Live: Governor unconvinced about TVK numbers, Vijay's oath in doubt: Report

Kanimozhi says allies free to choose as Congress backs TVK

DMK MP Kanimozhi on Wednesday said every political ally has the freedom to make its own decisions, shortly before the Congress formally backed Vijay’s TVK in its effort to form the next government in Tamil Nadu. Kanimozhi said the DMK respected the choices of its partners despite the shifting political equations after the election.

"We've won many elections together. Today we've lost an election together, and I think every party has a right to decide what they think is right. I don't have anything to say about others, but of course we will continue our fight," Kanimozhi told NDTV.

She said DMK president M. K. Stalin has always worked to keep alliance partners united. "It was an ideological alliance," she said.

Kanimozhi also dismissed concerns over TVK emerging as a new secular force, saying the DMK has no fear of new political entrants and would instead introspect on its own electoral performance. She later congratulated Vijay on his breakthrough result.

TN Congress leaders meet Vijay, back TVK govt bid

Tamil Nadu Congress leaders met TVK chief Vijay at TVK headquarters in Chennai as the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and Congress Legislative Party formally announced full support to TVK in its bid to form the government.

Additional security deployment outside Abhishek Banerjee's home removed

Additional police deployment and perimeter security arrangements outside the Kolkata residence and office of senior TMC leader and Abhishek Banerjee have been withdrawn after a fresh security review, officials said. The changes affect his Harish Mukherjee Road residence and Camac Street office, though his personal security classification remains unchanged. He continues to receive Z-category police protection.

Officials said the revised instructions came into effect early Wednesday. At his residence on Harish Mukherjee Road, a scissor barricade remained placed along the footpath, but no police personnel were seen at the site. The police cabin installed outside the residence has also not been removed so far.

Sources said the earlier security protocol involved route sanitisation, advance movement checks, and traffic clearance before Banerjee travelled. Under the updated arrangement, police vehicles will no longer conduct advance route inspections or movement coordination ahead of his travel, according to officials. Similar scissor barricades outside Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s route access were removed earlier this week.

AIADMK says next move on alliance lies with Vijay

Amid fast-moving political negotiations in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK leader Kovai Sathyan on Wednesday said the next move in any possible understanding between the AIADMK and Vijay’s TVK rests entirely with the actor-politician. Speaking to reporters, Sathyan said political momentum was building, though any official stand on alliance or support would be taken only by the party’s leadership.

Rejecting speculation about internal divisions, he said, "There is absolutely no question of the AIADMK splitting. Everyone is in common consensus, and the majority decision will be taken by the high command," he asserted.

On reports of TVK seeking backing, Sathyan said no formal communication had reached the party so far. "The ball is in Vijay’s court. He has to take a conscious decision whether he wants to complete the term or try and take more parties into his confidence to turn the dreams of 1.5 crore youth into reality," Sathyan said. He added that the party is awaiting clarity from the Governor’s office.

Kolkata Police warn of tough action over post-poll violence

Amid scattered reports of post-election unrest in West Bengal, Ajay Kumar Nand on Wednesday said authorities would respond firmly to any attempt to disrupt public order. Speaking at the police headquarters in Kolkata, he said a special crackdown is underway against those involved in violence, with 80 arrests made so far within city limits.

Of those detained, 65 were arrested in connection with specific cases, while 15 were picked up as a preventive measure. "Anyone trying to create an environment of threat or terror will be acted against strictly," the police commissioner said.

Nand said the overall situation remained largely under control despite isolated incidents. "There have been a few incidents, but the situation is more or less peaceful," he said. He also made it clear that victory processions involving heavy machinery would not be permitted. "No rallies will be allowed with JCBs (bulldozers) or similar equipment," he said.

Suvendu to vacate one seat after twin Bengal wins in 10 days

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said he would step down from one of the two assembly constituencies he won in the recent West Bengal elections, adding that the party’s central leadership would make the final call on which seat he keeps. Adhikari, who defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur and also retained Nandigram for a third straight term, said the process would be completed soon.

“I will vacate one seat within 10 days. The party will decide which one I retain. I will not forget my responsibility towards the people of Bhabanipur and Nandigram," he said.

