.
“There should be less talk and more work,” Adhikari was quoted as saying while discussing the implementation of projects and release of central funds.
“Recruitment has to be done transparently and strictly according to rules,” he reportedly told the education secretary.
Before concluding the meeting, the chief minister assured officials of his support if they worked honestly and without fear.
“Work without fear. I will always stand by those who work sincerely,” he said, according to sources at Nabanna.