Addressing supporters in Nandigram, Adhikari urged restraint despite the BJP’s electoral gains. "Do not take out victory rallies now. Maintain peace and discipline. Celebrate after May 9, the day the new government will be formed," he told party workers. He later vowed long-term political growth and stronger development in the constituency.

Himanta resigns as Assam CM, paving way for formation of new govt

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday resigned along with his cabinet colleagues, paving the way for formation of a new government led by the BJP, officials said.

The BJP-led NDA bagged 102 seats in the 126-member assembly. The assembly elections were held in a single phase on April 9, and counting of votes took place on May 4.

"Following the formal notification of the results of #AssamElections2026 and to enable the formation of the new government, Dr @himantabiswa tendered his resignation as Chief Minister along with that of the council of Ministers to Hon'ble Governor Shri @Laxmanacharya54 today at Lok Bhawan," the Chief Minister's Office said in a post on X.

The Governor has accepted the resignation, and requested Sarma to continue as the caretaker CM till the new government assumes office, it said.

Chennithala says Kerala CM choice won’t be driven by campaigns

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday dismissed speculation that online campaigns or public displays of support would influence the selection of Kerala’s next chief minister. Speaking to reporters in Delhi amid growing social media backing for V. D. Satheesan, Chennithala said the party’s decision would follow its established internal process.

"Who should be CM is not decided based on social media campaigns or the flexboards put up by the supporters. It is decided by the high command in accordance with the procedure already in place.

"As part of that two party observers will reach Kerala by evening and they will speak to all the MLAs. After that, the party high command will take a decision," the senior Congress leader said.

He insisted there was no internal rivalry, adding, "There will be no displeasure among voters as there is no contest." Chennithala also said he was in Delhi to meet Rahul Gandhi over Maharashtra organisational appointments.

Congress backs Vijay’s TVK to form government in Tamil Nadu

Congress on Thursday formally backed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and actor-politician Vijay in the race to form Tamil Nadu’s next government. The party said Vijay’s debut electoral performance had disrupted the decades-long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in state politics. In a letter signed by Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar, the party said voters had delivered a "very clear, strong and overwhelming" verdict in favour of TVK.

"Accordingly, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) have decided to extend its full support to the TVK to form the government," the letter stated. Congress described its backing as unconditional, while drawing a clear political line on the composition of the alliance.

"Our support shall be conditional upon the TVK keeping out of this alliance any communal forces that do not believe in the Constitution of India," the party said. It also said the partnership would be shaped by the ideals of Perunthalaivar Kamaraj, Thanthai Periyar, and Dr. B R Ambedkar, presenting the alliance as one rooted in social justice and constitutional values.

The Congress made it clear that its understanding with TVK goes beyond government formation. "This alliance -- founded on mutual respect, appropriate share, and shared responsibility between the two parties -- is not only for the formation of this government," the party said, adding that the partnership would extend to local body polls, the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha.

TVK currently holds 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, leaving it short of the majority mark. While support from Congress and Left parties could strengthen its position, Vijay may still need additional backing. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar is expected to meet Vijay after TVK claimed it has the numbers to form the government.

BJP slams Congress over backing TVK in TN, calls it INDIA's 'last rites'

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday took a swipe at the Congress for extending support to Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the next government in Tamil Nadu and breaking away from its long-term ally Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), saying the party has a history of "betraying" its allies.

"There is nobody whom the Congress has not deceived. Imagine what they will do to the Samajwadi Party if they have done this to the DMK," BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla wrote in a post on X.

Calling it the "last rites" of the INDIA bloc, Poonawalla, in a video post, said, "It has become a Bharat free of the DMK, TMC and the Left, and now Congress has dumped the DMK for the TVK." 

The saffron party also attacked the opposition INDIA bloc, claiming the alliance is "falling apart like a pack of cards" and lacks any common ideology or vision.

The Tamil Nadu Congress has decided to support TVK leader Vijay in forming a secular government in the state, sources said. The decision to support the TVK was taken at an urgent meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of Tamil Nadu Congress late on Tuesday (May 5) night.